Dean Jones. Photo-ICC Media Zone
By SAT News Desk
MELBOURNE, 24 September 2020: The cricket and sporting world is mourning the passing away of former Australia international Dean Jones, 59 (1961-2020). He was a prolific batsman playing in 52 Tests and 164 ODIs and was part of the 1987 Australia team who won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Jones was in Mumbai as part of the commentary team at Star Sports for IPL 2020 when he passed away on Thursday, 24 September.
In a statement, ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney said: “We are extremely sad to hear of Dean’s sudden death and I would like to extend our deep condolences to his family and friends on behalf of the ICC.
Mourning the demise of Dean Jones, Earl Eddings, Chair of Cricket Australia says, ” Jones would be sorely missed by cricket fans around the world.
“Dean Jones was a hero to a generation of cricketers and will forever be remembered as a legend of this great game,” Eddings said.
“Anyone who watched cricket in the 1980s and 1990s will fondly recall his cavalier approach at the crease and the incredible energy and passion he brought to every game he played.
“Although many remember him for his brilliance in the 50-over game, arguably Jones’ finest moment in the national team came in scorching conditions in Chennai in 1986, where his selfless and courageous innings of 210 helped Australia to a famous tie against India.”
The ICC says, ” A gritty, attacking player, the Victorian made 3631 runs at an average of 46.55 in Tests, while in ODIs he made 6068 runs, at 44.61, with seven hundred and 46 fifties. He also remains No.5 on the all-time ICC Batting Rankings in the format.
His most memorable Test innings came in 1986 when in the heat and humidity of Chennai, he battled exhaustion and illness to make a heroic 210 in what would be only the second tied Test ever.
That was just his third Test, coming two years after his debut against West Indies in 1984. With plenty to prove, he came out at No.3, and stayed in the middle for 330 minutes, despite being sick on the field and finding himself in hospital at the end of the knock.
Incidentally, he was sick the night before his Test debut too and called the 48 he made in his first innings on a difficult pitch one his best knocks.
Jones went on to make 10 more hundreds, with a career-best 216 against West Indies in Adelaide in 1989. But it was in ODIs that he really made his name, gaining a reputation as an attacking batsman and a fast runner between the wickets – and, by his own admission, also the first player to wear sunglasses on the field. He attained a high of 918 ranking points on the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for Batting in March 1991, putting him fifth on the all-time list.
Dean Jones (seated, second from left) was a part of Australia’s 1987 World Cup-winning squad. Photo- ICC
“Winning the 1987 World Cup in front of about 100,000 in Kolkata will remain the biggest moment of my career,” he had said.
He retired from international cricket in 1994 – much too early, according to his supporters, but went on to play first-class cricket till the 1997/98 season. After his retirement, he pursued an interest in golf. He went on to coach New Zealand, Afghanistan, and teams in leagues in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. He was also was a regular in commentary boxes around the world.
