Worcestershire join race to sign Simon Jones

Simon Jones: three counties want him ... but at what cost? © Getty Images

It has emerged that Worcestershire have joined the list of counties looking to sign Glamorgan's injury-hit fast bowler Simon Jones.

Jones, whose contract expires at the end of the month, has already been linked with a move to Hampshire and has held preliminary discussions with them. Glamorgan are also keen to keep him.

However, Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire's director of cricket, revealed that he had met with Jones as well. "We were given permission to speak to Simon and that is what we have done," he told the Press Association. "We are interested in him and we wouldn't have spoken to him if we weren't."

"Simon met with Steve on Sunday," Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said. "It was an exploratory meeting and I believe it was very positive. But we have not offered Simon anything yet. We are expecting some feedback from him shortly and then we will move on from there.

"It is no secret that we need quality seam bowlers and Simon is certainly one of those. But his medical history will mean that there must be an air of caution."

Jones has played little cricket since his Ashes-wining exploits in 2005. In two seasons he has managed only five Championship appearances in which he has taken two wickets at 193.00. He has continued to be dogged by knee and calf injuries and when he has played, he has not come close to being able to bowl flat out.

The other factor is that Jones is no longer on an ECB central contract and so any county signing him would have to be prepared to pay all his salary, and he won't come cheap despite his fitness record.