County Championship, Division Two: Rusty Jones Left Out in the Cold

The Glamorgan coach John Derrick last night admitted that his county's England fast bowler Simon Jones may reconsider his future at the club because he faces the prospect of reserve-team cricket for the rest of the season.

Glamorgan were informed on Wednesday that Jones would not be playing in the second Test against West Indies and the England coach Duncan Fletcher wanted the rusty Jones, who has played only four first-class matches all season, to appear against Hampshire. Glamorgan started the day in second place, half a point ahead of Hampshire, with Derrick and the captain Robert Croft concerned at the effect on morale of adding Jones to a successful side.

"The danger was that it would have caused dissent and unrest at a crucial stage of the season," said Derrick. "We were always going to play two spinners and we chose three seamers who were all in outstanding form. We are conscious that Simon needs to play to stake his claims for the third Test, but we cannot guarantee him a place against Somerset next week."

The England chairman of selectors David Graveney was in Cardiff to talk about Jones. "It is up to Glamorgan whether to pick him," he said. "There will be no arm-twisting."

There was bounce in the pitch yesterday that Jones would have exploited. Croft had no hesitation in batting on a track that will be well worn by Sunday. Runs did not come cheaply with James Bruce impressive as the seamers took the first five wickets before the spinners Shane Warne and Shaun Udal skittled the last five for 14 runs in eight overs.

David Harrison and Alex Wharf, preferred to Jones, reduced Hampshire to 16 for three.