Famous Cricketers No 63 - A.O.Jones

During the second innings against Oxford University, W.H.B.Evans had the misfortune to bowl a ball to A.O.Jones which struck the leg stump, without removing the bail, and then went for 4 byes. Evans had performed the hat-trick in the first innings. Lancashire made a huge score at Trent Bridge and all eleven Notts players bowled. When the home side were required to follow on, Arthur Owen played very attractive cricket and with Iremonger put on 172 for the first wicket. Jones returned to form, hitting out freely under trying conditions, scoring 13 fours In the next home match, against Derbyshire, Jones and Iremonger put on a century opening partnership, paving the way for an eight-wicket win. He continued to put in moderate performances until the match against Essex at Leyton. Rain allowed only two hours’ play on the first day. Jones dismissed P.A.Perrin with a brilliant catch at mid-on. He stopped a hard drive with his left hand and spun around in time to take a low catch with his right. Fane declared on the second day and soon had 3 Notts wickets down for 90 runs. At the end of the second day, Jones had made 122 runs out of 210. John Gunn and he put on 361 in 265 minutes for the 4th wicket before the latter was out. A.O. batted for 340 minutes, hitting one 6 and 37 fours in a bright and attractive display after a cautious start. This stand is still the Nottinghamshire record for this wicket and the highest between these two counties for any wicket. Jones’ score is still the record in matches between Nottinghamshire and Essex. Arthur Owen was caught at cover point off a skied ball and just failed to pass the newly established ground record, set by C.P.McGahey in May. Arthur Owen was called up, again, for the Oval Test but was 12th man. When the Australian first innings total had reached 200 A.F.A.Lilley, the wicket-keeper, split one of his fingers so badly that he had to retire from the field. At F.S.Jackson’s request, Joe Darling allowed Jones to keep wicket for the rest of the innings. This was an unusual occurrence but it was not illegal. Jones had not been behind the stumps long when he caught W.W.Armstrong off the bowling of G.H.Hirst. R.H.Spooner kept wicket during the Australians’ second innings. In the final home match of the season, against Middlesex, Jones gave one of his best batting performances. He and Iremonger put on 117 for the first wicket. When Iremonger was out, George Gunn came in and the two of them scored 150 together. Arthur Owen cut and drove the ball attractively, but spent a long time on 99. The visitors had to follow on but succeeded in batting until stumps. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 270. Nottinghamshire v MCC, Lord’s, May 3, 4 (MCC won by ten wickets) (captain, won toss) b G.J.Thompson 8 47 155 c J.H.King b H.V.Hesketh-Prichard 23 126 19-0 271. Nottinghamshire v Australians, Trent Bridge, May 8, 9, 10 (Match drawn) (captain, lost toss) c V.T.Trumper b W.W.Armstrong 72 219 - - - - 288 2 c V.T.Trumper b C.E.McLeod 103 237-4 2 0 7 0 234-4d 1 272. Nottinghamshire v Sussex, Hove, May 11, 12, 13 (Match drawn) (captain, won toss) c H.R.Butt b G.R.Cox 69 254 1 0 1 0 223 1 c E.H.Killick b F.W.Tate 31 362 19 2 73 3 E.H.Killick b 327-6 1 K.O.Goldie b C.L.A.Smith c J.R.Gunn 273. Nottinghamshire v Middlesex, Lord’s, May 15, 16, 17 (Nottinghamshire won by 198 runs) (captain, won toss) c E.A.Beldam b A.E.Trott 72 273 - - - - 233 c P.F.Warner b A.E.Trott 76 367-9d 4 0 20 0 209 274. Nottinghamshire v Essex, Trent Bridge, May 18, 19, 20 (Nottinghamshire won by an innings and 172 runs) (captain, lost toss) b B.Tremlin 87 508-8d 3 1 8 0 244 1 92 3 50