10 Sixes And a Strike-rate of 235: Meet USA Batter Aaron Jones Who Led Demolition Job Against Canada

USA announced their arrival at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in spectacular fashion as they chased down the target of 195 with 14 deliveries to spare against rivals Canada in Texas on Saturday.  The chief architect of their dominant chase was Aaron Jones who set the stage alight with free-spirited hitting to kickstart the T20 showpiece.

Jones blazed away to a career-best 94 not out off just 40 deliveries, an innings that saw him belt four fours and 10 sixes. The 29-year-old walked the talk after declaring in a pre-tournament media interaction that the USA want to play “fearless cricket, positive cricket, smart cricket” and “don’t want to regret anything…leave everything out there on the park.”

Also Read: Aaron Jones Stars as USA Brush Aside Canada

The 10 sixes by Jones is the joint-most by any batter in a T20 World Cup winnings, drawing level with West Indies legend Chris Gayle who also holds the all-time record with 11 sixes against England during the 2016 T20 World Cup.

So who is Aaron Jones?

Jones grew up playing professional cricket for Barbados and is a childhood friend of England speedster and 2019 ODI World Cup winner Jofra Archer. Born on October 19, 1994, the right hand batter made his first-class debut in 2017 and in seven matches at the level, scored 342 runs.

After playing domestic cricket in the Caribbean, Jones eventually qualified to represent USA at the international level and became a mainstay.

There are conflicting claims over his place of birth though. Few media reports claim he was born in Queens (New York) while others claim he was born in Barbados.

Jones scored his first ever List A century at the World Cricket League Division Two – a competition that helped USA gain ODI status in 2019.

In 43 ODIs so far, the top-order batter has scored 1454 runs at an average of 36.35 and a strike-rate of 70.78. He has scored a century and 10 half-centuries.

He made his T20I debut in March 2019 and has so far scored 478 runs in 27 matches at a strike-rate of 116.87. He has also struck two half-centuries.

Jones is also a part-time legspinner who has takes six wickets so far in his T20I career.

Stay updated with the latest from T20 World Cup 2024. Explore T20 World Cup Match Today. Check Updated list of Highest-run getters and Highest Wicket-Takers In T20 World Cup 2024. Check T20 World Cup 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes, Most Fours , Most Fifties And Most HundredsIn T20 World Cup 2024.