Harmison backs Jones to make West Indies trip

Friday, January 9, 2004

LONDON, England (AFP): Stephen Harmison said Thursday he had no doubt that potential new-ball partner Simon Jones could make it into England's tour squad for the West Indies. 

England's selectors have kept a place open for Glamorgan quick Jones, out of action for 14 months with a cruciate knee ligament injury, provided he proves his fitness on the forthcoming A tour of Malaysia and India. 

Durham quick Harmison, who was included in the squad announced Wednesday despite missing England's 1-0 series defeat away to Sri Lanka in December with a back injury, said: "I am really pleased for Simon. I have spent a lot of time with him this winter and he has worked really hard to get fit again and he is physically stronger now." 

Both Jones and Harmison have been recuperating at the National Cricket Academy in Loughborough, central England. 

Harmison was on the field when Jones sustained his freak injury after slipping while fielding during the Brisbane Test against Australia in November 2002 and admitted he feared the worst for his fellow paceman.

"I was there when he was carried off in Brisbane. I carried the front end of the stretcher, and that was a hard experience for everyone, especially someone who went to the Academy with Simon the year before like myself," Harmison explained.

On Wednesday, Jones said: "I'm viewing this decision by the selectors as a positive and I'm looking forward to the challenge in India and showing that I'm fit for the Caribbean."

"There is no bigger incentive for a fast bowler than having a West Indies tour dangled like a carrot in front of him." 

Jones, capable of genuinely fast bowling, has bowled in only three second XI games since his injury. 

England have not won a Test series in the Caribbean since Jones's father Jeff, a left-arm pace bowler for Glamorgan, was in the team back in 1968.

The tour party leaves England for a four-Test series on February 25 with the first Test starting in Jamaica on March 11. 

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