Jones is targeting England's winter tour of the West Indies

The fearsome paceman last held the ball in anger at the Gabba, Brisbane, last November on the first day of last winter's Ashes series, when a freak fielding injury saw him rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The setting for his return is somewhat less august - he will turn out for the Glamorgan second XI against their unfortunate Lancashire counterparts in the tiny Gwent village of Panteg.

Jones says he is targeting England's winter tour of the West Indies, but with Darren Gough retired from Test cricket and the rest of Michael Vaughan's attack misfiring, the Welshman's return will be given the closest scrutiny.

Simon's road to recovery

"I can't wait to get back into action," said Jones, who has been rehabilitating under the guidance of England Academy coach Troy Cooley, Glamorgan physio Erj Mustafa and former Olympic long-jump champion Lyn Davies.

"It will be great to put on the whites again and see where I am, but people have to realise that this game is part of my rehabilitation and I will only be bowling at about 85-90% of my potential," Jones told The South Wales Argus.

I'll be kicking balls over the ropes rather than sliding to save fours Simon Jones

"I won't be bowling more than 10 or 12 overs in a day, maybe in three or four spells.

"It will be a case of suck it and see - I'll probably be a little bit nervous but it's time to get back."

England have been careful to keep Jones involved with the squad in order to make him feel at home in the national set-up, and a sports psychologist has been employed to make sure his mind is focused.

Jones hopes that his action and wicket-taking potential will not have suffered from the long lay-off, but one thing that may have altered is his approach to fielding.

"I don't think you'll see me flinging myself about in the outfield too much," he said, "I'll be kicking balls over the ropes rather than sliding to save fours."