Amy Jones on her century after returning to the playing 11 and says ‘Setting the tone is a cool responsibility’.
Amy Jones impresses with century on her return to the top of the ODI order.
England head coach Charlotte Edwards grinned broadly as Amy Jones lifted her bat to celebrate hitting her long-awaited first international century.
After she left the ground with 122 next to her name four days later, Jones was unable to recall what Edwards had said to her. But after enabling a decisive 108-run victory over the West Indies in the first of three ODIs in Derby, she could still picture her coach grinning.
It demonstrated a strategy coming together to great effect for both the squad and Jones, who at last achieved a goal that had eluded her for 12 years and more than 200 games in various forms while playing for her nation.
“In terms of the role suiting me, I definitely think it does,” Jones, the England Women’s wicketkeeper, beamed on the eve of Wednesday’s second ODI in Leicester. “I’ve always liked facing the new ball, the challenge of that, and then also having the chance to set the tone. That’s a really cool responsibility to have.
“I remember when I moved down into the middle-order I was initially disappointed, so I guess I sort of tapped into that feeling and was happy to take that first opportunity.
“It’s obviously been quite a long time coming with a couple of close ones, but a good few years ago. To get over the line, it’s a big feeling of relief, but a lot of pride and it was a very special day.”