Famous Cricketers No 63 - A.O.Jones

351. MCC v South Australia, Adelaide, March 2, 3, 4 (Match drawn) (captain, won toss) c J.D.A.O’Connor b W.L.Chamberlain 18 404 445 did not bat - 134-4 352. MCC v Western Australia, Perth, March 13, 14, 16 (Match drawn) (captain, lost toss) did not bat - 362-7d 256 2 265-7 3 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Test matches 2 4 0 68 34 17.00 - - 3 - Other matches 9 11 1 450 119 45.00 1 3 14 - Tour 11 15 1 518 119 37.00 1 3 17 - Career 352 585 38 18105 296 33.09 29 93 429 2 1908 Arthur Owen Jones arrived home on April 14th and so was in time for the birth of his second child, a boy. Arthur Owen junior was born on the 25th April but his father did not register the birth until 3rd June. The address on the certificate is in Musters Road, West Bridgford and the occupation of the father is given as “Insurance Agent”. This may seem rather strange, considering where he had spent the winter, but it was how he earned his income. One of the baby’s godfathers was J.A.Dixon. Nottinghamshire won 6 Championship matches and lost 7, finishing in eighth position. Although he played in all the matches, Jones only opened the innings on about half the occasions in which he batted. Only on three occasions did he share in partnerships of 50 or more. George Gunn and Joe Hardstaff alone passed a thousand runs in the season. TomWass bowled well but Hallam was not able to give him the support of the previous summer. John Gunn dislocated a thumb in the Whitsun match against Surrey and missed the next seven fixtures. By way of compensation, James Iremonger was used as a change bowler and topped the Notts bowling averages, taking 57 wickets at less than 18 runs each. The fielding was not up to the standard of the previous year although Arthur Owen had his best haul of catches in a season. Arthur Owen passed 50 runs in only four innings. The first of these was in the home win against Essex. Jones was dropped off the fourth ball of the match and Iremonger was missed when on 8. The pair put on 98 together in 75 minutes. The former went on to put on 74 more runs with George Gunn. Jones gave a brilliant display of all round hitting on a good wicket, so that Notts were 348 for 8. Overnight rain altered the nature of the pitch, enabling Wass and Hallam to bowl unchanged through both innings. Wass had a haul of 16 wickets in the match, including his only hat-trick. The first two of this trio were caught by Arthur Owen, the third was clean bowled. Jones’ second 50 was made at Lord’s against Middlesex. Iremonger and he scored 49 off the first 7 overs and were not separated until they had put on 82 runs in 50 minutes. At the end of the first day, it looked as though the visitors were in with a chance. The tail, however, collapsed, Middlesex made even more runs in their second innings and in the Notts reply, only Hardstaff showed any resistance. Jones scored his third 50 against Lancashire at Old Trafford. The home side scored twice as many runs as the visitors on the first innings. Batting again, Jones, George Gunn, Ben Taylor and A.W.Hallam all passed 50. The latter pair put on 119 for the 9th wicket. The target set was high enough to prevent Lancashire winning. On the evening of Friday 17th July, Bedford Modern School gave a dinner in honour of its most famous Old Boy at the Central Restaurant in Bedford High Street. The Eagle contains a report of the proceedings and is the source of some of the details of his school life. The event was hosted by Mr C.W.Kaye, the Headmaster, and attended by past and present masters and by many past pupils. The speeches, punctuated by cheers and applause, were opened by the Headmaster who amused the assembled throng during his words of welcome. He said he had been a master at Loughborough while 62