Former women’s Test player Mel Jones has reached a new height, Cricket Australia confirmed Jones’ elevation as Victoria’s nominee, this makes her the first former female player to become a state-appointed director.
She has featured in 5 Tests and 61 ODIs for Australia since her debut in 1997. After her retirement in 2005, she has always been with cricket one way or the other, Jones went on to work in player management with TLA, CA , a full-time commentator in 2016-where she has worked with Nine, the ABC and on broadcasts for ICC events plus the IPL, PSL and CPL T20 tournaments. Last year Jones signed on with Fox Cricket as the subscription network became the major partner in CA’s six-year, A$1.2 billion broadcast deal that also features the free-to-air Seven network.
She will be joining Jacqui Hey and Michelle Tredenick as female CA directors, adding a wealth of playing experience for Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Surrey to the board. Chairman Earl Eddings had been the previous Victorian nominee but moved to fill one of the three independent roles earlier this year. Jones, who spent her first 5 years out of the international game as pathways, schools and female cricket development manager at Cricket Victoria, is also a qualified secondary school teacher, adding further to her potential insights for CA.
Many Congratulations @meljones_33 – A well-deserved recognition for your years of commitment and involvement in the game. More power to your arms. 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/pNxI3x6wD8
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 6, 2019
However, Jones’ appointment now makes the board ratio to nine, having six state-nominated directors and three independents. “Mel has been an active and inspiring part of the cricket fabric for many years and we are privileged to have her join the board,” Eddings said. “Australian cricket has been undergoing significant change over the past two years and I’ve no doubt Mel’s experience on and off the field will be an asset to the team as we move into our next phase, Mel’s commitment to the game and her advocacy, particularly for women in sport, will only bolster our continued focus on advancing cricket to be the number one sport for women and girls.”
“I have much admiration for the work that has been undertaken over the past 18 months in particular, an incredibly challenging time for cricket, and testament to its place in the hearts of Australians,” Jones said.
Source: Australian Associated Press, Reported by the examiner, ESPNcricinfo
