Evelyn Jones
Evelyn Jones (born 8 August 1992) is an English cricketer who currently captains Central Sparks, as well as playing for Warwickshire, Birmingham Phoenix and Melbourne Renegades. She plays primarily as a left-handed opening batter, as well as bowling left-arm medium. She has previously played for Shropshire, Staffordshire and Lancashire, as well as for Loughborough Lightning and Lancashire Thunder in the Women's Cricket Super League, and New Zealand side Canterbury Magicians. At the end of the 2021 season, Jones was voted the PCA Player of the Year for her performances that year. Early life. Jones was  born on 8 August 1992 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. She has an ECB Level 2 coaching qualification, and has worked as a tutor. Domestic career. Jones made her county debut in 2008, for Shropshire against Northamptonshire. Whilst her team lost the match, she top-scored for her side, scoring 50. Jones quickly became one of Shropshire's most successful players, and was their leading run-scorer in both their 2010 and 2011 County Championship seasons. She also achieved her best List A bowling figures in 2011, taking 6/29 against Northumberland. Jones moved to Staffordshire ahead of the 2012 season. She was  again successful at her new club, ending the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Championship seasons as Staffordshire's leading run-scorer. In 2015, she achieved her best List A score of 115*, and was the second leading run-scorer across the whole Championship. She was also captain of the side for the 2016 season. In 2017, Jones moved to Lancashire, and was part of the side that won the double of the County Championship and Twenty20 Cup that season. Jones hit 35* in their crucial victory that secured the Championship title over Warwickshire. She became captain of the side the following  season, and in 2019 lead them to 2nd in the County Championship. In 2020, it was announced that Jones had signed for Warwickshire. She scored 135 runs for the side in the 2021 Women's Twenty20 Cup, including a high score of 66 made against Worcestershire. Jones also played in the Women's Cricket Super League, in 2016 for Loughborough Lightning and from 2017 to 2019 for Lancashire Thunder. Her best innings came in a 2018 match against Southern Vipers, in which she scored 69 in a 4 run victory. In 2020, she joined Central Sparks for the 2020 Rachael  Heyhoe Flint Trophy, and was named as captain. She was her side's top run-scorer in the competition (and fourth across all teams), scoring 334 runs at an average of 66.80. She also equalled her List A career high score, scoring 115* in Sparks' final group game, against Lightning. In 2021, Jones captained Sparks to the knockout stages of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She was also the third-highest run-scorer in the competition, with 299 runs including two half-centuries and one century, 100* made against North West Thunder. Jones was the leading run-scorer in the  Charlotte Edwards Cup, with 276 runs including 3 half-centuries. She made her Twenty20 high score against South East Stars, scoring 76 from 68 deliveries. Jones also played for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, and was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the competition, with 233 runs including two half-centuries. At the end of the 2021 season, Jones was named as the first-ever PCA Women's Overall Domestic MVP for her performances in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, Charlotte Edwards Cup and The Hundred, and was later voted the overall PCA Player of the Year. Jones also played  one season for Canterbury in 2017–18, with her best performance coming against Wellington, where she scored 81. In September 2021, Jones signed for the Melbourne Renegades for the 2021–22 Women's Big Bash League season. She played 12 matches for the side, scoring 236 runs at an average of 23.60, including making 62 from 46 deliveries in the side's victory over Brisbane Heat. In April 2022, she was bought by the Birmingham Phoenix for the 2022 season of The Hundred. International career. In December 2021, Jones was named captain of England's A squad for their tour to Australia , with the matches being played alongside the Women's Ashes. She played all six matches on the tour, making one half-century, 51* in the 3rd T20.