Ernie Jones

Jones pictured in 1894
Personal information
Born	30 September 1869 Auburn, South Australia
Died	23 November 1943 (aged 58) Magill, Adelaide, South Australia
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 66)	14 December 1894 v England
Last Test	11 October 1902 v South Africa
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 19 144 Runs scored 126 2,390 Batting average 5.04 13.13 100s/50s 0/0 0/7 Top score 20 82 Balls bowled 3,754 31,755 Wickets 64 641 Bowling average 29.01 22.83 5 wickets in innings 3 47 10 wickets in match 1 9 Best bowling 7/88 8/39 Catches/stumpings 21/– 107/–
Source: Cricinfo, 13 October 2022

Ernest Jones (30 September 1869 – 23 November 1943) was an Australian sportsman, playing Test cricket and Australian rules football.

Jones played 19 Tests from 1894 to 1902 and represented Port Adelaide, North Adelaide and South Adelaide Football Clubs.^[1] Nicknamed Jonah, Jones was one of the best and fastest bowlers of his time, initially erratic but subsequently gaining control of line and length to good effect. Jones worked as a customs officer, and one of his claims to fame as a cricketer was that he was known as 'The man who bowled a ball through W. G. Grace's Beard' and was reputed to have broken Stanley Jackson's ribs.^[2]

His action was controversial and complained about in both England (in 1896) and Australia. Umpire Jim Phillips was given the job of enforcing the laws against illegal actions which had once more crept into the game in the late 1890s. Jones was first no-balled in a match between South Australia and the visiting English side in 1897–98. Phillips again no-balled him once in the 2nd Test of that series, Jones thus becoming the first bowler to be called for throwing in a Test match.^[3]

Sources

• Krueger, G. (2011) South Adelaide Football Club 1897–1907, Self-Published: Adelaide.