Academy Aids Jones Comeback

Simon Jones will be a high-profile guest at the England Academy this winter as he strives to recover from a serious knee injury and re-establish himself as England's most exciting fast-bowling prospect.

Jones's last England Test ended in disaster when he ruptured a cruciate knee ligament during the first Ashes Test in Brisbane last November, while diving to intercept a ball in the outfield. It came only a few months after he had shot to prominence in a hostile Test debut against India.

The Glamorgan bowler will join a 14-strong Academy intake, which will train in Loughborough before Christmas. He might also join the new year tour to Malaysia and India, unless the England management decide that his time is better spent playing Australian club cricket.

England's Academy squad, provisionally selected in July, retains most of those originally selected, including Nottinghamshire's all-rounder, Kevin Pietersen, even though he does not qualify for England until 2004.

England Academy Kadeer Ali (Worcestershire), S R G Francis (Somerset), A P R Gidman (Gloucestershire), S P Jones (Glamorgan), S Khalid (Worcestershire), M J Lumb (Yorkshire), S I Mahmood (Lancashire), GR Napier (Essex), S A Newman (Surrey), K P Pietersen (Nottinghamshire), M J Prior (Sussex), B M Shafayat (Nottinghamshire), J C Tredwell (Kent), G G Wagg (Warwickshire).