Injured Jones suffers new Ashes setback

London:

Injury-plagued pace bowler Simon Jones will undergo further knee surgery on Thursday which will almost certainly rule him out of the Ashes.

The 30-year-old Worcestershire bowler, who picked up 18 wickets to help England win the Ashes in 2005, had surgery last September after taking 42 first-class wickets in nine games in the county championship.

But the discovery of a new cartilage problem means he will need another operation, ruling the ex-Glamorgan bowler out of action until the middle of June.

"Simon Jones visited his surgeon today and has been informed of a new cartilage issue behind the kneecap," said a Worcestershire spokesman.

"Simon will undergo surgery tomorrow (Thursday) and will be ruled out of playing for six to eight weeks."

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "It is bad news for Simon that this new problem has occurred. Simon will undergo arthroscopy on his left knee tomorrow to remove loose cartilage.

"The positive that can be taken from this is that Simon will be ready for the second part of the season."