Simon Jones to miss Worcestershire's opening game

Simon Jones has said he's hopeful of playing for England this summer despite a knee injury ruling him out of Worcestershire's season opener against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl later this week. Jones has not bowled off a full run-up since last August and he said he was not sure exactly when he would regain fitness.

"I am off half-a-run up now, that will progress quickly. It's just a case of getting overs under the belt which can be frustrating," Jones told the Daily Telegraph. "Patience is a keyword for me. I have worked hard all winter so I'm not going to rush things because it's a long old season and this game would be a bit too early.

"I'm still a few weeks away from playing. Having been through this before it's difficult to predict when because things can progress quickly. You just have to work closely with the physio and go on what your body says as well."

Jones last played for England during the 2005 Ashes and was able to turn out for his former county Glamorgan in only five matches in the next two seasons. However, he fought back with 42 wickets in nine games for Worcestershire last summer and even secured a place in England's squad for the postponed ICC Champions Trophy.

This summer's first Ashes Test will be played at Cardiff, Jones' former home ground, but Jones was not looking too far ahead. "I feel that if I am bowling well then I can be pushing for a place elsewhere," he said. "Whether other people believe that I'm not sure. I have always had people who have doubted me, but I have just used that as fuel to prove people wrong and get back in the side.

"But I'm not going to look that far ahead, I don't see the point in that because you can only be disappointed sometime. I've always hoped that if I'm bowling well, the selectors will look at me. The day they stop looking at me, then I will just concentrate on my cricket with Worcestershire."