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Jones Raring To Go
By Edward Hall October 19 2002
Simon Jones will become the fourth Glamorgan player to play for England in a Test match in Australia if he steps out in the First Test next month. Jones has said that he is raring to go, and any effects of his injury have now gone.
The chances of Jones appearing in the opening match were further increased this week, when it was revealed that Andrew Flintoff might miss the First Test along with Darren Gough. This leaves the pace cupboard rather bare, as Flintoff and Gough are England’s quickest operators. If Flintoff and Gough are not fit in time, Jones is almost certain to get picked, and join the list of Glamorgan players who have featured in Ashes contests. No Glamorgan player has ever been part of a winning Ashes team. Luckily for Simon, the closest Welshman to that honour is his father, Jeff, who played 4 Tests on the 1965-66 tour Down Under, in which the series was drawn 1-1. Jones should have received plenty of advice before leaving, as Robert Croft went on the last Ashes tour, and should have given him a good idea of the expectation that can be placed on one’s shoulder.

Jones will have a few chances to prove his fitness before the real action starts though. The first game is on Tuesday against an ACB Chairman’s XI, and this is followed by a couple of games against Western Australia. Jones will be looking for some confidence boosting wickets after his time out of the game, so he can start the Tests strongly, and hopefully, follow in the footsteps of his father.

Glamorgan’s Ashes tourists:
Gilbert Parkhouse (1 Test in 1950-51)
Jeff Jones (4 Tests in 1965-66)
Robert Croft (1 Test in 1998-99)

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