Jones pushing for return to cricket

Some cheer at last for England: Simon Jones believes he'll be ready to make a comeback to cricket in April. Jones, a pivotal bowler in the 2005 Ashes, missed the latest contest Down Under following knee surgery in June.

Injuries have forced him out of cricket for more than a year, but he is confident of returning for his county, Glamorgan, at the start of the 2007 County Championship.

"I'm working hard and pushing for next season," Jones told BBC Sport. If and when he does return, there will be a new regime at Sophia Gardens, with a new coach Adrian Shaw. At least, that's the plan so far - Glamorgan are reportedly trying to lure Duncan Fletcher back to Cardiff when his existing contract with the ECB expires after the World Cup.

The club are rumoured to want him to return to the county where he enjoyed such success before leaving in 1999. The one obstacle could be the county's finances which are believed to be under severe pressure due to the cost of redeveloping the Sophia Gardens ground in preparation for it staging Test cricket in 2009.

Jones expressed his confidence in Shaw. "Adrian's been at the club a long time, he knows the game and it will work out well for him. The club has been struggling a bit financially so they have to be careful, and Adrian was the obvious choice to take over.

"He's a good motivator and someone who is straight down the line, if someone needs a kick he'll give it to them. We all respect him immensely and wish him all the best in the job."