When a player gets their maiden ODI century after over a decade of dedicated service, it’s a special moment. But when that player follows it up immediately with another commanding three-figure score, it signals not just a personal peak, but a potentially transformative chapter for themselves and their side. Amy Jones, England’s veteran wicket-keeper batter, has done exactly that in the ongoing ODI series against a beleaguered West Indies, ensuring her name is now counted among England’s modern-day one-day greats.
In the 2nd ODI at Grace Road, Leicester, the 31-year-old Jones produced one of her most fluent and dominant performances, carving 129 runs off just 98 balls. Her innings, peppered with 20 exquisite boundaries, was a masterclass in controlled aggression and shot selection. This remarkable knock follows her maiden ODI ton (122 off 121 balls) in the series opener, a match-defining effort that was instrumental in England’s 108-run victory.
England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt’s decision to bat first was vindicated almost instantly as Jones continued to build on her strong audition, after being promoted to open the innings in the previous game, once again setting the tempo right from the outset in the 2nd ODI.
Alongside the seasoned Tammy Beaumont, Jones stitched together a monumental 202-run opening partnership. While Beaumont was her typically composed self in notching up her 12th ODI hundred (106 off 109), also the 3rd time she struck back-to-back ODI tons, it was Jones’ audacity and acceleration, particularly through the middle overs, that left the West Indies’ depleted attack searching for answers.
With these consecutive centuries, Amy Jones has joined an exclusive club featuring the likes of Tammy Beaumont (Vs Pakistan in 2016) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (Vs Australia in 2023), players who have previously scored back-to-back centuries in ODIs for England. What makes Jones’ feat even more remarkable is her smooth transition to the opening slot, a strategic move by the team management that has paid off handsomely in this series.
Her presence at the top instantly gave England a sense of solidity and attacking potential. Having long been the team’s reliable middle-order anchor and a sharp presence behind the stumps, Jones now seems to have unlocked a new dimension to her game as an opener. The West Indies side, missing their captain Hayley Matthews due to a shoulder injury sustained in the first ODI, has been under pressure. Shemaine Campbelle has stepped in as captain, but England’s dominant batting display has put the visitors on the back foot.
England currently leads the three-match ODI series 1-0 after a comprehensive 108-run victory in the first ODI. The hosts also swept the preceding T20I series 3-0, showcasing their overall superiority in the ongoing white-ball series.
Having debuted for England back in 2013 against Sri Lanka at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in Mumbai, Jones’ career has been a testament to patience, adaptability, and a relentless work ethic. Now, with 2,388 runs at an impressive strike rate of 85.53 and an average of 32.71 from 83 ODI innings, including 14 fifties and her newly minted pair of centuries, Jones is enjoying a purple patch tailor-made for team and personal glory.
Her Player of the Match award in the first ODI and subsequent heroics in Leicester underline her current form and importance to this England side. England’s women are sending out a statement not just to the West Indies but to the entire cricketing world. Amy Jones’ back-to-back centuries are more than individual milestones, they’re the beating heart of an England outfit looking cohesive, ambitious, and ruthlessly efficient.
With key players peaking, the signals are clear: this is a team building formidable momentum ahead of bigger international assignments, and the ODI World Cup coming up later this year. As for Jones, this golden run is long-awaited vindication, and perhaps just the beginning of a record-breaking year for England’s new opening star.
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