SIMON Jones has missed out on England’s November tour to India after being told that he will be on crutches for eight weeks.

The Worcestershire pace ace had a knee operation last week to repair a damaged cartilage and, while the surgeon was pleased with how the procedure went, the rehabilitation is longer than first thought.

It appears after today’s England press conference in Cardiff that new skipper Kevin Pietersen had wanted the 2005 Ashes winner on the India tour, but any chances of that happening have now been scuppered.

“I would have loved to have taken Simon to India, but I can’t as he won’t be fit in time,” said Pietersen.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes confirmed that 29-year-old Jones, who has taken 42 Championship wickets this term at just over 18 apiece, would not be fit for the India tour but did not rule out Jones being fit for the West Indies trip in the new year.

“Simon is going to be on crutches for eight weeks and if he had stood a chance of going to India then the rehab would have had to have been very quick,” Rhodes said.

“Obviously the West Indies is a target for Simon but there are a lot of good bowlers out there and he would need to get selected.

“What we have to do now is get him through his rehab and get him fit and firing again.”