Simon Jones has celebrated his first wicket in a Hampshire shirt - after making his debut for the seconds.

The former England fast bowler is playing his first competitive match for two years after making outstanding progress in his battle to recover from a serious knee injury.

Jones made an immediate impact, taking a wicket in his first spell against Essex in the Second Eleven Championship on the Rose Bowl's Nursery Ground.

He bowled three overs as a fifth-change bowler, taking 1 for 5 as Essex made 346 in their first innings.

Jones had John Maunders caught in the slips by a diving Danny Briggs for 195 and has also bowled seven overs for 26 runs in Essex's second innings, during which opening batsman Maunders was dropped at long leg without scoring.

Hampshire seconds coach Jon Ayling said: "Simon has done more than expected at this stage. I can't praise him highly enough, he's already bowling in the high 80s and will continue his rehabilitation by playing for the seconds next week."