Shocking news from Mumbai, former Aussie cricketer Dean Jones passed away after a massive cardiac arrest.
Dean Jones was an Australian flamboyant athlete who adopted an altogether new sport in late 90’s, he walked down the pitch to fast bowlers, ran frantically between wickets and turned outfielding into an attacking occupation. He was a natural showman who was for a while as popular as any other player in Australia. Yet he was also a classic cricketer who once made a triple-century for Victoria and remains their record run-maker. He averaged 46 in Tests, and in the tied Test at Madras in 1986-87 played what Bob Simpson said was the greatest innings for Australia. At the end of his 210 he ended up in hospital on a saline drip.
Jones was a significant part of the team’s revival, playing in the ’87 World Cup and ’89 Ashes wins. Turbulent stints as captain of Victoria and Derbyshire followed, for his personality was bound not to please everyone. He remained devoted to the game and since retirement has been a forthright commentator. An on-air slip in 2006 took him off the circuit for a while but he has since resumed his broadcast work. Jones was coach of the title-winning Islamabad franchise side in the inaugural Pakistan Super League in 2016.
