Lives in Cricket No 4 - Ernie Jones

Archie MacLaren and Hayward but returned at 2 for 191 for the first time at umpire Phillips’ end. The spectators were alert to the fact that Phillips had no-balled him in the tour match in Adelaide and perhaps sighed with relief when he got through the first over without complaint. MacLaren raised his century before Jones was removed and three wickets fell in the middle-order when Ranjitsinhji, who had been held back in the order owing to illness, joined George Hirst at 5 for 258. Poor captaincy by Harry Trott meant that Jones did not take the ball again until 321 by which time both batsmen had their eye in. Hirst had fallen victim to Jones frequently in England and the fast bowler’s first ball to Ranjitsinhji took the paint off the stumps. Trott compounded his captaincy error the following morning by again holding back Jones and allowing the batsmen another settling-in period. Jones was left patrolling the mid-off area which he did magnificently, picking up the ball and returning without error. Eventually a double bowling change was made and Jones gave Hirst a hot over, two balls of which were luckily snicked out of danger. The Yorkshireman did not like the fast stuff, and after receiving a ball on the toe, had his middle stump knocked flying by the next. Hirst had batted well for his 62 but his runs were a donation through Jones not having been put on directly he began. Ted Wainwright then batted stodgily while Ranjitsinhji commanded the strike and stole singles at the end of Trumble’s overs. When at last Wainwright was exposed, Jones made short work of him by bowling him with his second ball. Ranjitsinhji brought up his hundred after lunch and then began playing with greater freedom. In one over he cut Jones like lightning past Trott’s left hand and turned the next to leg, the ball reaching the boundary each time. The further Ranjitsinhji continued, the more commanding his batting became until he blazed away at the finish with utter disregard for being dismissed. While the last three wickets were standing, he added 87 out of 127 runs to finish with 175. England’s rapid scoring for its total of 551 was just 433 minutes but the wicket was true and lacked the fire of most Australian pitches. Jones’ 3 for 130 from 50 overs looked ordinary on paper, and he was unable to make the ball fly, but was the one bowler who showed penetration in Australia’s nine-wicket defeat. At the end of the game it was felt that the concern about Jones’ throwing was behind him. He had bowled 354 balls and his delivery was scrupulously fair. Neither critic Ranjitsinhji nor The Great Fast Bowler: 1896-1899 35