Geraint Jones honoured at Spitfire Kent Cricket Awards 2014

Geraint Jones received a special presentation at the Spitfire Kent Cricket Awards on Saturday in recognition of his outstanding service to Kent Cricket.

Kent County Cricket Club chairman George Kennedy and CEO Jamie Clifford presented the Ashes-winning wicketkeeper with a facsimile of the scorecard of his maiden first-class century in 2003 and his 100th consecutive County Championship appearance in 2012.

Jones said: “I’ve come a long way since I drove here in a second-hand car from Abergavenny for my trial.

“I’d like to thank all my teammates and the supporters and wish the club the best of luck for the future.”

Jones joins a long line of legendary Kent ‘keepers including Les Ames, Godfrey Evans, Alan Knott, Paul Downton and Steve Marsh.

Kent Cricket CEO Jamie Clifford said: “I would like to thank Geraint for his magnificent service of the Club.

“He has been a hugely popular player for the county, and one who set the highest standards.

“He has continued the extraordinary run of international ‘keepers that have come from Kent and can certainly look back on his time with Kent with a huge amount of pride.”

The 38-year-old made his first-class debut for Kent in 2001 after studying pharmacy in Wales and impressing Kent coaches in a trial.

After displacing Paul Nixon as the first-choice gloveman, he scored almost 1,000 runs in 2003 at an average of more than 50 to impress England selectors.

He made his Test bow in Antigua in April 2004 ahead of Chris Read after Alec Stewart’s retirement.

His legside catch to dismiss Michael Kasprowicz secured the final wicket in England’s two-run win at Edgbaston in the 2005 Ashes series, later dubbed The Greatest Test Ever.

Jones was awarded the MBE in 2006 for his role in the Ashes series and kept his place with consistent contributions with the bat.

After England lost the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia, Jones lost his place to Matt Prior before returning to international cricket for his native Papua New Guinea in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in the UAE.

FACTFILE

Geraint Owen Jones

Born July 14, 1976 in Kundiawa, Papua New Guinea

Educated at Harristown State High School, Toowoomba, Queensland

First-class record: Played 193 matches, scoring 8,615 runs (32.50 average), taking 586 catches and 36 stumpings, bowled four overs for 26 runs.

Test Matches: Played 34 for England, scoring 1,172 runs (23.91 average) and took 128 catches and 5 stumpings.

One-Day Internationals: Played 49, scoring 815 runs (24.69 average at 78.21 runs per 100 balls) and took 68 catches and 4 stumpings.