Stage set for Jones to show worth

"I think Simon has thrown his hat into the ring," said Troy Cooley, England's Australian bowling coach, who was with Jones in India last month when the 25-year-old took 10 wickets in one A-team match.

The selectors quickly promoted Jones to the senior squad, then had to worry with him for a couple of days when his shin problem emerged. But a series of scans and X-rays at Loughborough put minds at rest.

"He's bowled in the nets here and it's looking good," added Cooley. "He'll go into tomorrow's game and how he comes out of that will decide whether he puts his name up for selection for the First Test."

England have already decided that Mark Butcher has no chance of playing tomorrow. That does not automatically discount him from next Thursday's series-opener, but if Paul Collingwood shows more good form then even recovery from a sprained left ankle may not guarantee the Surrey batsman his place.

Collingwood is an impressive understudy to every member of England's middle order, as he showed yesterday while making 103 against Jamaica as Butcher's substitute.

Anyway, it is not the batting lineup which captain Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher need to fret about.

Bowling out the West Indies is likely to be altogether more difficult for England than taking runs off a youthful attack.

It is becoming increasingly clear that spinner Ashley Giles will have a mountain of work. What's more, he could enjoy a fair amount of success if they are as dry as the one prepared for the Jamaica game.

But England will still need some huge performances from their big fast bowlers.

"I think they have all taken something out of the Jamaica game," said Colley.

"It has to be good to have bowled at Sabina Park just a few days before the First Test."

Although Anderson finished the match with four wickets - to Hoggard's three and Harmison's none - it was the Lancashire youngster who looked to be struggling for rhythm.

"He's got a bit in reserve and I think he's peaking at the right time," said Cooley.

Certainly, fortunes can change quickly in cricket. Just ask David Bernard, a young West Indian allrounder who is due to play against England tomorrow but has also been booked for a morning court appearance.

Bernard scored a century for Jamaica against the Windwards last weekend, only to be arrested and charged with using indecent language when he tried to get into Sabina Park as a spectator on Monday.