Armstrong Creek cricketer Grace Jones could be the next Renegades Recruit

A day at the beach, and meeting a former Aussie leg spinner, has helped an Armstrong Creek cricketer reach for her biggest opportunity in the game yet.

A day at the beach and a fortunate meeting with a former Australian leg spinner.

Looking back, they appear two pivotal moments in the burgeoning cricket career of teenage Mt Duneed spinner, Grace Jones, so far.

And another one could be just around the corner with the 18-year-old leggie making the top three of the Renegades Recruit.

Back for its third edition, the statewide talent search has combed community and Premier competitions after Geelong City Cricket Club’s, and Jones’ friend, Paris Bowdler, made the top three and later her WBBL debut with the Renegades last season.

Regardless of the result, it’s been an exciting time for Jones, who will leave her former club in Armstrong Creek – where she played as high as BPCA A1 – to join Geelong as it unveils its debut first grade women’s team this coming summer.

Grace Jones tries to run out Barwon Heads batter Darcy Hewitt. Picture: Mark Wilson

She’s come a long way from scoring for her brother Jacob on windy Friday nights with Torquay Cricket Club in the middle of last decade.

“I was a bit over that, so I thought I’d rather play,” Jones said.

“I moved on from junior cricket pretty quickly.”

And that she did, as Jones became something of a cricketing nomad.

There were stints with Prahan, Plenty Valley, Essendon Maribrynong Park (EMP) and Armstrong Creek.

Her journey with the Titans was largely a stroke of luck; randomly picking their nets to have a bowl with her father one night in 2017.

After being seen in action by some Titans players, she was invited to train with the club: “It was a bit of a fluke ... I was really happy I fell into that club.”

Country Victoria selection at national championships then began from early 2019.

However, to get to that point, Jones had to make a key change: abandoning her “pretty accurate” but military medium pacers.

That happened after a day at the beach in the summer of 2016-17.

“I bowled at the beach with dad ... a leggie came out alright,” she said.

Jones bowls against Queenscliff. Picture: Mark Wilson

With some encouragement from father Bill, she decided if she wanted to taker her game to the highest level, the meds had to go.

“(I thought) I’ll pick up something I might be a bit better at,” she said.

Meeting Beams at under-15 Victoria trials was another circuit breaker.

“If I was influenced by a player it would have been Kristen Beams,” she said.

“I was really lucky to meet her very early on in my underage state journey.

“I got really good value out of her and has always been really lovely when I’ve been in contact with her.”

In fact, Beams’ brought her EMP number of 26 out of retirement to allow Jones to use it.

Kristen Beams celebrates a wicket for the Melbourne Stars in October, 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge.

However, her next biggest challenge could be as the next female Renegades Recruit, with the top three coming down to a public vote which closes on June 30.

She was encouraged to take part by her batting coach Scott Lindsay, who had worked with Bowdler.

“Scott kinda pushed me into (saying) ‘If Paris can do it, you can do it as well’,” she said.

And she loved the experience of a day’s training and filming at Junction Oval earlier this month and meeting new players.

Paris Bowdler took part in the Renegades Recruit in 2022. Picture: Alan Barber

So if Jones doesn’t become the latest Renegades Recruit, there’s still plenty to look forward to; linking up with Geelong CC through a connection with coach, Stephen Field.

“I played a lot of cricket with Jess Field his daughter,” she said.

“I thought I’d jump across because it’s very local.”

Originally published as Armstrong Creek cricketer Grace Jones could be the next Renegades Recruit