England's hopes of winning the 1967-68 series hinged on a No 11 whose career average of 4.09 marked him as the archetypal ferret going in after the rabbits.
Arriving at the crease with 10 minutes left, the Welshman was greeted by Alan Knott, whose stout resistance had fuelled prospects of saving the game. ``This is it, Jonesy,'' the Kent wicketkeeper bellowed, ``just remember the green, green grass of home.''
Demonstrating some of the sang froid displayed by the ship's band on the Titanic, Glamorgan's left-arm fast bowler kept out Lance Gibbs's off-spin, with the West Indies fielders perched like hawks around him. England survived to take the series 1-0.
Georgetown, Guyana, alas, proved the last of Jones's 15 Tests and he retired through injury shortly afterwards. Now 56, he works as a groundsman in his native Llanelli.
``And I'd thought I was in for a relaxing day,'' reflected Jones on his pivotal role in the last Test series won by England in the West Indies.
Capped by his country two years before his county, the 'Dafen Express' produced some spectacular returns, including a devastating spell of eight for 11 at Leicester in 1965.
When Maurice Hallam, Leicestershire's opener, sliced one missile from Jones to Peter Walker, the accompanying cry of ``catch it'' seemingly came from the batsman himself. ``I've got a wife and kids,'' he was heard to mutter. Jones recalled: ``I'd bust his ribs first ball and he was coughing blood.''
Long-striding, with an arching back and coiled-spring action, the 6ft 1in Welshman captured 15 wickets for England in Australia in 1965-66.
The Test in Georgetown on March 1968 climaxed a tough series, in which England almost won the first Test and narrowly escaped defeat in the second. After a dull draw in the third they scraped a victory at Trinidad.
Set a target of 308 at Georgetown, England slipped to 41 for five. ``I wasn't feeling too great because I'd had a heavy night,'' confessed Jones. ``I thought my tour was over.''
With 70 minutes left, England's captain, Colin Cowdrey, was lbw to Gibbs. John Snow lasted 35 minutes and Tony Lock only eight. Then Pat Pocock fell. Yet Jones, lunging forward with his pads, held out for a memorable unbeaten nought.
In the euphoria he even forgot a nagging pain in his left elbow. ``I threw in underarm and felt something go,'' he said. ``Snowy said I'd have a month to put it right.''
But the joint turned arthritic. Forced to return home from the 1968-69 Pakistan tour, Jones missed Glamorgan's entire championship-winning season.
On a pre-season tour of the West Indies, Tony Lewis, Glamorgan's captain, noted that Jones's action was illegal, and he arranged to sit next to him on the plane home.
Lewis recalled: ``The conversation in which a skipper tells a young England fast bowler that his career is over, because he throws the ball, is not one you will find in any 'teach yourself captaincy' book.
``We just sat and listened to the aeroplane's engine grinding home the awful truth. Then he dabbed at a stray tear with a handkerchief.''
FORCED to retire at 28, Jones plunged into depression. ``I'd been with Glamorgan since I was 17 and knew no other life,'' he said. ``How my wife stood by me I'll never know.''
After stints as a car factory worker and sales representative, he became a groundsman. These days the one-time tearaway strike bowler lovingly tends the pitches on which he perfected his craft.
A son, Simon, is on Glamorgan's staff. ``He's right-arm quick faster than I was at 19,'' said Jones proudly. ``I'm thrilled to bits for him.''