Jones out for rest of season

Simon Jones is likely to miss the rest of the season after damaging knee cartilage which will keep him out of action for up to four weeks. Jones, who was forced to pull out of the England Lions matches against the South Africans last week, will undergo an arthroscopy to clean up the knee as soon as possible.

"The plan was to have Simon still playing in September," Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire's director of cricket, said. "Whilst this has not quite been achieved I am delighted with his contribution and the plan will be to rehab Simon in a way to get him back fitter and stronger for the cricket that lies ahead of him."

He has not played for England for three years after a series of abortive county comebacks, but this season marked his best chance yet. He has taken 42 first-class wickets at an average of 18.02 and a strike rate of 30 and his inclusion in the Lions set-up was another positive step before the latest blow. He was overlooked for the Tests against South Africa, but a good performance at Grace Road could have strengthened his claims for an England recall.

With the Ashes coming around next year in England, Jones was shaping as a candidate for the winter tours but his latest injury must put that in doubt. If he doesn't make the main trips to India and West Indies, he may get the chance on the England Lions tours, the first of which is to India before Christmas.