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Dean Jones. (Photo by Mark Tantrum / Getty Images)
Aussie cricket staggered on Friday at the shocked death of a great hitter Dean jones, with national coach Justin Langer leading tributes to a player he called “legendary stuff.”
Langer revealed that he was about to recruit Jones as a coach for next year’s T20 World Cup when the 59-year-old died of a heart attack in Mumbai, where he had been commenting on the Indian Premier League.
“I was talking about getting Deano to help us with the World Cup stuff as a mentor and coach, sadly that’s not going to happen,” Langer told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“[But] the legacy he leaves to Australian cricket and Australian cricketers will not escape us. “
Jones’ dazzling hitting game inspired generations of hitters, including current power hitter Glenn Maxwell.
“Incredibly shocked by the news that Dean Jones passed away. I had a poster of the great man in my room as a child.” Maxwell tweeted.
Jones played 52 tests between 1984 and 1992, accumulating 3,631 runs with an average of 46.55, while his 164 one-day international matches produced 6,068 runs and an average of 44.61.
Known universally as “Deano”, Jones was remembered as a fierce competitor whose knockout demeanor masked a keen cricket mind full of innovative ideas.
“The world of cricket is devastated today because it has lost one of its greatest characters, a totally original nonconformist talent whose contribution went far beyond mere statistics, excellent as they were.” Robert Craddock of the Brisbane Courier-Mail wrote.
ABC’s Russell Jackson said Jones’ reckless hitting revolutionized one-day cricket and helped Australia win the 1987 World Cup.
“Jones could be subtle and brutal in the space of a minute”, Jackson wrote.
“He dictated terms, using the width of his fold and the full 360 degrees to set new standards.”
For all his exploits in the limited game, it was Jones’ brave test innings against India in Chennai in 1986 that stuck in the minds of his fans after 34 years.
Jones braved furnace conditions to score 210, vomiting and shaking in the crease to save Australia’s hopes in cricket’s second tied Test, and was later rushed to hospital for dehydration after losing eight kilograms (18 pounds) during the tickets.
“He’s part of the legend in Australian test cricket, the brotherhood of the loose green, his 200 in Madras and the way he hit AB (Allan Border), yeah, kind of legendary,” Langer said.
Jones’ dedication to the cause established him as a fan favorite.
“Nobody hit like Deano. Nobody danced down the court to run the game like Deano. Nobody provoked bowlers like Deano. Nobody could talk like Deano.” Australian Peter Lalor wrote.
Andrew Wu of the Sydney Morning Herald admitted that Jones was one of the few athletes who could make him put aside journalistic fairness and embrace his inner fanatic.
“Deano was the player you wanted to be.” he wrote.
Incredibly surprised by the news that Dean Jones passed away. I had a poster of the great man in my room as a child. And I was lucky enough to have him as a hitting coach in BBL’s freshman year. The thoughts are with his family at this extremely difficult time. #RIPDeano
– Glenn Maxwell (@ Gmaxi_32) September 24, 2020
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