SIMON Jones is ready to take out his injury frustrations when Worcestershire Royals take on his former county Glamorgan Dragons at New Road today (12pm) in the latest round of the Friends Provident Trophy.
The Welshman has seen his start to the season at his new club blighted by a neck injury that he picked up batting on the first day of the campaign at Warwick-shire.
The 28-year-old managed to bowl three very impressive overs at the end of that day, but Jones has been unable to play since.
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The 2005 England Ashes hero narrowly missed out on playing at Northamptonshire last week and will make his comeback against his former South Wales employers.
Jones spent 12 years at the Welsh county before severing his ties to head for New Road and Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes believes that the time is now right for the pace bowler to show what he can do.
But, as Jones returns today, the Royals will be without fellow pace bowler Kabir Ali after he picked up a hamstring injury at Northamptonshire last week. He will be replaced by Mehraj Ahmed.
"There is no better team for Simon to make his comeback against," said Rhodes. "The Northampton match was probably a day too soon for him.
"He is raring to go. He has had a few niggles which needed some needles but now he is ready. Simon was bowling in the nets during the breaks throughout the week at Northampton and on Saturday he was fielding for Kabir.
"We are going to be careful with Kabir because it is only a strain but, if we keep him going, then it could turn out to be a tear and then he will be out for three weeks," added Rhodes
The Royals will be looking for their first success in this year's Friends Provident Trophy competition and Rhodes feels that the toss today against the Dragons will be crucial.
"In the two matches that we have had it has darted around quite a bit and we have lost two tosses," he said.
"Hopefully, we can be successful with the toss and put them in and get them in trouble."
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