Simon Jones interview: 2005 Ashes memories, injury setbacks and why Ben Stokes is special

“People have gone down different routes in life but as soon as you see each other again there’s just that smile, that’s all you have to do,” says Simon Jones, the former England fast bowler. “You know what it was like. You were part of a special team which did something extraordinary. And it will be with you until the day you die.”

Sitting back in his seat in a booth at a hotel in Cardiff, Jones is speaking about the Ashes of 2005 and his memories of a series which defined him in more ways than one. It is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest ever, in which fortunes ebbed and flowed, where the drama and tension were unceasing and individual heroics abounded. England came from behind to secure a scarcely conceivable 2-1 series win against what was recognised as one of the great Australia teams.

It was a highly charged period between July and September which had the country fixated. The series dominated the front and back pages of newspapers and radio and television bulletins. Besides the heroics of the likes of Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, Jones’s vital contribution is sometimes overlooked.

For Jones, who thought that Australia initially lacked respect for and underestimated England, it was a bittersweet experience. Proving a master of reverse swing bowling, Jones took 18 wickets – including a series best 6-53 at Old Trafford - before injury floored him during the fourth Test. That proved to be his final England appearance.

With the latest iteration of international cricket’s deepest rivalry starting on Friday at Edgbaston, an intimidating arena for any visiting team as Jones remembers, his sense of anticipation is evident.

“The series in 2005 has a special place for me. As a sports person you want