Dear Editor,
A gem has quietly exited to the far beyond recently and with him lasting memories which typified what a champion cricketer he was. Hailing from the village of Good Hope on the Essequibo Coast; his elevation to dominance on the cricket field was unique. The heart and prominence of cricket in Essequibo was driven in the north of the region; Jeff Jones resided in the south. This meant that most of the selected players emerged from one section and there was little hope for the others. In other words, an outsider had to be someone with exceptional ability and charisma to unsettle the status quo.
In this context, Jeff Jones stood out as the darling of Essequibo’s cricket for many years battling and winning against his counterparts from the north. It didn’t stop there as Jeff went ahead of his peers and achieved an elusive accomplishment. At the time, it was precious as gold and his name etched into an elite group. Jeff made history by becoming the first Essequibian to score a four- day inter-county century; a feat that stood for over a decade.
This accomplishment stood as an inspiration to us as young cricketers and during era that was very hostile and without proper representation. I grew up with his name carved within my heart; yearning to follow his footsteps and to consistently savour such wonderful feelings in raising my bat. While it remained elusive, I was determined to be guided by his exploits. In this regard, so were other players in the likes of Dinesh Joseph, Troy Cornelius, Ramcharran Singh and Ramesh Narine who became senior centurions at different stages.
Jeff was very aggressive in his approach; ironically it was the opposite of him off the field as he was such a jovial, affable and humble individual. I had the privilege to socialize with him and those moments will remain as priceless as his century. I was instrumental, as a former executive member of the Essequibo Cricket Board, in 2023, when he was honoured by the board for his outstanding contribution to the sport. I remembered how emotional, yet graceful he was that evening as the memories of his exploits flowed with passion and relentless joy.
Jeff Jones will remain as the pillar on which Essequibo’s cricket strived; his achievement defied adversity and remains a perfect example of attaining success. I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy to his grieving family.
Sincerely,
Elroy Stephney
Former Essequibo Senior
Intercounty Captain
