After a dominant 3-0 win over the West Indies Women in the T20I series at home, England began their new 50-over era under Charlotte Edwards and Nat Sciver-Brunt with an impressive win. On 30 May 2025, they defeated the West Indies by 108 runs in the first match of the three-game ODI series in Derby.
The standout performer was star wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones. She was named Player of the Match after scoring her maiden international hundred. Jones made 122 off 121 balls. Her opening partner, Tammy Beaumont, also shone with a brilliant 107 off 104. On the bowling front, Linsey Smith had a dream ODI debut, finishing with figures of 5/36.
A Surprise Promotion Up the Order
What caught fans off guard was the sight of Jones walking out to open the batting with Beaumont. With players like Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley and the in-form Emma Lamb in the squad, many expected one of them to partner Beaumont at the top.
Lamb, especially, has been in red-hot form as an opener for Lancashire in the ongoing ECB Women’s One-Day Cup. She is currently the tournament’s top run-scorer with 577 runs in eight innings at an average of 82.42. But head coach Charlotte Edwards slotted her at No. 3 and promoted Jones to open the innings instead.
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Amy Jones’ maiden England century 🤩
Think there is something in our eyes 🥹 pic.twitter.com/EIcxjt5kwg
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 30, 2025
Domestic Performances Back Jones’ Return as Opener
It was the first time in six years that Jones had opened in an ODI for England. Edwards seemed to have taken note of her recent domestic form with Blaze Women, where Jones has scored 246 runs in seven innings as an opener. Interestingly, she also opens alongside Beaumont for that team. Seeing their chemistry and consistency, Edwards decided to give the pair yet another chance at the international level.
Jones repaid that faith in the best possible way, grabbing the opportunity with both hands. It was a special moment for her, having represented England in all three formats since 2013. In the post-match presentation, Jones shared her excitement to be back as an opener and speaking to Sky Sports after the game, she revealed:
“It’s pretty special [to score my first hundred]. I’ve played a fair few games now without one so to tick that off is a brilliant feeling,” she said. “I was so excited when Lottie [head coach Charlotte Edwards] first had that thought and shared with me that opening could be an option. I’ve obviously done it in the past while Lottie was in the team. So, it has come full circle. To have her backing and have that partnership with Tammy, it means a lot.”
Amy Jones reflects on a special day down at Derby 👇 pic.twitter.com/gW8N73TYwl
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 30, 2025
Looking back at Jones’ previous stint as an opener
Jones first opened in ODIs in 2016 and continued in that role until July 2019. She opened in 22 games during that period, scoring 740 runs with seven fifties. After a poor tour of India in 2019, where she made just 17 runs in three games, she bounced back with five fifties in her next six ODIs (versus Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and the West Indies in England).
However, she lost form again during the Ashes that year, and England were whitewashed 0-3. The final ODI of that series saw England bowled out for 75. That game also turned out to be the last ODI for the former keeper Sarah Taylor.
Since then, Jones has mostly batted in the middle order and taken on full-time wicket-keeping duties. But, now, after scoring her maiden ODI century as an opener, her numbers in that role as a designated wicketkeeper are remarkable—442 runs in seven innings at an average of 63.14 and a strike rate of 102.07, including one hundred and four fifties.
England’s opening woes, and is this the start of a long-term role for Jones?
England have had issues at the top of the order. Since 2024, they have had only one 100-plus and two fifty-plus partnerships in 17 innings. That changed with the record 222-run stand between Jones and Beaumont.
Clearly, Edwards saw the need for change and trusted the Jones-Beaumont duo, and it paid off in the opening match. But with the ODI World Cup nearing, is this the start of a new chapter for Jones as a full-time opener? If she keeps performing and remains consistent, it may be hard to look past her.