Simon Jones (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Simon Philip Jones MBE (born 25 December 1978) is a Welsh
cricket
er, who played internationally for England
. Formerly playing his county cricket for Glamorgan County Cricket Club
and then Worcestershire
before moving in September 2009 to Hampshire
. He is currently on a month's loan with his first county, Glamorgan. His father Jeff Jones
, played cricket for Glamorgan & England in the 1960s.
, made his county cricket
debut for Glamorgan against Derbyshire
at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
on 22 August, 1998.
Jones made his Test match
debut at Lord's Cricket Ground
against India on 25 July, 2002, at the age of 23. After making an impressive 44 from 43 deliveries with the bat, Jones ended the Indian first innings with figures of 2-61 off 21 overs, dismissing Ajay Ratra
and Ajit Agarkar
. In England's second innings, Jones did not bat as England declared for 301-6, setting India a target of 568 to win. As India chased, Jones took 2-68, bowling Virender Sehwag
and having VVS Laxman caught by Michael Vaughan
for 74, with England winning the match by 170 runs. Jones was left out of the subsequent three Tests, with the four-match series ending in a 1-1 draw.
After impressing in that one Test, Jones was then selected for the 2002/2003 Ashes tour. However, on the first morning of the first Test at Brisbane Cricket Ground
, having bowled 7 overs and taken the wicket of Justin Langer
, he suffered a severe injury, rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament
while sliding to field a ball. After a lengthy recovery period, he was fit in time to tour the Caribbean
.
, and Jones was included in the squad. In the first Test against the West Indies
, at Sabina Park
in Kingston, Jamaica
, Jones had match figures of 3-72, dismissing Brian Lara
, Ridley Jacobs
and Ryan Hinds
, as England won the Test match by 10 wickets. In the second Test, Jones took the wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul
in the first innings, before taking 5-57 in the second, dismissing the first four batsmen (Chris Gayle
, Devon Smith
, Ramnaresh Sarwan
and Ridley Jacobs
) and Pedro Collins
. It was Jones' first five-for in Test cricket, and England won the match by 7 wickets. In the third Test at Bridgetown, Barbados, Jones took just one wicket, in the first innings, that of Collins once again, and did not bowl in the second innings, as England won the match by 8 wickets, and led the series by 3-0. The final Test of the series was equally uneventful for Jones personally, as he took just one wicket, in a first innings in which Brian Lara
scored a world record 400 not out. England won the four match series 3-0.
toured England. Jones played in the first Test at Lord's, and took match figures of 4-146. England won the match by 7 wickets, but Jones did not play again for England until the West Indies returned to tour.
On the West Indies' return to England in July, 2004, Jones played just one match, again at Lord's, taking one wicket, before finding himself out of the Test lineup, but England went on to win the four match home series 4-0.
In December of that year, Jones was included in the England squad to tour Zimbabwe
and South Africa
. Jones won his One Day International debut in the third ODI against Zimbabwe on 4 December, 2004. Jones took 2-43 at an economy of 5.375, as England won the match by 7 wickets. Jones then played in the final ODI, this time taking 1-33 at 4.12, with England again winning, this time by 74 runs, and completing the 4-0 series whitewash.
Jones then played in the first Test match in Johannesburg
, dismissing Boeta Dippenaar
in the first innings before taking 4-39 in the second, including the wicket of Jacques Kallis
for 61. England won the match by 7 wickets, with Jones scoring 24 in the first innings. In the second Test at Kingsmead in Durban
, Jones scored 21 in England's first innings, and took 2-117 in the match. The match was drawn, and England and Jones moved on to the third Test at Newlands
. Here, Jones took 3-84 in the match, but found himself left out of the fourth Test, replaced by James Anderson
. England won the fourth Test, but Jones was once again restored to the Test team for the final match of the series at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, Gauteng
. Jones impressed with 4 wickets in the first innings, conceding just 47 runs, but took just one in the second, as England drew the match but won the series 2-1.
Jones then played both matches in the home Test series against Bangladesh, as England's four-man pace attack of Hoggard
, Harmison
, Flintoff
and Jones prepared for the 2005 Ashes series
. The pace attack tore through Bangladesh in the first innings of the first Test, dismissing them for 108, with Jones grabbing the wicket of Javed Omar, and conceding just 4 runs in 6 overs. In the second innings, the England seamers once again dismissed the Bangladeshis for a low score, this time just 159, with Jones picking up figures of 3-29 off 11 overs, while Flintoff, Hoggard and Harmison taking three, two and two wickets respectively, with England winning the match by an innings and 261 runs. The second Test took a similar course, as the England pacers took 19 of the 20 Bangladeshi wickets, with Jones taking 1-75 in the match, with England winning by an innings and 27 runs.
in June - July, 2005. Jones took 2-53 in the abandoned 8th match at Edgbaston
, before taking 1-45 in the final of the tournament, which ended in a tie.
Then, in the ODI series against Australia
in the lead-up to the Ashes, Jones played in two of the three matches of the series, but failed to take a single wicket.
In the first Test of the Ashes series at Lord's, Jones took 2-48 in the first innings, in which Australia were restricted to just 190. Jones also managed 20 not out off 21 deliveries, helping England to a meagre 155 in response to Australia's total. In the second innings, Australia managed 384 all out, setting England a target of 420 to win the match. Jones took 1-69 from his 18 overs. England could only manage 180 in reply, and Australia won the first match by 239.
In the second Test at Edgbaston, Jones played a significant role, scoring 19 not out from 24 deliveries, helping England to a first innings total of 407 all out. Jones then produced a controlled swing performance to dismiss Justin Langer
and Brett Lee
, capturing figures of 2-69, as Australia were bowled out for 308, 99 runs behind England. Jones was once again undismissed in the second innings, this time for 12, as England set Australia 282 runs to win. Jones dismissed Matthew Hayden
for 31 as Australia lost by 2 runs despite brave efforts from Lee and Warne
, and Jones finished with figures of 1-23 in the second innings.
The third Test at Old Trafford Cricket Ground was remarkably successful for Jones, as he picked up the wickets of Ricky Ponting
, Adam Gilchrist
, Shane Warne
, Michael Clarke
, Jason Gillespie
and Brett Lee
, as he collected figures of 6-53, his best bowling innings, before adding the wicket of Michael Clarke
, in which Jones bowled a reverse-swinging delivery which Clarke left, expecting the ball to swing away, before it moved back towards the batsman and uprooted his off-stump.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW6SdyoNebo. This took his match figures to 7-110, his personal best. The match finished in a remarkable draw, as the Australians finished the 5th day just 52 runs behind, and with one wicket remaining.
During the fourth Test at Trent Bridge
Jones in the first innings took a devastating 5-44, trapping captain Ponting as one of his dismissals. However, he then succumbed to an ankle injury during the second innings which meant he only bowled 4 overs for 0 wickets. This injury would force him out of the crucial deciding match at The Oval
, as well as out of England's winter tour to Pakistan
. Jones finished the Ashes series with 18 wickets at an average of 21.00, and England went on to win the series 2-1, reclaiming the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87.
Having spent the rest of the winter recovering, Jones played his first match since the 4th Ashes Test on the 19 April 2006. Playing for Glamorgan, he took 1 wicket for 23 runs in a match against Cardiff UCCE
, and stated he was pleased with his recovery. However on the 1 May he broke down with a new injury to his left knee in a victory against Ireland
in the C&G Trophy
. The injury kept him out of the Test and O.D.I series against Sri Lanka
, which was due to start the next week.
In June 2006, he flew to Colorado
for surgery on his knee by surgeon Dr Richard Steadman
, with the England team stating that he would not be expected to bowl for five months, and was unlikely to participate in the 2006/07 tour of Australia. In the 2006 New Year's Honours List, Jones was awarded the MBE for his role in the successful Ashes tournament, and in April he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
In September 2006, despite continuing injury problems which prevented him from returning to professional cricket until the start of the 2007 domestic season, his Central Contract with the ECB was renewed for another 12 months. Jones returned to action for his county Glamorgan in April 2007.
After speculation linking him to Hampshire
, on 19 October Jones moved to Division Two side Worcestershire, on a two year contract. Yet another injury (this time to the neck) confined Jones to just three overs in the first game of the 2008 season. He returned to action for Worcestershire in a one-day game against Hampshire on 11 May 2008, recording career best figures of 5 for 32 from 10 overs and bowling well over 90 mph. This led to speculation that he may yet return to the England team once more.
Shortly after the surprise international call-up for Darren Pattinson
, chosen ahead of Jones, Jones suffered another knee injury requiring yet more surgery.
With no hope of playing cricket in the remaining 2009 season, and with it being the final year of his contract, on July 19 Worcestershire released Jones. Towards the end of the 2009 domestic season, Jones opened talks with Glamorgan and Hampshire County Cricket Club
.
Jones eventually opted to sign for Hampshire and joined the club on 30 September 2009 with a view to regaining his fitness in time for the 2010 County Championship
. Jones played a number of limited-over matches for Hampshire that season and eventually made his first-class debut at the end of the season, in a match versus Warwickshire, taking 4-60 in the only innings in which he bowled.
In January 2011, Jones played for Hampshire in the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20
, a tournament which Hampshire were invited to take part in. He played all of Hampshire's fixtures in the tournament, including the final against Trinidad and Tobago, which Hampshire lost. Jones was the competition's joint leading wicket taker with teammate Hamza Riazuddin
with 12.
Jones returned to Glamorgan
on a month's loan on 17 June 2011, Hampshire reiterated he was still very much part of their plans for the coming year. However, on 19th October 2011 Glamorgan Cricket Club announced he had signed a 2 year deal to return to the Welsh county where he started his career.
with girlfriend Justine with whom he has two sons, Harvey (b. November 2006) and Charlie. They have reportedly helped him with his perspective on life in general, and more specifically in dealing with career-threatening injuries:
In February 2006 Jones was placed 9th and the highest placed sportsman in a poll of the world's sexiest men, voted for by readers of New Woman
magazine.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er, who played internationally for England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
. Formerly playing his county cricket for Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
and then Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
before moving in September 2009 to Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
. He is currently on a month's loan with his first county, Glamorgan. His father Jeff Jones
Jeff Jones (cricketer)
Jeff Jones is a former Welsh cricketer, who took forty-four wickets in fifteen Tests for England from 1964 to 1968....
, played cricket for Glamorgan & England in the 1960s.
Early career
A tall (6' 3.5") right-arm fast-medium bowler and left-handed tail end batsman, Jones, whose father, Jeffrey had played for England and Glamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
, made his county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
debut for Glamorgan against Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
on 22 August, 1998.
Jones made his Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
debut at Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
against India on 25 July, 2002, at the age of 23. After making an impressive 44 from 43 deliveries with the bat, Jones ended the Indian first innings with figures of 2-61 off 21 overs, dismissing Ajay Ratra
Ajay Ratra
Ajay Ratra is an Indian cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper.Ratra was selected in 2000 for the first intake of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore....
and Ajit Agarkar
Ajit Agarkar
Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar is an Indian international cricketer, who has been on the fringes of the Indian side in both tests and one day matches since his debut in 1998...
. In England's second innings, Jones did not bat as England declared for 301-6, setting India a target of 568 to win. As India chased, Jones took 2-68, bowling Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag , affectionately known as Viru, the Nawab of Najafgarh, or the Zen master of modern cricket, is one of the leading batsmen in the Indian cricket team. Sehwag is an aggressive right-handed opening batsman and a part-time right-arm off-spin bowler...
and having VVS Laxman caught by Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan
Michael Paul Vaughan OBE is a retired cricketer who represented Yorkshire and England. A classically elegant right-handed batsman and occasional off-spinner, Vaughan was ranked one of the best batsmen in the world following the 2002/3 Ashes, in which he scored 633 runs, including three centuries...
for 74, with England winning the match by 170 runs. Jones was left out of the subsequent three Tests, with the four-match series ending in a 1-1 draw.
After impressing in that one Test, Jones was then selected for the 2002/2003 Ashes tour. However, on the first morning of the first Test at Brisbane Cricket Ground
Brisbane Cricket Ground
The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located....
, having bowled 7 overs and taken the wicket of Justin Langer
Justin Langer
Justin Lee Langer AM is a former international cricketer who represented Australia in 105 Test matches and the current Assistant Coach and Batting Coach of the Australian cricket team. A left-handed batsman, his opening partnership with Matthew Hayden was one of the most successful of all time...
, he suffered a severe injury, rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
while sliding to field a ball. After a lengthy recovery period, he was fit in time to tour the Caribbean
West Indian cricket team
The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
.
West Indies Tour
In March, 2004, England embarked on a tour of the CaribbeanWest Indian cricket team
The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
, and Jones was included in the squad. In the first Test against the West Indies
West Indian cricket team
The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
, at Sabina Park
Sabina Park
Sabina Park is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, and is the only Test cricket ground in Kingston, Jamaica and is often referred to as "The Holiday Home of Cricket"....
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jones had match figures of 3-72, dismissing Brian Lara
Brian Lara
Brian Charles Lara, TC, OCC, AM is a former West Indian international cricket player. Lara is generally regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time...
, Ridley Jacobs
Ridley Jacobs
Ridley Detamore Jacobs , is a left-handed batsman who was a regular fixture in the West Indian cricket team in the 1990s and 2000s. He made his Test match debut on his 31st birthday, playing in 65 Tests in six years...
and Ryan Hinds
Ryan Hinds
Ryan O'Neal Hinds is a West Indian cricketer. He is a left-hand batsman and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler.Hinds made his debut for Barbados during the 1998 Commonwealth Games, aged just 17...
, as England won the Test match by 10 wickets. In the second Test, Jones took the wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Shivnarine "Shiv" Chanderpaul is a cricketer, and former captain of the West Indies cricket team. He is the first Indo-Caribbean in the West Indies team to play 100 Tests for the West Indies and has captained them in 14 Tests and 16 One Day Internationals...
in the first innings, before taking 5-57 in the second, dismissing the first four batsmen (Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle
Christopher Henry "Chris" Gayle is a Jamaican cricketer who currently plays international cricket for the West Indies. He captained the West Indies' side from 2007 to 2010. He plays domestic cricket for Jamaica, and has also represented Worcestershire, the Western Warriors and the Kolkata Knight...
, Devon Smith
Devon Smith
Devon Sheldon Smith is a cricketer who represents the West Indies. His primary role within the team is as an opening or top order left-handed batsman, he has bowled right arm off breaks in his career but rarely at international level. In the West Indian domestic competitions he plays for the...
, Ramnaresh Sarwan
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Ramnaresh Ronnie Sarwan is a West Indian cricketer of Indo-Guyanese origin and a member of the West Indies cricket team....
and Ridley Jacobs
Ridley Jacobs
Ridley Detamore Jacobs , is a left-handed batsman who was a regular fixture in the West Indian cricket team in the 1990s and 2000s. He made his Test match debut on his 31st birthday, playing in 65 Tests in six years...
) and Pedro Collins
Pedro Collins
Pedro Tyrone Collins is a West Indian cricketer.He is the half brother of Fidel Edwards. He is one of the very few left-handed seam bowlers who have had a chance to represent the West Indies cricket team...
. It was Jones' first five-for in Test cricket, and England won the match by 7 wickets. In the third Test at Bridgetown, Barbados, Jones took just one wicket, in the first innings, that of Collins once again, and did not bowl in the second innings, as England won the match by 8 wickets, and led the series by 3-0. The final Test of the series was equally uneventful for Jones personally, as he took just one wicket, in a first innings in which Brian Lara
Brian Lara
Brian Charles Lara, TC, OCC, AM is a former West Indian international cricket player. Lara is generally regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time...
scored a world record 400 not out. England won the four match series 3-0.
Lead up to The Ashes
In May, 2004, New ZealandNew Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
toured England. Jones played in the first Test at Lord's, and took match figures of 4-146. England won the match by 7 wickets, but Jones did not play again for England until the West Indies returned to tour.
On the West Indies' return to England in July, 2004, Jones played just one match, again at Lord's, taking one wicket, before finding himself out of the Test lineup, but England went on to win the four match home series 4-0.
In December of that year, Jones was included in the England squad to tour Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Jones won his One Day International debut in the third ODI against Zimbabwe on 4 December, 2004. Jones took 2-43 at an economy of 5.375, as England won the match by 7 wickets. Jones then played in the final ODI, this time taking 1-33 at 4.12, with England again winning, this time by 74 runs, and completing the 4-0 series whitewash.
Jones then played in the first Test match in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, dismissing Boeta Dippenaar
Boeta Dippenaar
Hendrik Human Dippenaar , known as Boeta Dippenaar, is a cricketer who has played Test and One Day International cricket for South Africa and the ACA African XI. He has played as a specialist batsman in most of his matches, and has played Test cricket in all batting positions from one through seven...
in the first innings before taking 4-39 in the second, including the wicket of Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis
Jacques Henry Kallis is a South African cricketer. As an all-rounder he is a formidable right-handed batsman and fast-medium swingbowler. He is one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, being the only cricketer in the history of the game to hold more than 12,000 runs and 250 wickets in both...
for 61. England won the match by 7 wickets, with Jones scoring 24 in the first innings. In the second Test at Kingsmead in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, Jones scored 21 in England's first innings, and took 2-117 in the match. The match was drawn, and England and Jones moved on to the third Test at Newlands
Newlands Cricket Ground
Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town is a South African cricket ground. It's the home of the Cape Cobras, who play in the SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Pro20 competitions. It is also a venue for Test matches. Newlands is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket...
. Here, Jones took 3-84 in the match, but found himself left out of the fourth Test, replaced by James Anderson
James Anderson (cricketer)
James Michael "Jimmy" Anderson is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Lancashire County Cricket Club and since bursting onto the scene in 2002/03, before his first full season of county cricket, Anderson has represented England in over 50 Test matches and over 100 One Day...
. England won the fourth Test, but Jones was once again restored to the Test team for the final match of the series at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, Gauteng
Centurion, Gauteng
Centurion is an area with 279,430 inhabitants in Gauteng Province of South Africa, located between Pretoria and Midrand . Formerly an independent municipality, with its own town council, it is now part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality...
. Jones impressed with 4 wickets in the first innings, conceding just 47 runs, but took just one in the second, as England drew the match but won the series 2-1.
Jones then played both matches in the home Test series against Bangladesh, as England's four-man pace attack of Hoggard
Matthew Hoggard
Matthew James Hoggard MBE is an English cricketer. The 6' 2" Hoggard is a right arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed batsman. He played international cricket for England cricket team from 2000-2008, playing both Test cricket and One Day International cricket. He is currently the captain of...
, Harmison
Steve Harmison
Stephen James Harmison MBE is an English cricketer. Primarily a fast bowler, he represented England in 63 Tests, 58 ODI's, and 2 T20's. He also plays county cricket for Durham....
, Flintoff
Andrew Flintoff
Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff MBE is a former English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England and the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings. A tall fast bowler, batsman and slip fielder, Flintoff according to the ICC rankings was consistently rated amongst the top...
and Jones prepared for the 2005 Ashes series
2005 Ashes series
The 2005 Ashes series was that year's edition of the long-standing and storied cricket rivalry between England and Australia. Starting on 21 July 2005, England and Australia played five Tests, with the Ashes held by Australia as the most recent victors...
. The pace attack tore through Bangladesh in the first innings of the first Test, dismissing them for 108, with Jones grabbing the wicket of Javed Omar, and conceding just 4 runs in 6 overs. In the second innings, the England seamers once again dismissed the Bangladeshis for a low score, this time just 159, with Jones picking up figures of 3-29 off 11 overs, while Flintoff, Hoggard and Harmison taking three, two and two wickets respectively, with England winning the match by an innings and 261 runs. The second Test took a similar course, as the England pacers took 19 of the 20 Bangladeshi wickets, with Jones taking 1-75 in the match, with England winning by an innings and 27 runs.
2005 Ashes Series
Jones played in two ODI matches of the NatWest SeriesNatWest Series
The NatWest Series is the name used for One Day International cricket tournaments held in England since 2000. The tournaments are sponsored by the National Westminster Bank.-2000 to 2005: triangular series:...
in June - July, 2005. Jones took 2-53 in the abandoned 8th match at Edgbaston
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
, before taking 1-45 in the final of the tournament, which ended in a tie.
Then, in the ODI series against Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
in the lead-up to the Ashes, Jones played in two of the three matches of the series, but failed to take a single wicket.
In the first Test of the Ashes series at Lord's, Jones took 2-48 in the first innings, in which Australia were restricted to just 190. Jones also managed 20 not out off 21 deliveries, helping England to a meagre 155 in response to Australia's total. In the second innings, Australia managed 384 all out, setting England a target of 420 to win the match. Jones took 1-69 from his 18 overs. England could only manage 180 in reply, and Australia won the first match by 239.
In the second Test at Edgbaston, Jones played a significant role, scoring 19 not out from 24 deliveries, helping England to a first innings total of 407 all out. Jones then produced a controlled swing performance to dismiss Justin Langer
Justin Langer
Justin Lee Langer AM is a former international cricketer who represented Australia in 105 Test matches and the current Assistant Coach and Batting Coach of the Australian cricket team. A left-handed batsman, his opening partnership with Matthew Hayden was one of the most successful of all time...
and Brett Lee
Brett Lee
Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...
, capturing figures of 2-69, as Australia were bowled out for 308, 99 runs behind England. Jones was once again undismissed in the second innings, this time for 12, as England set Australia 282 runs to win. Jones dismissed Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden
Matthew Lawrence Hayden AM is a former Australian cricketer, and was signed to the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until the 2010 season. Hayden is a powerful and aggressive left-handed opening batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one day levels.Hayden holds the record...
for 31 as Australia lost by 2 runs despite brave efforts from Lee and Warne
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
, and Jones finished with figures of 1-23 in the second innings.
The third Test at Old Trafford Cricket Ground was remarkably successful for Jones, as he picked up the wickets of Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting , nicknamed Punter, is an Australian cricketer, a former captain of the Australian cricket team between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very...
, Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist AM , nicknamed "Gilly" or "Churchy", is an Australian international cricketer who currently captains Kings XI Punjab and recently captained Middlesex. He is an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, who redefined the role for the Australian national...
, Shane Warne
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
, Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke (cricketer)
Michael John Clarke is an Australian cricketer. He was appointed captain of the Test and ODI teams on 30 March 2011. Nicknamed 'Pup', he is a right-handed batsman, and occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler...
, Jason Gillespie
Jason Gillespie
Jason Neil Gillespie is an Australian cricketer who formerly represented Australia at international level, in both Tests and One Day Internationals, and South Australia, Yorkshire and Glamorgan at first-class level. His primary role is as a right-arm fast-medium bowler, but he is also a competent...
and Brett Lee
Brett Lee
Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...
, as he collected figures of 6-53, his best bowling innings, before adding the wicket of Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke (cricketer)
Michael John Clarke is an Australian cricketer. He was appointed captain of the Test and ODI teams on 30 March 2011. Nicknamed 'Pup', he is a right-handed batsman, and occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler...
, in which Jones bowled a reverse-swinging delivery which Clarke left, expecting the ball to swing away, before it moved back towards the batsman and uprooted his off-stump.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW6SdyoNebo. This took his match figures to 7-110, his personal best. The match finished in a remarkable draw, as the Australians finished the 5th day just 52 runs behind, and with one wicket remaining.
During the fourth Test at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
Jones in the first innings took a devastating 5-44, trapping captain Ponting as one of his dismissals. However, he then succumbed to an ankle injury during the second innings which meant he only bowled 4 overs for 0 wickets. This injury would force him out of the crucial deciding match at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
, as well as out of England's winter tour to Pakistan
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
. Jones finished the Ashes series with 18 wickets at an average of 21.00, and England went on to win the series 2-1, reclaiming the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87.
Second major injury
On 26 February, Jones sustained a twisting injury to his left ankle while bowling in the nets in preparation for the first Test of England's tour to India, which commenced on 1 March 2006. On 27 February, Jones was sent home to see a specialist, and played no further part in the Test series.Having spent the rest of the winter recovering, Jones played his first match since the 4th Ashes Test on the 19 April 2006. Playing for Glamorgan, he took 1 wicket for 23 runs in a match against Cardiff UCCE
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a university situated in Cardiff. It operates from three campuses: Llandaff on Western Avenue, Cyncoed, and Howard Gardens in the City Centre. The university serves over 12,000 students...
, and stated he was pleased with his recovery. However on the 1 May he broke down with a new injury to his left knee in a victory against Ireland
Irish cricket team
The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. Because of political difficulties, the Irish Cricket Union was not elected to the International Cricket Council until 1993, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007. The Irish Cricket Union is the...
in the C&G Trophy
C&G Trophy
The Friends Provident Trophy was a one-day cricket competition in the United Kingdom.It was one of the four tournaments in which the eighteen first-class counties compete each season. They were joined by teams from Scotland and Ireland...
. The injury kept him out of the Test and O.D.I series against Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
, which was due to start the next week.
In June 2006, he flew to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
for surgery on his knee by surgeon Dr Richard Steadman
Richard Steadman
J. Richard Steadman, M.D. is a specialist knee surgeon, practising in Vail, Colorado and a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He is best known medically for his work in the area of microfracture surgery, and publicly for treating injured...
, with the England team stating that he would not be expected to bowl for five months, and was unlikely to participate in the 2006/07 tour of Australia. In the 2006 New Year's Honours List, Jones was awarded the MBE for his role in the successful Ashes tournament, and in April he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
In September 2006, despite continuing injury problems which prevented him from returning to professional cricket until the start of the 2007 domestic season, his Central Contract with the ECB was renewed for another 12 months. Jones returned to action for his county Glamorgan in April 2007.
Moves to Worcestershire and Hampshire
As his contract with Glamorgan was due to expire at the end of the 2007 season, Jones was linked with a move away from Glamorgan.After speculation linking him to Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, on 19 October Jones moved to Division Two side Worcestershire, on a two year contract. Yet another injury (this time to the neck) confined Jones to just three overs in the first game of the 2008 season. He returned to action for Worcestershire in a one-day game against Hampshire on 11 May 2008, recording career best figures of 5 for 32 from 10 overs and bowling well over 90 mph. This led to speculation that he may yet return to the England team once more.
Shortly after the surprise international call-up for Darren Pattinson
Darren Pattinson
Darren John Pattinson is an English cricketer who currently plays for Victoria and Nottinghamshire.Pattinson received considerable press coverage when he was surprisingly selected for the England cricket team in July 2008 for the 2nd Test against South Africa at Headingley...
, chosen ahead of Jones, Jones suffered another knee injury requiring yet more surgery.
"The surgeon was happy," Jones said. "He said, 'You can never be 100% [but] I'm 80 to 90% sure you'll be fine - you are always going to have 10 or 20% [chance that you won't play again]'."
Jones, though, is happy with those odds. He has beaten worse predictions before after being given a 70% chance of recovering from his horrific cruciate ligament injury at Brisbane in 2002. "I'll always back myself," he said. "I know if I can bowl at the top of my game I can get in that side."
With no hope of playing cricket in the remaining 2009 season, and with it being the final year of his contract, on July 19 Worcestershire released Jones. Towards the end of the 2009 domestic season, Jones opened talks with Glamorgan and Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
.
Jones eventually opted to sign for Hampshire and joined the club on 30 September 2009 with a view to regaining his fitness in time for the 2010 County Championship
2010 County Championship
The 2010 County Championship season, known as the LV County Championship for sponsorship reasons, was the 111th County Championship season. It was contested through two divisions: Division One and Division Two. Each team played all the others in their division both home and away...
. Jones played a number of limited-over matches for Hampshire that season and eventually made his first-class debut at the end of the season, in a match versus Warwickshire, taking 4-60 in the only innings in which he bowled.
In January 2011, Jones played for Hampshire in the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20
2011 Caribbean Twenty20
The 2010–11 Caribbean Twenty20 season is the second season of the Caribbean Twenty20, a domestic Twenty20 tournament administrated by the West Indies Cricket Board. The season began on 10 January 2011, six months after the 2010 tournament, and concluded with the final on 23 January...
, a tournament which Hampshire were invited to take part in. He played all of Hampshire's fixtures in the tournament, including the final against Trinidad and Tobago, which Hampshire lost. Jones was the competition's joint leading wicket taker with teammate Hamza Riazuddin
Hamza Riazuddin
Hamza Riazuddin is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed lower-order batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who currently plays for Hampshire. He is a British Pakistani...
with 12.
Jones returned to Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
on a month's loan on 17 June 2011, Hampshire reiterated he was still very much part of their plans for the coming year. However, on 19th October 2011 Glamorgan Cricket Club announced he had signed a 2 year deal to return to the Welsh county where he started his career.
Personal life
Simon Jones lives in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
with girlfriend Justine with whom he has two sons, Harvey (b. November 2006) and Charlie. They have reportedly helped him with his perspective on life in general, and more specifically in dealing with career-threatening injuries:
"The kids have calmed me down. You realise what's important in life."
In February 2006 Jones was placed 9th and the highest placed sportsman in a poll of the world's sexiest men, voted for by readers of New Woman
New Woman
The New Woman was a feminist ideal that emerged in the late 19th century. The New Woman pushed the limits set by male-dominated society, especially as modeled in the plays of Norwegian Henrik Ibsen . "The New Woman sprang fully armed from Ibsen's brain," according to a joke by Max Beerbohm...
magazine.