There’s good news you can shout out loud, and then there’s good news you want to say really quietly because it seems so fragile, yet is so important. And hearing Hampshire Assistant Coach Iain Brunnschweiler say that Simon Jones is almost ready to bowl again is certainly in the latter category.

“Simon’s come on fantastically,” Brunchy told me. “He’s running now and he can pretty much do everything the other blokes are doing at the moment. We’re very, very, close to getting him back to bowling again, which is amazing. His progress has been nothing short of phenomenal” (and here he pauses to touch wood). “I don’t watch to put the mockers on it, but everything’s gone well to this point.

“When I heard that I was going to be working with him very closely I knew it was going to be a heavy workload in terms of me being with him three or four hours a day, five or six days a week. As much from the fact that we were going to be doing some very basic exercises – very repetitive and boring, and it’s hard – the guy’s been through a lot of rehabs in the past. His attitude and application towards his training have been phenomenal – I’ll use the word again. Probably the most professional attitude towards a regime I’ve ever seen.

“We spent a lot of time in the sweat box (players’ gym) during November and December, which is a windowless room, for three or four hours a day which is pretty demoralising. But because of his application during those two months the progress he’s made after Christmas has been huge. He’s stuck to plan which has meant he’s given himself every chance. His hard work has allowed him to get to this stage, so we’re all hoping that it will pay off and we’ll see him bowling this summer.”

When I mentioned to Simon that Brunchy had used the word ‘phenomenal’ twice he laughed. “He’s very kind!” he said. “I’m working hard and doing things right, that’s all I can do at the moment. I’m happy with my progress to date and am enjoying Hampshire immensely – there are very talented, hard working, quality people here, all moving in the right direction.”

Apart from his total professionalism and impressive work ethic, the thing that most shines through about Simon Jones is what a lovely, down to earth guy he is. Brunchy agrees. “He’s a fantastic bloke. I’m lucky because I’ve known him since we were fifteen or sixteen which helps. For people at Hampshire who don’t know, he’s a very, very nice guy. But very aggressive when he bowls – you wouldn’t want to face him! I’ve played against him a few times and we were talking about one of the early Second Team games at The Rose Bowl when he opened the bowling and we were about  40 for 6. I came in and he just bounced me every ball! He’s still the nicest guy in the world off the pitch, but he’ll always play hard, which is why we were very keen to get him here.”

Jane Cable

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