Jones works with Lillee ahead of India series

A fully-fit Simon Jones is taking tips from Dennis Lillee ahead of England's tour of India beginning in February.

Jones suffered an ankle injury after the final Ashes Test last summer and missed out on England's tour of Pakistan. In India for a fortnight prior to the arrival of the England side on February 13, Jones will work with Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. "It's nice to be bowling again really," Jones told Reuters. "It's a good chance to be working with Lillee. I'm picking his brains."

Having played in India in 2004 during a successful comeback from a career-threatening knee injury, Jones said he knew what to expect of the pitches in India. "Obviously the conditions are pretty coarse out here, the grounds are very dry," he said. "I think the ball will reverse swing. It's only a question of how quickly. In Old Trafford it reversed after 15 overs. I don't quite think it will go that quickly here."

On his own form - he has 59 Test wickets at 28.23 and was a star performer during the Ashes with 18 victims - Jones said it was a matter of getting back to full strength and putting to use an art he seems to have mastered - reverse swing. "I've been out here before with England A, and did okay. I got a couple of five-wicket hauls with reverse swing," he said. "We are using a different ball this time. We'll see what it is like."

England play three Tests and seven one-day internationals against India. Their tour kicks off with a three-day warm-up match at Mumbai from February 18.