Mumbai: In sports, precocious talents often come with `handle with care' label and England fast bowler Simon Jones truly belongs to that category, if one is to believe his coach Duncan Fletcher.

Jones, whose reverse swing bamboozled the Australians in last summer's Ashes series, is easing his way back into the England team after an ankle surgery.

The three-day warm up match against a CCI President's XI that opened the India tour was the first Jones was seen in action since going under the surgeon's knife.

His ultra cautious run up to crease was some sight but Fletcher said he had to keep in mind the bowler's psyche that often swung from one end to the other, just like his deliveries.

``All these bowlers, anyone who comes back from injury, they are a little bit tender here and there as they make this progress, as they step up to the next test,'' the Zimbabwean said.

``You just got to be careful and especially with Simon. He is an individual that's either flat out or nothing. It's very, very hard with him, that's the way he is.

``Whether he throws, runs around in the outfield or bowls. And we just wanted him upfront, not to tear in there straightway in a game, his first competitive game.

``We'd liked him to have bowled a little bit quicker, but we know with him, if you say that then he will bowl flat out. We had to treat him with kid gloves.''

Derek Pringle, the former England Test player who now goes on tour as a writer for London's Daily Telegrpah, said Jones owed his success to biomechanist and fast bowling coach Troy Cooley from Australia.

``Because Jones in the beginning was wild and wily. Even in South Africa a year ago, the captain did not bowl him if he could avoid in some of the close games. But in summer back in England, he was an entirely different person,'' Pringle said.

Best option

England's opening batsman Andrew Strauss believes sweep is the best option for a batsman against spinners, particularly if the drive is not his favourite shot.

The visiting batsmen without exception have practised extensively the horizontal knees-down stroke as they seek to master the Indian spinners in the Test and one-day series beginning from March 1.

``It is very much an individual thing. Someone like Andrew Flintoff does not need to sweep a lot because he is a good driver of the ball. Others have to find other ways.

``The key to playing spin is to try and get off the strike by manoeuvring the field.

``If you have to sweep, if you have practised and feel comfortable with that, it should not be a high risk shot,'' was how the left-handed batsman reasoned it out.

A question about the quality of spin talent in England camp elicited a sharp reply from the visiting batsman. ``I would be very wary about saying England does not have a good spinner. The Indian spinners did not do well in Pakistan either,'' Strauss said.

``We certainly back our bowlers. They have got points to prove and they are motivated by that. — PTI

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