Simon Jones has suffered numerous injury problems in his career

Former Ashes hero Simon Jones says his latest fitness battle has been as hard as anything he has experienced.

The 31-year-old fast bowler has put together a string of appearances for the first time in two years.

And Jones has found form in the T20 Cup with three wickets in Hampshire's win over Kent a day after starring in the win over his former county Glamorgan.

"I'm just happy to be back on the field - it's a great feeling and hopefully I'll carry on." said Welshman Jones.

"But I won't lie, it's been hard. I've been lucky to have Andrew Nealon [Hampshire physio] and Ian Brunnschweiler [conditioning coach] who're very good and looked after me.

"Don't get me wrong, I've worked my socks off, I've worked as hard as I've ever done or even harder and I'm feeling the benefits."

Jones says that losing around 17kg in weight - mainly to the upper body - has been part of the process that helped him get back to action.

"I've lost a heap of weight, muscle basically, because I looked more like a rugby player than a cricketer," he added. "I'm a lot lighter and I'm feeling good."

Jones is also hoping to move back up towards the lightning fast speed that helped him terrorise the Australians in the historic Ashes triumph of 2005.

Since then he has suffered a number of ankle, knee and neck injuries that has hampered his progress.

"It's going to get quicker and quicker, it's just a confidence thing because you've got to believe in your body," said Jones.

"I've got to stay on the park and prove my fitness. The way forward is to get on the field and get my bowling confidence back but it's a tough thing to start again in this form of the game [t20]."

Jones is hoping to test his fitness further in the County Championship during the rest of the season but after a career punctuated by so many lengthy injuries.

But he has dismissed the idea of targeting any more international honours.

"I'm not even thinking about it - I just want to play cricket and that's it," he said.

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