Mel Jones OAM - 2017 VU Sport Hall of Fame inductee

Mel Jones OAM is one of Australia’s most respected cricket figures and a proud Victoria University alum whose career spans elite performance, coaching, commentary and leadership across the sport.

Mel began her career as an opening bowler for Victoria and the Australia Under-21s before developing into a top-order batter. She made her Test debut for Australia in 1998, scoring an impressive 131 against England. Across her international career she played five Test matches and 61 One Day Internationals, scoring 1,028 runs. She was part of Australia’s World Cup-winning teams in 1997 and 2005 and contributed to successful Ashes campaigns in 1998 and 2002–03.

Domestically, Mel played 122 matches for the Victorian Spirit and later represented the Tasmanian Roar in the early years of women’s T20 cricket. Her experience and leadership made her an important figure in Australian women’s cricket during a period of significant growth for the game.

After completing her studies at Victoria University, Mel initially worked as a teacher before moving into cricket development roles in Australia, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Her transition into broadcasting began in 2001 when Sky Sports invited her to commentate during an Ashes series – an opportunity that launched a highly successful media career.

Mel has since become one of the most recognisable voices in world cricket, working across major global competitions including ICC World Cups, the Indian Premier League, the Big Bash League, the Pakistan Super League and The Hundred. She was one of the first women to commentate in the IPL and has contributed to groundbreaking coverage of women’s cricket internationally. Her media work spans television, radio and digital platforms with organisations including Fox Sports, Sky Sports, Channel 10, BBC, SEN and ABC.

Beyond broadcasting, Mel is a respected leader in sport. She has served on the Cricket Australia Board, co-chaired the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee and contributed to numerous community initiatives. In 2019 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to cricket and the community.

Her induction into the Victoria University Sport Hall of Fame recognises her outstanding contribution to cricket on and off the field and her ongoing commitment to advancing opportunities for women and girls in sport.