Jones bows out after outstanding career

Melanie Jones, the former Australia batsman, has retired from the women's domestic scene after 142 matches for Victoria. Jones, 36, steps down with two World Cup wins, five Tests, 61 ODIs and a record 122 Women's National Cricket League appearances.

Jones, who scored 1028 one-day international runs at 21.41, said it was the right time to exit. "I didn't want to make any rash decisions after the WNCL final, so I took some time off and had a think about it and it was really easy in the end," she said.

"There are some other opportunities popping up, I thoroughly enjoyed commentating at the World Cup and hopefully I can do more of that as well as completing my level three coaching course. My body felt the best it has in ages and mentally and physically I felt capable, but it just seemed like the right time."

Her final game for Australia came in the 2005 World Cup victory in South Africa. Jones, who is Cricket Victoria's School Programs Coordinator, will continue to coach the women's club side Essendon Maribyrnong Park.