WATCH: “One of the greatest deliveries of the 21st century” – Wisden remembers birthday boy Simon Jones’ delivery in 2005 Ashes
Follow Us
English pace bowler Simon Jones’ story is a classic one of a promising career ruined by injuries. The tall right-arm fast-bowler was considered the next big thing and a potential mainstay in the English bowling attack when he broke into the scene with a terrific performance on debut against India at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. He picked up four wickets including those of Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman while also scoring a quick-fire 44 in the first innings.
Jones is perhaps best known for his performance in the famous 2005 Ashes series that England won. His performance over the course of the five Tests including a 6-wicket-haul in the third Test made him a household name in English cricket. However, injuries wreaked havoc in his career and remarkably, Jones never played another Test match for England after the Ashes series.
Michael Clarke left clueless by reverse-swinging jaffa
The biggest single moment in Simon Jones’ career is undoubtedly a delivery that he bowled to Michael Clarke in the third 2005 Ashes Test at Old Trafford. Bowling a nearly full-length delivery that would usually have been expected to swing away from the right-hander, Jones made the ball to reverse-swing and come back in to the clueless Clarke who offered no shot to it, only to see his stumps dislodged.
Jones’ celebration was an iconic moment as he held his hands aloft as if he was appealing to the umpire before being mobbed by his teammates. There was pandemonium at Old Trafford. The crowd had just witnessed one of the greatest deliveries in Ashes history. It was a delivery that could best be termed ‘unplayable’.
As Simon Jones turned 42 today, Wisden Cricket took to Twitter to share a video of the famous delivery as yet another reminder of a career of great promise that could have turned out to be something special.
Stay Updated!
Nevin Clinton
(2399 Articles Published)