Cricket News: Simon Jones and His Bowling Crusade

In 2005, England won the Ashes for the first time in twenty years, not because of an indestructible batting lineup, but because of the best pace bowling attack in the world.

Opening the bowling were Stephen Harmison, a constant threat with pace and bounce, and Matthew Hoggard, a dependable swinger of the ball. Coming in after them were the irreplaceable Andrew Flintoff, arguably the deadliest fast bowler on the planet.

But also bowling was Welsh born Simon Jones. A true exponent of reverse swing and in possession of great, raw pace.

Despite only playing four of the five games af that Ashes series due to an ankle injury, Jones took the second highest total of wickets for an English player in the series, taking 18 at an average of 21.

But, the fourth game of that Ashes series looked to be his last for England, as the said ankle injury ruled him out for over a year, and when he returned for his county Glamorgan, his pace was down, and his effectiveness limited. It looked as if he was doomed to play out the rest of his career on the county scene.

But Jones this year left his native Wales to ply his trade for Vikram Solanki's Worcestershire side, and the move seems to have paid dividends.

Jones has played in four county championship matches this season and has already notched 19 wickets, including two five wicket hauls, at a league leading average of 11.

Furthermore, he is not only taking regular wickets, but his pace is back up at 90mph and he is once again getting the ball to reverse swing.

It appears he has overcome his injuries and is once again a lethal fast bowler.

The question is, if his form should continue, should he be recalled to the England side for the series against South Africa?

Whilst England in this New Zealand series have been more effective with ball than bat, is this bowling line up really one which will trouble South Africa?

Will it win us the Ashes back next year?

For me the problem with the bowling lineup is that, much like New Zealand's, it perhaps lacks penetration. Stuart Broad is a good line and length bowler, but he just doesn't threaten enough. In the first two matches of the series against a poor New Zealand, he took just three wickets at 72.

If a bowler is that ineffective against one of the worst batting lineups I have ever seen, I dread to think how he will perform when confronted with a world class batsman like Jaques Kallis or Graeme Smith.

Ryan Sidebotton has solidified his position in the England side with 66 wickets in just 16 matches. However, it is worth pointing out that 53 of his wickets have come against the West Indies and New Zealand, two of the weaker test nations.

He has bowled well against Sri Lanka and India without the wickets to go with it. The series against South Africa will be his biggest test, and he has to prove in it that he is capable of taking wickets against the better teams.

James Anderson is the most threatening bowler in the side. He can swing the ball and is capable of bowling majestically. Sadly, he is extremely inconsistent and often very expensive. If he plays badly against the South Africans, they will punish him, he will need to be on top of his game. But, if he performs, a definite threat, the only out and out threat in the lineup.

With Andrew Flintoff set for a possible return also, playing as one of the four man bowling attack, would it be worth axing two of them in favour of the more dangerous Flintoff and Jones?

I would personally drop Broad in favour of Jones for the upcoming South African series. Jones is much more of a threat, and Broad is still young, his time will definitely come. I would play Flintoff over Collingwood as I have never understood what Collingwood offers as an international cricketer.

If England are going to beat South Africa they will need to take 20 wickets a match, and to do this they will need an attack that is capable of striking regularly, not merely containing.

The current attack will not have enough to beat South Africa. An attack with Flintoff and Jones may just though.