Simon Jones could be fit for Ashes

Pace bowler Simon Jones could be fit for next year's Ashes series after his county club said he will return to action for the start of the English cricket season in April.

The 29-year-old Jones was an integral part of the 2005 team that beat Australia 2-1 to win the Ashes for the first time in 18 years but has barely played since injuring his ankle in February 2006.

That injury was followed by a serious knee injury, which restricted his performances up until last season.

Even so, he did manage 42 wickets for about 18 runs each for Worcestershire and sent the ball down at more than 90 mph (145 kph). Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes now expects Jones to be fully fit by April.

"We'll probably have to manage his situation carefully again but that is so he can still be playing until the end of the season," Rhodes told the daily Worcester News.

That suggests Jones could take part in the five-match Ashes series, which starts July 8 in Cardiff, Wales, and concludes with the August 20 to 24 Test at The Oval.

But Rhodes was still cautious. "Believe it or not, he hasn't done any running yet and that is on purpose," Rhodes said Wednesday. "He won't do any running until well into the new year, but he will still be fit. There are lots of other things that we have got Simon doing.”

"We don't want him doing any of the pounding work yet as it might see him take a step backwards. That is something none of us want."