7:00am Monday 6th July 2009
By Michael Reeves
SIMON Jones wants to have his Worcestershire future clarified with the pace ace out of contract this autumn.
The injury-jinxed quick bowler was ruled out for the campaign earlier this month having not played any cricket since last August but he is extremely confident of being ready for next season.
Now with his contract set to expire, the 30-year-old is still waiting to hear from club officials as to whether they are going to offer him a new deal or let him leave.
“It is not a very nice situation to be in,” the Welshman said. “You’d rather know one way or another.
“At the end of the day, it is the club’s decision and I’ve got to wait and see. They’ve got to think about what they want to do and, whatever that is, there is nothing I can do about it.”
Jones has been struggling with a knee injury but has been told by his surgeon Andrew Williams the cartilage has healed but it is the bone behind that in his left knee which needs extra time to recovery.
The former England star is desperate to extend his time at Worcestershire and recapture the form that he showed in his first season for Steve Rhodes’ team.
“I think it is a fantastic place to play and I desperately want to stay,” he said.
“I have just got to be patient and I hope it works in my favour because I know I will be fit next year.”
Jones hoped he had put his injury nightmares behind him when he joined Worcestershire and in his first season he took 42 championship wickets at little more than 18 apiece and was on the verge of an England return.
But then he needed to go back under the knife a month before the end of the campaign.
“I need a bit of luck. It has been a bad couple of years. I thought things had changed last year,” Jones said.
“I just want to play the game I love without waking up in the morning thinking I’ve got to have a concoction of painkillers.
“Next season is nine months away — I’ve got plenty of time. The surgeon is really happy with the knee, it’s just unfortunate I can’t do anything this year.”
Jones is continuing with his rehabilitation at New Road as he tries to ensure he will be fit and firing next term — wherever that maybe.
He added: “I’m doing everything I can to keep myself fit and to keep myself occupied. The knee just needs rest. If I rest and just keep ticking over, I’ll be fine.”
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