Jones hoping to be fit for West Indies

Simon Jones, who has been ruled out of the rest of England's Tests against New Zealand with a stress fracture in his left foot, has pledged to be back and fit to play West Indies later this summer. He aggravated the injury, which he previously suffered in the 1998 season, during the first Test at Lord's.

Jones was sent for an MRI scan on Wednesday which revealed there was a chance he could develop his original stress fracture. As a result, the selectors decided not to risk him at Headingley or Trent Bridge.

"It's another setback in my career I know, but it's not too bad," Jones told The Western Mail. "I will be fit and ready for the start of the four-Test rubber against the West Indies which starts at the end of July. I wouldn't want to miss that series after what the players achieved in the Caribbean in the winter."

Jones blamed the aggravation of the old injury in part to the amount of cricket he has played lately, saying: "First I went out to India with the academy and then there was that tough four-Test trip to the West Indies before what cricket I have got through this season. It takes its toll in the end and it's just part of the downside of being a fast bowler."

But he was also quick to put the seriousness of the injury in perspective, adding, "You have to remember that I was out for 19 months and fought my way back from knee ligament problems. So, although this has put me back a bit, it is somewhat minor compared to what I have been through."

The injury is another blow to England's fast-bowling brigade, with James Anderson nursing a bruised foot. Jones took four wickets in the first Test at Lord's, and was arguably the pick of the England attack. He has been replaced by Martin Saggers, who played his first Test against Bangladesh last November.