The Hindu : England 'A' team for India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

England 'A' team for India

By Ted Corbett

LONDON, JAN. 13. Simon Jones, the most promising young fast bowler in England, was today named for the England `A' team which will tour India and Malaysia in the next six weeks. Jones has been out of the game for 14 months after being seriously injured in Australia last winter but the trip to India will be used as a test bed before a decision is made about taking him to West Indies in March and April.

"I am just pleased that the selectors have kept faith with me," said Jones, son of Jeff Jones who made his name during a Test series in the Caribbean 30 years ago. "It has been difficult for me to keep going during my time recovering from my knee injury but now I have a big incentive to put my career back on track. I have been told by Darren Gough that India is the place to learn your trade as a fast bowler because there is little help from the pitches and you have to rely on changes of pace and other tricks to take wickets. I am looking forward to the trip."

Jones was on the verge of being a hero on the first day of the Ashes series in 2002-03 when he took a wicket on the first day but in attempting to make a stop at long-leg he trapped his leg under his body and needed several operations before he could begin play again. He had three trial matches last summer and has been at the England Academy all autumn.

"My bowling seems to be coming along fine," he said. "The knee seems strong and I am now at the point where I don't worry about it."

All 14 players originally selected in September for the ECB National Academy's programme this winter have been included along with Jones.

Two other players are likely to take the eye on this trip. Ed Smith, the Kent batsman, won a place in the England sides against South Africa last summer but missed the early winter tours and Kevin Pietersen, who was born in South Africa, has been the most dynamic batsman in the county game for three years as he qualified for an England Test place. Pietersen will not only be competing for a Test batting place but he could be in line for the all-rounder spot that has not yet been nailed down by Andrew Flintoff.

The chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for England `A' and we are very grateful to the BCCI for allowing the team to compete in India's main domestic competition. Having discussed the composition of the squad with Rod Marsh, it was felt that the squad would benefit from the inclusion of an extra batsman. Smith was unlucky to miss out on selection for the Test squad this winter and a tour of India will give him the ideal opportunity to further complete his development as a player."

The tour schedule will see England `A' play three one-day matches against India `A' as well as participating in India's first class competition, the Duleep Trophy.

The squad: Kadeer Ali (Worcestershire), Simon Francis (Somerset), Alex Gidman (Capt, Gloucestershire), Simon Jones (Glamorgan), Shaftab Khalid (Worcestershire), Michael Lumb (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Graham Napier (Essex), Scott Newman (Surrey), Kevin Pietersen (Notts), Matthew Prior (Sussex), Bilal Shafayat (Notts), Ed Smith (Kent), James Tredwell (Kent) and Graham Wagg (Warwickshire). Coach: Rod Marsh.

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