Jones planned on taking it easy as head coach of the Essendon Maribrynong Park team’s Country Week campaign before a team member pulled out on short notice.

“We had one girl pull out at the last minute, so I had to fill in,” she said.

“I played as fine-leg fielder and number 11 batsman.

“But she’s back tomorrow, so I’ll be back off the field scoring.

“And scoring is an entirely different mental attitude.”

Jones, who represented Australia in all forms of international cricket and played 142 matches for Victoria, said Country Week was a great opportunity for women’s cricket to develop.

“It’s a good opportunity to develop some young players,” she said.

“It’s gives us a chance to work on some things.

``It’s also a really good social opportunity for the girls.”

Jones said the Women’s Country Cup was an example of how far women’s cricket

has come since she was a junior cricketer.

“I didn’t have the junior opportunities we have today,” she said.

“I went straight into a senior side.

“It’s great to see team like Kangaroo Flat who are all high school age.

“The more events we play, the more chances we have to get women’s cricket out there.”

Jones’ Essendon Maribrynong Park team has had a great start to County Week, defeating both the Western Waves and Kangaroo Flat convincingly, while performing gallantly in defeat against the high-scoring Tasmanian under-23 side.

Since ending her international cricket career, Jones has taken on the role as an ambassador for the Red Dust Program.

The program, which is conducted in Australia, Fiji and India, is a charity and role model program aimed at working with indigenous communities.

“I’ve done a lot of work in India because of the cricket connection,” she said.

“A lot of the children involved have been rescued from child labour and prostitution, so it’s very important.”

Jones also works part-time at Cricket Victoria and is developing her own sports apparel business.