Ernie Jones (Australian sportsman)

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

Ernie Jones

Cricket information
Batting	Right-hand bat
Bowling	Right-arm fast
International information
National side	Australian
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class Matches 19 144 Runs scored 126 2390 Batting average 5.04 13.13 100s/50s 0/0 0/7 Top score 20 82 Balls bowled 3754 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 21/0 107/0
Source: Cricinfo

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]