Jones Fails to Shine in Front of Fletcher

The Glamorgan bowler who aspires to play for England this summer showed immaculate control against Sri Lanka here yesterday, starting with five consecutive maidens as local sages nodded with approval and applauded his parsimony.

England's coach Duncan Fletcher, however, had not travelled to Sophia Gardens to watch Robert Croft. Instead he had come to see the fast bowler Simon Jones, whose bowling did not show the same frugality. Fletcher left after only 40 minutes in the wake of Jones's first, unimpressive spell.

The England selectors, who met yesterday to discuss the squad for next week's second Test against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, are considering adding a wild card to the jokers who made up the seam attack in the first match at Lord's.

Their aim is to discomfort not only Sri Lanka's batsmen but also their own fast bowlers who performed so miserably in the opening Test.

Three young fast bowlers impressed Rod Marsh with their pace at the Adelaide Academy in the winter. But Durham's Steve Harmison is unfit once again and Steve Kirby of Yorkshire has lost his form. Which leaves Jones.

Jones, 23, whose left-armer father Jeff played 15 Tests before injury ended his career at 28, represents an unlikely destination for those involved in the Holy Grail search for a young fast bowler.

He is, potentially, the stuff of a captain's most terrifying nightmare. This is his fifth season in first-class cricket but before yesterday he had taken only 63 wickets at 40 apiece. He has had a dodgy back, a chronic no-ball problem and can spray it around like a lawn sprinkler.

But he has returned from Australia with an improved action and some extra pace. He has taken 13 championship wickets this season at 21, including a career-best six for 45 return against Derbyshire a month ago.

At his best there is disconcerting bounce to reinforce his very real pace, and occasionally he can shape the ball away.

Yesterday represented a massive chance to impress in front of the watching Fletcher. But he bowled too short on a sluggish pitch and was punished by sharp-eyed, wristy batsmen. His first three spells totalled 16 overs during which he conceded 67 runs and failed to take a wicket.

When he returned for a fourth, just before six, he had Dilhara Fernando caught behind. Then he hit Mahela Jayawardene on the head, breaking his helmet. Fletcher, though, had long gone.

Sri Lanka ended the first day on 337 for seven and Jones finished with one for 79 from 20 overs. "After my winter with the academy I'm bowling a yard faster and I'm more side on," he said. "I knew Duncan was watching today. But I struggled a bit for rhythm. And the pitch was slow."

The first over of the only spell watched by Fletcher included two wides. That six-over burst cost 29 runs. He had an lbw shout against Sanath Jayasuriya but the opener clouted the next delivery over extra cover for six .

Jayasuriya and Russel Arnold hit everything to distant parts and on a damp and blustery morning it did not look much fun for Glamorgan. At lunch Sri Lanka were 170 for two before they slowed.

Jayasuriya struck six fours and four sixes in his 44-ball 57. But the best batting of the day came from Kumar Sangakkara, who drove Croft for a lofted four and a straight six in the same over and flicked Darren Thomas through the covers for four to reach his century. His 113 occupied 152 balls and there were 18 fours and two sixes.

Alex Wharf took four wickets while Jones pondered his lost chance.

Somerset's England fast bowler Richard Johnson has had arthroscopic surgery on his knee and will miss the County Championship game against the leaders Surrey starting today.

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