LONDON, Oct 4: Paceman Simon Jones has been ruled out of England’s tour to Pakistan after failing a fitness test on his injured right ankle on Tuesday. The Glamorgan fast bowler sustained the injury during the fourth Test against Australia in August and was forced to miss the fifth and final match of the Ashes series at The Oval.

“We have tried a number of measures to help Simon’s ankle to settle but these have been unsuccessful and we are left with no alternative but to operate,” England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief medical officer Peter Gregory said in a statement.

“There should be sufficient time for Simon to regain fitness and hence become available for selection for the tour to India beginning in late February.”

England will play three Tests and five One-day Internationals in Pakistan. The squad arrive on Oct 26 and the first Test in Multan starts on Nov 12.

Hampshire paceman Chris Tremlett, who was also named last month in the 17-man tour squad, is continuing to have treatment on a knee injury and is due to be assessed soon by Gregory.

Tremlett was a member of England’s 12 for the first four Tests against Australia.

England will miss Jones, whose new found ability to reverse swing would have been an asset on Pakistan’s abrasive pitches where the shine is quickly stripped from the ball.

“He (Jones) made an enormous contribution to our (2-1) Ashes victory,” said chairman of selectors David Graveney when the tour squad was announced last month.

Jones took 18 wickets at 21 runs apiece in the Ashes series.—Reuters