13 Quintessential facts about Simon Jones - Glamorgan Gladiator

The Glamorgan man has itched some high points in his international career. He made inspiring comebacks from injuries and lifted England on a number of occasions. At 6ft 3 in, Jones has troubled the finest of batsmen during his prolific yet short international career. Let’s check out some of the interesting facts about Simon Jones, the Glamorgan’s Gladiator.

1. Born and Brought up:

Simon Philip Jones was born on 25th December 1978 in Swansea, Glamorgan.

2. Major caps:

Jones represented England, Glamorgan, Hampshire and Worcestershire.

3. Nickname:

He is known as “Horse” by his team-mates for his ability to bowl long spells without breaking a sweat.

4. Cricketing connection:

His father, Jeff Jones, played cricket for Glamorgan & England in the 1960s.

5. Family:

Simon Jones lives in Cardiff with his wife Justine, whom he married in December 2011; the couple now has two sons.

6. First-class delights:

In 91 matches, Jones picked up 267 wickets at an average of 30.49, with 15 fifers.

7. Debut at Lords:

Jones made his Test match debut at the Lord’s Cricket Ground against India on 25th July 2002, at the age of 23. After making an impressive 44 from 43 deliveries with the bat, Jones ended the Indian first innings with figures of 2/61 off 21 overs.

8. Fighter:

Simon Jones fought back from a grievous career-threatening knee injury to become an integral member of England’s triumphant Ashes-winning team in 2005.

9. Ashes hero:

He was phenomenal during the third Ashes Test match against Australia in the year 2005, picking up the wickets of Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Michael Clarke, Jason Gillespie, and Brett Lee, as he collected figures of 6/53, his best bowling figures.

10. Test scalps:

In 18 Test matches, Jones scalped 59 wickets at an average of 28.23 and an economy of 3.54. He also scored 205 runs with the bat, coming down the order.

11. Setbacks:

Jones sustained a twisting injury to his left ankle while bowling in the nets in preparation for the first Test of England’s tour to India in the year 2006.

12. Appealing:

Jones was placed ninth and the highest-placed sportsman in a poll of the world’s sexiest men voted for by readers of New Woman magazine in 2006.

13. Expressing himself:

His memoirs, The Test: My Life, and the Inside Story of the Greatest Ashes Series, were published by Random House in 2015.