Jones to be given more time to recover

Simon Jones will be given more time to prove his fitness for this winter's tour of Pakistan, even though he seems certain to be named in the touring squad when it is announced on Monday. Jones, 26, whose 18 wickets at 21 apiece were an invaluable contribution to England's thrilling Ashes victory, was forced to miss the fifth Test at The Oval after developing a bone spur on his right ankle.

According to a report in The Guardian, it is still unclear whether surgery will be required to sort out the anterior impingement, a problem very similar to the one caused Andrew Flintoff discomfort during last winter's tour of South Africa. Like Jones, Flintoff underwent a course of anti-inflammatory tablets, injections and ice treatment to see him through the series, but eventually flew home after the fifth Test at Centurion for a successful operation.

"With this kind of injury you have to be patient and wait," Dr Peter Gregory, the England & Wales Cricket Board's chief medical officer, told The Guardian. "What we weren't able to do was give him a good rest because of his fitness test before the final Test. We will have a better idea at the end of next week. There is no definitive on whether to operate or not, it is not as simple as that. It is a pain thing and some people can get through better than others."

Duncan Fletcher, England's coach, remains "optimistic" about Jones' powers of recovery, although he admitted that his ability to reverse-swing the old ball would be of vital importance to England on an arduous tour of the sub-continent. "He will be key to us," Fletcher said. "The wickets they produced last time we toured were for spinners. If they try to take us on with spin they have a huge problem now because it will play into our hands. If they prepare those dry wickets we can fight with reverse-swing."