Jones Ruled Out for Six Weeks

England's injury crisis deepened today, as Glamorgan seamer Simon Jones ruled out for six weeks with a knee problem.

Jones suffered a twinge in his left knee during Glamorgan's C&G Trophy match against Ireland on Monday and saw a specialist yesterday to get further information on the problem which previously forced him home from the tour to India.

The medical report has advised Jones to rest for six weeks, which rules him out of the Test and one-day series against Sri Lanka, and he could face further surgery after that.

Dr Peter Gregory, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chief medical officer, explained: "Simon had an MRI scan, and his injury was reviewed by his orthopaedic specialist yesterday. The view of this specialist is that Simon sustained a new injury to his knee, which has damaged the cartilage surface of the joint. Simon will be required to rest the knee for six weeks and will then be reassessed. If the knee does not respond to rest he may need to undergo further surgery."

It is a nightmare development for Jones, who fought a long and lonely 10-month battle to play again after suffering torn cruciate ligaments in the other knee during the 2002-3 Ashes tour. He returned from that blow with a bang, becoming a key member of last summer's Ashes triumph. But he has not played a Test for England since the nail-biting victory at Trent Bridge last August.

Today's news is the latest in a number of injury blows to hit England as they prepare to name their squad this weekend for the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. Lancashire seamer James Anderson has been ruled out for up to two months after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of his lower back.

The selectors were already resigned to being without captain Michael Vaughan for the start of the three-Test series, which begins next Thursday, as he makes a slow recovery from his long-standing knee problem. Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles is yet to make his comeback following a hernia operation - while fast bowler Steve Harmison has been suffering from a shin problem, although he has returned to bowling in the nets this week.