Jones promises to take on the Aussies

Simon Jones has vowed to prove his fitness for the Ashes tour even as the England selectors meet tonight to pick their squad.

The strapping Glamorgan youngster, fighting for two months to shrug off a side injury, said: 'I am relieved by the scan I had on Friday. There is a little damage to the rib cartilage but I am told it's nothing too serious and I'll be able to start bowling again within two weeks.'

And that ties in nicely with chairman David Graveney's plans to take on the Aussies with an attack based on out-and-out pace.

Graveney said: 'Last winter New Zealand unsettled Australia with sheer pace, notably Shane Bond.

We feel that may be the way to tackle them.'

The need to devise new strategies was highlighted at The Oval over the weekend as India replied to England's 515 all out with 508 on the back of Rahul Dravid's 217. England openers Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick had extended their lead to 121 last night.

However, to unsettle Australia with pace, England's bowlers will have to be at their best - and that includes Jones, plus Darren Gough and Andy Flintoff, who have recently undergone cartilage and hernia operations.