4:30pm Sunday 27th December 2009
AUSTRALIAN batsman Phil Jaques is determined to continue his run-scoring ways for Worcestershire next summer.
The forgotten Test opener is returning to New Road for the first half of the 2010 season as a replacement for departed Stephen Moore.
Jaques, who enjoyed prolific county seasons in 2006 and 2007, is hoping to use another successful stint as a springboard to relaunch his stalled international career.
Jaques finished Australia’s 2008 West Indies tour with a century in the final Test, but was dropped for the next match in India when the now retired Matthew Hayden returned and Simon Katich was the preferred partner.
This year Jaques has endured the agony of a potentially career-ending operation to fix a bulging disc in his lower back.
But with his chronic injury problems finally behind him the stylish left-hander is slowly working towards the peak of both his fitness and form for his state New South Wales this winter before arriving at New Road in time for Worcestershire’s opening match of the season against Middlesex.
“I’m still desperate to play for Australia again — there was no way I could have gone through everything I did if I didn’t have that desire,” Jaques said.
“I always had the desire to come back to cricket but my decision was based on simply getting my life back in order.
“The problem was debilitating and it affected just about everything. I couldn’t stand up straight, let alone play cricket. I lived with the disc problem and pain for three years.”
Looking ahead to next summer Jaques believes wearing Worcestershire colours will help him to feel like a new man. “It feels like the old me is back again,” he added.
“I haven’t been this strong ever and I can’t wait to get back to New Road.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/trade_directory/