Brisbane: Yorkshire paceman Chris Silverwood is to replace injured Simon Jones in England's Ashes Test cricket squad, the English Cricket Board (ECB) said on Saturday.

Jones will sit out for at least six months after he ruptured knee ligaments while fielding in the first Ashes cricket Test against Australia here on Thursday.

An ECB statement said Silverwood would join the touring party from Tuesday in Hobart, where England is scheduled to play a three-day match against Australia 'A' starting next Friday.

"We see Chris as a like-for-like replacement for Simon Jones. He has genuine pace, hits the deck hard and the conditions in Australia should suit his type of bowling," chairman of selectors David Graveney said in the statement.

"His presence in the squad will provide real competition for places in the pace bowling department ahead of the second Test and he will be available to play in the three-day game against Australia A."

Silverwood has played five Tests for England, the last at Centurion Park in South Africa in 2000. He was a member of the national One-day squad that toured Zimbabwe last Northern autumn.

He played a One-day international against Australia at Lord's in 1997 but has yet to play a Test against Australia.

"It's every cricketer's dream to play in the Ashes and I'm no exception. It's going to be hard work, but I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I can try and force my way into the Test side," Silverwood said in the ECB statement.

"I didn't have anything planned this (Northern) winter so this is a nice bonus. I've been working out in the gym and swimming regularly to keep myself in shape."

Jones is to stay with the England squad until after the Brisbane Test and will spend two weeks at the English Academy in Adelaide to help manage the injury before he flies home to have reconstruction knee surgery.

Copyright AFP 2001

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