Jones can sleep easy again after comeback

This was the first day of the rest of his life.

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Back in the firing line: Simon Jones against Sussex today

Jones eased his way, tentatively at first but with increasing confidence and speed, through eight wicketless overs. The smile on his face afterwards emphasised that they were as valuable to him as any decisive burst he produced for England in that glorious summer two years ago.

Jones is back bowling and, after all he has been through, a 50-over friendly at Hove felt like Utopia.

"It does enter your mind that you might not ever bowl again, I won't lie to you," said Jones as he positively basked in figures of 8-2-29-0.

"I couldn't sleep last night. I was more nervous than I've ever been in my life. You feel the expectation, you wonder if you will be OK. You don't want to think negatively when you come back but there is always something there, nagging in your mind.

"I was more worried this time because some people, like Steve James at Glamorgan, haven't come back from injuries like this. At least when I damaged my cruciate ligament in Brisbane I knew I needed a total knee construction and then it was done and dusted.

"Job done. The knee was as strong as ever. This time was different. There was more uncertainty."

This time' was the fifth serious injury of Jones's all too brief career. This time it was his left knee rather than the right one he damaged so horrifically at the Gabba on the first day of the 2002-03 Ashes series.

And this time the aggressive, penetrating reverse swing bowling that did so much to win the Ashes and was so badly missed this winter could easily have been lost to England for good.

Jones, who damaged an ankle in the Ashes clinching win at Trent Bridge and missed the celebrated draw at The Oval, was making his way back for England on the following winter's tour of India when he twisted his knee in the nets at Nagpur.

He aggravated it again attempting a comeback for Glamorgan against Ireland 11 months ago and has not been seen on a cricket field since.

And he may not have been ready to return now had it not been for the work of the man who has become the most revered knee surgeon in the world.

"I was lucky enough to be treated by the best in Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado," said Jones who, at 28, has been able to play just 18 Tests because of the fragility of his muscular body.

"With him you know there's a very good chance of getting back. It's been so frustrating seeing England struggle at times over the last couple of years and not being able to do anything about it.

"But I've had to think about myself rather than England. This has been a career threatening injury and if I hadn't focused completely on putting it right. things could easily have gone wrong. I've had to be single-minded, determined and haven't let anything distract me."

That Jones was in action for his county - playing a largely supporting role at Hove to Huw Waters, who took four wickets, and the hugely promising 16-year- old James Harris - was down to Steadman's pioneering micro-fracture surgery.

Now the knee feels strong and a spring is back in Jones's languid step.

"I eased myself back in," said Jones. "I'm not going to go at it like a bull at a gate like I normally do. I'm not as young and stupid as I used to be and I've learned the best way to go about things.

"This has been the hardest rehab I've ever done and I've had to be really patient. The knee feels good now but I know that can be dangerous because you can start to push it too much. Now I'll be back in the nets and looking to play again next week."

• Alastair Cook, a potential England captain, will lead the MCC against county champions Sussex in the domestic season's traditional opener, starting at Lord's on April 13.

It is understood the England selectors suggested to the MCC that the Essex opener, 22, should be skipper.