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SIMON Jones was a nervous man when he made his Worcestershire home debut against his former county Glamorgan.

Having spent 12 years at Sophia Gardens, now the Swalec Stadium, the 29-year-old made the move in the winter to New Road.

With question marks over his fitness, the 2005 England Ashes hero was ready and raring to go on the opening day of the season.

However, by the end of the first day at Warwickshire, Jones was hit by a short ball to the head and jarred his neck and was out for two weeks.

The Welshman made his return on Monday and he knows better than anyone that he was not back firing on all cylinders .

After having two weeks in the treatment room to sort out his neck injury the three impressive overs that he bowled at Edgbaston seemed a memory - until Monday.

Jones picked up the wicket of the big-hitting Tom Maynard in the seven-wicket Friends Provident Trophy win over Glamorgan and now he will aim to face Hampshire Hawks on Sunday in the same competition at New Road.

"It's been a very frustrating couple of weeks," Jones said.

"It was hard to make my home debut against Glamorgan. It was quite nerve-wracking playing against your old county - you want to do well.

"When I got to the ground there was a lot water on it after the thunderstorm on Sunday and I thought that my comeback might have had to be delayed, but the ground staff worked hard to get us started and that is a credit to them."

Jones has now returned home to rest up for Sunday and spend time with his family which has recently expanded following the birth of his second son Charlie.

4:20pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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