Jones' pedigree shines bright (and fast)

25-Feb-2013

Simon Jones in his delivery stride, Worcestershire v Glamorgan, Friends Provident Trophy, New Road, May 5, 2008

As England’s bowlers flattered to deceive against New Zealand, with Ross Taylor’s brilliant 154 providing the backbone behind their 381 at Old Trafford, one of England’s Ashes heroes is littered among the Sunday papers. Simon Jones took five wickets for his new county, Worcestershire, in a Friends Provident Trophy game last Tuesday against Hampshire. And as the Sunday Telegraph’s Steve James puts it, Jones was “quite simply stunning”.

It is no exaggeration to say that Jones's initial six-over spell for Worcestershire on Tuesday might prove to be one of the important passages of domestic cricket this season. It screeched the message that Jones is back. It stated emphatically that light has at last flooded Jones's injury-crammed tunnel. And it raised the intoxicating possibility that Flintoff and Jones, reverse-swing destroyers of Australia in 2005, might yet join forces in England shirts again. It was truly uplifting.

It was the pace that caught the eye. In his first spell Jones averaged nearly 88mph. On a hat-trick, he delivered a ball at 91mph. Remarkably, Jones admitted afterwards that he reckoned this spell was consistently quicker than any he bowled in the 2005 Ashes. We doubted that his body would again permit such exertions. We thought that if he did ever return, his skills but not the zip would survive the litany of injuries (just two county championship and seven one-day appearances in the past two seasons). We were wrong.

[…]

If Jones continues to bowl as he did last Tuesday, he must be accommodated. He was that good.

Over at the Sunday Times, Simon Wilde meets Jones who is buoyed by his performance and equally determined to win his place back with England.

“The adrenalin was pumping because I’d not been on TV for a while. My first ball was 89mph. It was a yorker and it nearly knocked Michael Brown off his feet. We both smiled at each other. When I saw it [the speed] on the screen I was very happy. After that I thought I could push it a bit. Bowling and batting are the same: once you get off to a good start, you find a rhythm and keep going. It’s amazing what a few wickets can do for your mind.”

[…]

Just as Jones has not given up on England, so England have not given up on Jones. Three weeks ago, the man who reverse-swung his team to Ashes glory met national selector Geoff Miller in Northampton and they spoke about precisely what Jones needs to do to get himself back into consideration.

“Simon’s got a lot to prove,” Miller said, “but of course we’re interested in his progress. He’s on our radar. He bowls 90mph and has something special.”

Meanwhile, the Observer tracked down Chris Tavare to find out what he's up to these days.

England

Will Luke is assistant editor of ESPNcricinfo