WHEN England begin their Ashes campaign in Brisbane tonight, Simon Jones will be reminded of the most painful injury of his career.

The Hampshire fast bowler was a fresh-faced 23 year-old when he was handed his Ashes debut at the start of the 2002/03 series.

It began with Nasser Hussain’s baffling decision to field first on a typically hot day at The Gabba, but Jones soon provided some consolation with a fiery spell that included the wicket of Justin Langer.

Then it all went horribly wrong.

Attempting a sliding stop in the outfield shortly after lunch, Jones’ studs caught in the loose turf, resulting in a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

His tour was over.

“I went from the biggest high of my life to the lowest low,” recalls the Welshman.

“I’d felt as good as I’ve ever felt after getting Langer because he’s such a hard man, mentally and physically.

“He can guts it out and bat all day so to nick him off was a massive feeling for me. And for Alec Stewart to catch it was a great feeling because Stewie really looked after me when I came into the team, being the Guv’nor he was.

“As I walked back to my mark, Hayden said ‘Congratulations mate’ you’re the leading wicket taker in the Ashes!’ “I thought ‘it’s like that, is it’! Little remarks like that made me realise I was with the big boys.”

Jones has equally vivid memories of the injury that put the tin hat on one of England’s most inauspicious starts to an Ashes series.

“Ponting played an on-drive and I went haring after it as I normally do,” he said.

“We’d played a warm-up game at the Allan Border Oval where you could slide 15 yards on the outfield, it was like a billiard table.

“So I thought I’d do what I’d been doing all tour and slide, butno…. I didn’t go anywhere.

“All I remember was my left leg digging in the ground, my right leg going straight.

“The pain was unbelievable, the most intense I’ve experienced, but it was a very sharp pain and it soon went.

“I was soon in shock and didn’t feel anything else.

“I had a guy shouting ‘you weak Pommie bastard’ at me and an unopened can of coke was thrown. It just missed me.

“I started to think ‘what’s going on here’? Steve Harmison and [Jason] Gillespie carried me off. It was the beginning of a long, 18-month rehab.

“It was terrible at the time but it’s helped me deal with the injuries I’ve had since.”

How does Jones expect Stuart Broad and Steve Finn, who are both on their first Ashes tour, to cope at The Gabba?

“When I played there it wasn’t unbelievable temperature wise – it was 35 degrees – but when we got out there and the crowds were in I’d never experienced anything like the humidity.

“I was dripping so much, it was almost unbearable.

“I was soaking. Brisbane is notoriously humid, which is why I’m glad Andy Flower sent the lads early to get acclimatised.

“Going from Hobart to there would have been a massive shock to the system and the last thing you want is your boys having the shock of their life when they start bowling.

“It’s going to be a great experience for the young lads on this Ashes trip.

"It’ll make or break them, I reckon.

“When they field on the boundary they’ll be targeted because that’s how the Aussies work. But they have to block it out and not listen to any of it.”

How England cope with the Kookaburra ball will also be a crucial factor throughout the series.

“Our boys will have been sleeping with that Kookaburra ball in the time they’ve been out there,” smiles Jones.

“The ball will swing for the first 15 overs but the worrying period will be from then till it starts reversing.

“We have to be disciplined because the Kookaburra loses its hardness quicker than the Duke so it will be a good experience learning to bowl with it.

“I love bowling with it because it reverses big but it’s a funny old ball.

“It takes some getting used to because it’s a totally different feeling in your hand. It’s a flatter seam and does go soft very quickly.

“If it doesn’t swing, we’ll have to hit the right lines and lengths because the Aussies will pounce on any width.

“It’ll be quick and bouncy which will suit our boys but we can’t just go in bombing them.

“The boys will have to use their heads a bit and bowl fuller than they think to try and get nicks and lbws.”

James Anderson had a torrid time in 2006/07, but Jones expects Graeme Swann’s form and the height of Finn, Broad and ex-Rose Bowl star Chris Tremlett to help ensure a tough six weeks for Australia’s batsmen.

“The Aussies have probably got quicker bowlers than our boys.

“Mitchell Johnson will come into his own with the Kookaburra in his hand, I really like Peter Siddle’s attitude and aggression and Ben Hilfenhaus swings the ball at a decent pace.

“But we’ve got the stronger bowling attack and that’s what wins you games.

"We’ve got the boys who can take 20 wickets.

“Jimmy’s a fantastic bowler, he’s really developed into the leader of the attack and he’ll go well.

"Broady’s on fire at the moment and bowling quickly, Finn’s had a good summer and Swann’s untouchable at the moment.

“I just hope he keeps that form up because they’re going to need him big time.

“He’s going to have to peg them back and make the breakthroughs that England need to get into the tail and blast them out.”

Simon Jones is hoping Hampshire are not playing from June 16-21 - so he can watch the Rose Bowl’s first Test match.

The 2011 fixtures are expected to be released by the England and Wales Cricket Board later this month with Jones hoping for a fixture-less week for the county when England are playing Sri Lanka at West End.

He said: "I was in Cardiff for the first Test in Wales at the beginning of last year’s Ashes series and this Test match is massive for the Rose Bowl, it will be another historical event."

Tickets are still available for England v Sri Lanka. For more details, check www.rosebowlplc.com.

Read Simon Jones's exclusive recollections of the 2005 Ashes series in today's Daily Echo