‘Relief’ and ‘pride’ as Jones takes her chance

Amy Jones had waited a while before recording her first international century, which she compiled into 12 years, 225 matches, and 190 innings.

In England’s first one-day international played against West Indies at Derby under the new leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Edwards, the wicketkeeper finally made it past the 90s.

After Maia Bouchier’s side omission, Edwards’ first tactical move was to reinstate Jones’ order, and she immediately repaid the favor.

Jones had opened for England 23 times between 2016 and 2019, but she claimed Edwards’ simplicity eased the pressure upon her return to the top.

She said, “You’ve done pretty well opening up at county level, and you’ve got a good go at it.” For me, having that option was really exciting,” Jones said in a BBC Test Match Special interview.

All of England’s players will remember the Ashes drubbing, but Jones’ injury in the second ODI in Melbourne, which really gave the country its spiral, was a particularly painful experience.

Jones, who had been given the task of chasing 181 to bring the series to a 47, missed marshaling the tail and miscounting the balls left in an over.

It is fitting that Jones has responded right away to the call given that Edwards had already made her intentions clear regarding England’s “smartness” in 50-over cricket prior to that series.

In an England shirt before, Jones had previously made it past 90 three times, including 94 in the 2018 World Cup against India, 91 in the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand, and an unbeaten 92 in this knock that sounded like she was slipping on 92 and 93.

With India’s arrival next month, tougher opposition will undoubtedly follow, but Jones’ smile as she embraced fellow centurion Tammy Beaumont in a show of celebration demonstrated how much weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

On BBC Test Match Special, former England seamer Katherine Sciver-Brunt said, “There would have been a few people scratching their heads wondering why she would be opening the batting.”

I’m incredibly pleased because I never believed she had lost that position. She simply assumed that she would be four, five, or six, rather than “I want that spot back” to whoever was in charge.

She has done that well the past two years. She has the first hundred steps under some pressure, and I’m so happy for her.