Ernie Jones (Australian sportsman)

Ernest Jones (30 September 1869 – 23 November 1943) was an Australian sportsman, playing Test cricket and Australian rules football.

Ernie Jones
Jones pictured in 1894
Personal information
Born30 September 1869
Auburn, South Australia
Died23 November 1943 (aged 58)
Magill, Adelaide, South Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 66)14 December 1894 v England
Last Test11 October 1902 v South Africa
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 19 144
Runs scored 126 2,390
Batting average 5.04 13.13
100s/50s 0/0 0/7
Top score 20 82
Balls bowled 3,754 31,755
Wickets 64 641
Bowling average 29.01 22.83
5 wickets in innings 3 47
10 wickets in match 1 9
Best bowling 7/88 8/39
Catches/stumpings 21/– 107/–
Source: Cricinfo, 13 October 2022

Jones played 19 Tests from 1894 to 1902 and represented Port Adelaide, North Adelaide and South Adelaide Football Clubs.[1] Nicknamed Jonah, Jones was one of the best and fastest bowlers of his time, initially erratic but subsequently gaining control of line and length to good effect. Jones worked as a customs officer, and one of his claims to fame as a cricketer was that he was known as 'The man who bowled a ball through W. G. Grace's Beard' and was reputed to have broken Stanley Jackson's ribs.[2]

His action was controversial and complained about in both England (in 1896) and Australia. Umpire Jim Phillips was given the job of enforcing the laws against illegal actions which had once more crept into the game in the late 1890s. Jones was first no-balled in a match between South Australia and the visiting English side in 1897–98. Phillips again no-balled him once in the 2nd Test of that series, Jones thus becoming the first bowler to be called for throwing in a Test match.[3]

Sources

edit
  • Krueger, G. (2011) South Adelaide Football Club 1897–1907, Self-Published: Adelaide.

References

edit
  1. ^ Krueger, p. 4.
  2. ^ "The best fast bowler". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. 1944.
  3. ^ "Hair today". ESPN Cricinfo. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2017.