Amy Jones celebrated her maiden international century with a grateful nod to England head coach Charlotte Edwards, whose supportive grin spoke volumes. Four days down the line, Jones couldn’t quite recall the specifics of Edwards’ words after she left the field with 122 runs against her name. But she vividly remembered the encouraging smile, marking England’s emphatic 108-run victory over the West Indies in the first ODI at Derby.
This century meant a lot to Jones, who’s now better positioned at the top of the batting order—a role she feels suits her well. Despite 12 years and over 200 games donning the England colours, this milestone was particularly special. Reflecting on her new role, Jones admitted, “Facing the new ball and setting the tone is a really cool responsibility.”
Her previous experiences as an opener included sporadic outings, with her last opening appearance in an ODI being during the 2019 Women’s Ashes. However, she reunited with Tammy Beaumont for The Blaze in the Metro Bank One Day Cup earlier this season, making significant connections with scores of 41, 52, and 80, after a quieter start.
Jones discussed the learning curve this entails: “Navigating through the innings is different as an opener. Unlike middle-order batting, where you accelerate through a more consistent tempo, opening involves adapting to challenging patches.”
When Edwards—familiarly referred to as Lottie by the team—chose Jones to open, it bolstered her self-assurance in her abilities. “There’s a bit of freedom in knowing how I go about things is a good fit at the top,” Jones admitted. She’s aimed to replicate her approach from the middle order, focusing on playing the ball rather than constantly glancing at the scoreboard.
In a twist to her established role, Jones joins the leadership group supporting new T20I captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. Although stepping in briefly as captain during India’s tour in 2022, Jones recognises the dual familiar yet unfamiliar nature of this responsibility.
As Jones looks forward to England’s upcoming ODIs, this century acts not just as a personal triumph, but as a fresh chapter in her evolving career. The game-plan, supported by coach Edwards, appears to be unfolding with promising precision.
