Jones on course for April return

Simon Jones picked up 42 wickets in the Championship this summer

Worcestershire are confident that England paceman Simon Jones will be fit for the start of next season.

Jones missed the end of last season before undergoing his latest bout of knee surgery in October, having first helped Worcestershire to promotion.

But Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes is optimistic that Jones will be ready for next April.

"He won't start running until the new year," said Rhodes. "But there's loads of other things we have got him doing."

Rhodes told the Worcester News: "We don't want him doing the sort of pounding work now that might set him back a step but, as things stand at the moment, Simon will be fit for the start of the season.

"To have him available again will be a massive boost because everyone knows what a key part he played for us last season.

Steve Rhodes will once again handle Simon Jones with care next summer

"He had such an impressive strike rate, and he worked so hard last winter and his figures were excellent."

Jones took 42 wickets in nine Championship matches, his most successful season of county cricket, forming a potent attack with Kabir Ali, who took 59 wickets.

And, three years on from his heroics in the Ashes victory, he was part of the initial England squad of 30 for the eventually aborted Champions Trophy.

A lot of Jones' success was down to Rhodes carefully rotating him and allowing plenty of time to rest and recuperate in between matches.

And Worcestershire intend to have a similar plan put in place in 2009.

"We will have to probably manage his situation carefully again," added Rhodes. "That means he can still be playing until the end of the season, and it paid off last season."