Worcestershire to release Simon Jones

Article Published: Friday 17 July 2009
Written by: Administrator
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England pace bowler Simon Jones is to be released by county side Worcestershire at the end of the season, the club said Friday, after being told he won't play again this year.

Jones was one of the key figures in England's 2005 victory over Australia, but the Welsh quick was a spectator in the crowd when the latest Ashes battle got underway in Cardiff on July 8.

A series of knee injuries have repeatedly sidelined the 30-year-old since that Ashes triumph four years ago and he was told last month he was still not fit enough to return to action.

Worcestershire said Friday that Jones had not been offered a contract extension beyond the end of the current season.

Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire's director of cricket, said: "This has been a difficult decision but is in the best interests of the club going forward.

"We all admire the effort that Simon has put in to regain full fitness and we know he is determined to be fit for the 2010 season," the former England wicket-keeper added.

"However we are not in the position to offer him a new contract going forward so he is free to talk to any other county about his future.

"We want to thank Simon for his contribution to the club's success in 2008 when his 42 wickets at 18.02 helped us secure promotion to Division One (in the County Championship) and we really do hope that he can win his fitness battle and resume his career," Rhodes added.

Jones, who began his career with Welsh county Glamorgan, took 18 wickets in four Tests at an average of 21 apiece during the 2005 Ashes before missing the series finale at the Oval because of injury.

He'd previously ruptured a cruciate ligament in his right knee in Brisbane on the first day of the 2002/03 Ashes series.

Last month Jones was adamant he'd intended to continue his career.

"I am devastated but I always take the positives out of a negative and the good thing is the cartilage is in really good nick and just the bone underneath needs a little more time," he said.

"This isn't career-threatening. It is just a matter of giving it a bit more time and the knee will be fine.

"I've now just got to look forward to next season, get myself in good shape over the next few months and see what happens."

Jones's father Jeff, a left-arm quick bowler, played 15 Tests for England in the 1960s before his career was cut short by an elbow injury.

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