Jones Quickly Back Into Stride

In the week when English cricket begins the search for a new Darren Gough, one of the most likely pretenders yesterday returned to action, nine months after damaging his knee ligaments trying to make a sliding stop in the field on the first day of the Ashes series in Brisbane.

Panteg Cricket Club, the setting for Glamorgan's second XI match against Lancashire, was a world away from the Gabba, with 300 spectators dotting the grassy-banked arena, rather than the 30,000 that saw Simon Jones helped from the field last November.

And despite the hard, flat surface together with the cloudless sky, Jones cared not a jot that he made an eventful, but wicketless comeback. It was a good thing the England selectors were not present for Jones's early efforts. He came on, second change, in the 12th over and his first delivery was a no-ball.

Jones still lopes to the wicket like a foal taking its first steps, with his pace generated in the delivery stride and, even operating at what he claimed was around 80%, Jones was appreciably quicker than the other bowlers.

He bowled two four-over spells either side of lunch and while his knee held up, his radar was less compliant. Jones's fourth over lasted 10 deliveries with two of the no-balls called for beamers, prompting the umpire Mostyn Lovett to issue a final warning.

The second no-ball was his best delivery of the day, a full-length delivery which hit the off-stump of the Lancashire academy product Paul Horton. The 19-year-old only lasted three more balls before being hit on his left foot by a yorker and he hobbled off, resuming his innings after the break.

Jones was taken off when the over finally ended. His figures at that stage were 4-0-33-0. But his second spell was more composed, better than the return of 0-19 hinted at.

"I was pleased with the way things went," Jones said. "The beamers were annoying and it was not as if I was striving for extra pace or a yorker - the ball just came out wrong.

"I had been looking forward to this day for the last nine months. I was always confident that I would play this season and I put in a lot of hard work to ensure that I achieved the goal.

"I have been training with Glamorgan for the last two months and bowling five-over spells twice a day, but playing in a match is totally different because you suddenly see slips and a wicket-keeper in front of you. I did not have an attack of nerves but I wanted to get the first spell out of the way.

"I had a chat with Steve Watkin [the former Glamorgan seam bowler] at lunch and my second stint was more controlled. You cannot expect to come back from a long lay-off and take on where you left off. Playing was an achievement in itself, though there was no way I was going to try and make a sliding stop in the field, despite the chance presenting itself a number of times."

Jones did not get the opportunity to bowl after tea be cause Lancashire had been dismissed for 300, a total which had seemed unlikely in the first session when they were 120 for 6.

The crowd, and a large media contingent, had come to see a 24-year-old with two England caps but who has not been part of the international scene all year, and in that sense they were not disappointed.

But it was Chris Schofield and not Jones who provided the fireworks. Three years ago the Lancashire leg-spinner had a central contract but since then he has suffered a miserable loss of form. Yesterday Schofield hit a fluent 150 off 157 balls.

But the Jones comeback was still the main talking point and Glamorgan's 2nd XI captain Adrian Shaw was happy with his contribution.

"I am sure he had some nervous flutters before the start because he had been out for so long," he said, "but he soon settled down. His showed a lot of control in his second spell and he will now be able to continue his comeback in quiet."

Glamorgan hope Jones will be able to play some part in their faltering attempt to win promotion from the Second Division and retain their National League crown.

"I will play a couple more reserve games, see the surgeon who operated on me and take things from there," said Jones. "I have been invited to one-day internationals and Tests by the England management this year and have spoken regularly to the bowling coach Troy Cooley. Being made to feel involved has helped me but after being out for so long you learn to take things one step at a time. One thing is for sure - I will bowl a lot faster than I did today."