And the Answer is....

Jane Cable tries to find out when Simon Jones will be ready to play

The most asked question around The Rose Bowl at the moment just has to be ‘when is Simon Jones going to play?’ Jane Cable finds out how he’s getting along.

Simon Jones is a very patient man. He is perpetually asked the same questions about his progress and still manages to answer them with equanimity. And for readers with little patience, the short answer is ‘not yet’.

“Many people think I’m going to be the magic answer, but we’re sticking to our plan of doing things right” he told me. That plan involved an extensive fitness regime over the winter culminating in some very gentle bowling during Hampshire’s pre season trip to South Africa. “It was more walk up, jump and bowl, but now I’m back to my full run up and working on my pace. It’s much better than being in the gym!” he laughs.

I wondered if Simon has had to change his run up at all, but he is still bowling off the same 18 paces. “It feels perfect at the moment. I’m really getting some good rhythm, feeling strong at the crease, and the ball’s coming out nicely.” All music to the ears of the Hampshire faithful.

Simon is doing most of his training outdoors on the Nursery Ground and loves the fact that he can work outside. He is spending most of his time with the Second XI under the strict eye of Iain Brunnschweiler and I am sure that having him as a net bowler must be improving our youngsters’ batting no end. “I feel like I’m king of the kids” Simon admits. “Most of them are about ten years younger than me, but they’re good fun and they keep you on your toes.”

Simon is adamant that his first game for Hampshire will be with the Second XI. “I need to prove my fitness and get some wickets under my belt, but first off show that I can stay on the park and bowl some overs.”

I have visions of some fresh-faced Academy lad or County trialist coming out to bat in a Second XI Trophy game and being faced with the bowling might that is Simon Jones and I find I like the thought very much. It will be a first step back for Simon, and then we can legitimately start wondering when he will be wearing his Hampshire number 10 shirt in the main Rose Bowl arena for the first time.

Jane Cable

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