CHRIS Wood is looking forward to a reunion with former teammate Simon Jones in Hampshire’s first one-day game of the season.

The Royals take on Glamorgan in their opening Clydesdale Bank 40 game at the Ageas Bowl today (1.45pm start).

Former England fast bowler Jones is expected to make his first appearance for Glamorgan since making his permanent move back to Wales.

The 33-year-old, pictured right, left Hampshire at the end of last season after agreeing a one-day contract with his home county. Wood, 21, said: “Simon’s a brilliant bowler so we’re going to be on top of our game to keep him out.

“We want him to do well, but hopefully not too well against us. With his reverse swing he’s a threat but he was a great help to me last year. He was always willing to give me a hand.”

Wood was the pick of Hampshire’s bowlers in the recent LV County Championship defeat at Northampton, finishing with match figures of seven for 110.

And he was Hampshire’s leading wicket-taker in the 40-over competition last year, with 18 victims.

“I like expressing my skills with the white ball, it’s my favourite form of the game and I feel I offer more in one-day cricket at the moment,” he said.

“I enjoy bowling slower balls and yorkers, which you don’t get as much chance to use in the Championship.”

Hampshire have struggled in one-day cricket since winning the last 50-over trophy in 2009 and are also joined in Group B by Scotland, Durham, Surrey, Somerset and Nottinghamshire. The group winners qualify for the semi-finals along with the best of the three runners-up.

“It’s very important we get off to a good start,” said Wood.

“If you lose the first couple of games, like we have done in previous years, you can be out of the tournament at the halfway stage.

“Hopefully we can get off to a flier.”

Glamorgan have also included Marcus North in their squad, an Australia teammate of Simon Katich at the SWALEC Stadium during the 2009 Ashes.

North had the briefest of Hampshire careers, lasting only two days of a Championship match at Edgbaston three years ago, but is unlikely to play today. He has only recently recovered from a broken finger and admits: “The Hampshire game might be a bit quick for me.”

Also in the Glamorgan squad is former Bournemouth CC star Chris Cooke, who impressed in a Twenty20 game at the Ageas Bowl last season.

Hampshire are expected to recall England spinner Danny Briggs and Kabir Ali is also in contention for his first first-team appearance of the season.

But captain Jimmy Adams is again expected to be missing for personal reasons.