Jones Ernie Image 1 South Australia 1899

Description

Auburn, South Australia born right-arm fast bowler Ernie “Jonah” Jones first played State cricket for South Australia in 1892-93, and made his Test match debut for Australia against England at Sydney in December 1894. Considered among Australia’s finest fast bowlers of his time, he was initially considered erratic but subsequently gained control of line and length to good effect. Jones played in 19 Test matches for Australia, playing his final Test against South Africa  at Johannesburg in October 1902, having toured England in 1896, 1899 and earlier in 1902. Although he was the first bowler to be called for throwing in a Test match at Melbourne in January 1898, and as a result his action is considered controversial, Sir Stanley Jackson later said of this ” I believe it has been suggested that he threw, but this I personally regard as absolutely absurd.”

Jones produced several fine performances at Test level and took five wickets in an innings on three occasions, but probably no finer than at Lord’s in June 1899. In that match he took his Test best return of 7-88 in England’s first innings including clean bowling Jackson for England’s top score of 73 as they were reduced to 206 all out, and then proceeded to record match figures of 10-164 as Australia won by 10 wickets. In his 19 Test appearances he took 64 wickets at 19 apiece.

Stanley Jackson said of him in Wisden after his passing aged 74 in 1943: “Of all the fast bowlers the Australians have sent to this country, I think Jones was the best in my time… He was one of the most powerful men I ever met,” and proceeds to tell the W.G. Grace beard story: “I took part in the first match he played in this country against Lord Sheffield’s XI at Sheffield Park, Sussex, in 1896… The Australians came practically straight off the ship to the match and were short of practice. Jones gave me the impression that his main effort was to show his immense pace. The wicket was dry and he bowled short, bumpy stuff. I went in first with W. G. Grace and we had to dance about a bit. One ball from Jones hit W. G. under the arm, and later in the innings another one went head-high past him and over Kelly’s head to the boundary. I can see W.G. now. He threw his head back, which caused his beard to stick out. Down the pitch went W.G., stroking his beard, to Harry Trott and said: “Here, what is all this?” And Trott said: “Steady, Jonah.” To which Jones made that famous remark: “Sorry, Doctor, she slipped.”… When I was out and returned to the Pavilion, I said: “Did you see that one go through W. G.’s beard?” The ball was bouncing, and only Ranji appeared to like it. The pace that Jones was bowling impressed me because in the second innings, when I had made about 10, I had the misfortune to stop one with my ribs, but with the assistance of W.A.J. West, the umpire, who rubbed me, I was able to continue my innings. When I went to London I had a good deal of pain, and my father sent for the doctor, who said, “It’s cracked horizontally.” He strapped me up, and I did not play for three weeks. Within a month of Sheffield Park I faced Jones at Lord’s in the M.C.C. match, and he came up to me and said, “I am terribly sorry”, and he clasped my hand in a vice-like grip that left me wondering which was the more painful – my hand or broken ribs.”

In 144 first class matches through to 1907-08, Jones claimed 641 wickets at 22.83 apiece, with a best return of 8-39, taking ten wickets in a match on 9 occasions and taking five wickets in an innings 47 times, also holding 107 catches in first class play. With the bat he showed little at Test level but could clearly be a useful lower order batsman, and across his career averaged 13.13 in all his first class matches, scoring 7 half centuries with a highest score of 82.

Jones also represented Port Adelaide, North Adelaide and South Adelaide Football Clubs in Aussie Rules Football.

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