Dean Jones – Cricket’s beloved hero who left too soon

Dean Jones was just 59 years old when he passed away due to a heart attack. Jones was a part of the Star Sports commentary panel when he breathed his last during the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Jones was certainly full of life, and a man who dedicated himself to cricket. Meanwhile, March 24, 2023 marks Dean Jones’ 62nd birth anniversary and tributes are pouring in for the Australian great from different corners. 

During his playing days, he was a stylish batter who had all the shots in the book. He was proficient both off the front foot as well as the back foot and was one of the premier batters of his era. Jones represented the Aussies in 52 Tests and 164 ODI matches. While the right-hander plundered 3631 runs in the whites, Jones scored over 6000 runs in ODI cricket. He was also a part of the victorious Australian ODI squad that won the 1987 World Cup.

In fact, Jones was the eighth highest run-getter in the 1987 World Cup, wherein he scored three half-centuries. He averaged close to 45, and proved to be an asset for the kangaroos in the gala tournament, scoring 314 runs.

After his retirement, Jones transitioned to the world of commentary and was a respected voice in the game. His opinions were straightforward, he had a vast knowledge about the nuances of the sport, and he did not shy away from making his point known to the world.

And, when Jones breathed his last, the cricketing world felt a void. Right from Sachin Tendulkar, to Ricky Ponting, to Virat Kohli, to Sir Vivian Richards, the tributes poured in from far and wide for the man who played cricket in his own way, and a man who loved cricket till his last breath. Jones was a colourful character and was a hero of the cricketing world who left too soon.