By Matt Somerford
Geraint Jones admits he feels like he has been handed a “new lease of life” after confirming a move to Gloucestershire on a two-year deal this week.
A month ago the 2005 Ashes winner thought his career was over – after Kent released him following almost 15 years at the club - and he had even turned his thoughts to becoming an umpire.
But Gloucestershire offered an unlikely lifeline to reinvigorate the 38-year-old, who will captain the club in the LV= County Championship.
“Yeah it’s awesome. It’s something a little unexpected after finishing at Kent – I thought that might have been it,” he told ecb.co.uk.
“But to then get the phone call and to be offered the captaincy, it’s going to be a big challenge but one I was really excited about from the start.
“It should give me a new lease of life to be honest.
“A month ago my thoughts were being in the middle of a cricket field but with a white coat on and doing it that way.
“To be still in the middle but in charge of a team, it’s changed quite quickly and dramatically.”
Jones’ whirlwind week will continue tomorrow when he flies out to Australia to play in Papua New Guinea’s first-ever one-day international.
The island nation will meet Hong Kong in two ODIs in successive days in Townsville, with the first to be played on November 8.
“That will be a great kick-start to the winter,” said Jones, who helped his country of birth secure ODI status for the first time at the World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.
“It’ll be great to get out there and get a bit of sunshine on the back and get playing some good cricket.
“It’s a great opportunity to be part of history and to kick-start my preparation for Gloucester next year.”
Jones is set to be used solely as a batsman at the Bristol County Ground next season to focus on his captaincy.
He will therefore shed the keeping gloves, with the intention to work closer with a young Gloucestershire bowling group.
Not sure who's more excited this morning my boys on getting chocolate spread pancakes or me signing for @Gloscricketpic.twitter.com/xbSGbDabig
— Geraint Jones (@Gojones623) October 28, 2014
He has a unique perspective to offer – after spending his international career watching the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard from behind the stumps – although he admits there may be some minor teething problems to contend with.
“I’ll have to try and find myself a new fielding position,” he said.
“It will be a new challenge not keeping and being involved in the game every ball. I’ve always enjoyed the brief bit of fielding that I have done though.”
Jones is nonetheless looking forward to taking over the captaincy reins in four-day cricket on a full-time basis after filling in for Rob Key and James Tredwell at various stages at Kent.
“I was vice-captain to James Tredwell last year and he was away quite a bit on England duty,” he said.
“I’ve also done a bit for Kent over the previous few years when Keysie has been injured, so over the last three or four years I have captained a bit and enjoyed it.
“The challenge of doing that full-time with Gloucester is something I’m keen to take on.
“I did enjoy the times when I captained. The whole package is fantastic.”
He is looking forward to establishing what type of captain he will be too, adding: “I’m hoping to be quite a relaxed one. That’s my natural character.
“I hope to be a captain that’s not flustered by situations and one where my captaincy is not affected by my personal situation whether I score a truckload of runs or none. I’m hoping to be the same sort of leader all of the time. That’s the plan of attack anyway sitting here in October.”
Jones is certain he has the backing to help him flourish as a skipper, with his primary task to lead Gloucestershire back up the table after finishing above only winless Leicestershire.
Following a month on loan last season Jones has already seen first hand how the club operates under coach John Bracewell, who has already detailed what his role will be.
“We’ve got a fantastic coaching group led by John Bracewell so pretty much for next year I’m just leading the side and giving them some experience on the field,” he said.
“Brace and his support crew, they get the guys ready in a first-class way, and the reason I’ve been brought in was for a bit of leadership and guidance mainly for a young bowling attack on the field.
”That’s where he thought I fitted in. That’s pretty much it, to be a good leader on the field because I’m really confident all of the off-field stuff is handled superbly by guys already there.”