RIP Professor Dean Jones – a true legend of the gentleman’s game


RIP Professor Dean Jones – a true legend of the gentleman’s game
Dean Jones

Dean Jones popularly known as ‘The Professor’ passed away on Thursday after cardiac arrest in Mumbai. Another shocking obituary in the year 2020, which has taken a huge toll already. Jones was in India as a commentator and analyst for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 with Star Network.

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Jones is survived by his wife Jane and two daughters, Phoebe and Isabella

Dean Jones was one of the most popular cricketers and changed the way the game was played in Australia during the 1980s. He was part of the World Cup-winning squad with Australia in 1987 and scored 3 half-centuries in the tournament. Australia went in as the underdogs but came home with the World Cup trophy, thanks to the top 3 of David Boon, Geoff Marsh, and Dean Jones.

A splendid international career for Dean Jones

Dean Jones for Australia

Dean Jones ODI career for Australia is an impressive one where he scored 6068 runs in 164 Matches with an average of 44.61. He also took 54 catches and 3 wickets at a 4.58 economy rate in his significant career.

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Jones’s test career was equally as good as the limited-overs one. He scored 3631 runs in 52 test matches for Australia. His average is an impressive 46.55 for red-ball cricket. He scored 11 centuries and 14 half-centuries for Australia in test matches.

During the third test match of the Australia tour of India series in 1986, Jones scored a remarkable double century. What makes the innings special was Jones was ill during the match and struggled with the hot and humid conditions of Chennai.

When batting at 170, he wanted to go off the pitch ‘retired ill’.  Subsequently, the Australian Captain Allan Border pushed Jones and told him’ ‘if you can’t keep going I’ll get a Queenslander on’. Irked Jones went on to score 210 runs in the match which till date still stands as for most runs scored by an Australian against India.

Dean Jones also had disagreements and disputes with fellow cricketers during his time in international Cricket. Jones was one of the players who never feared to speak his mind out even though it would land him into a controversy. One incident was when Jones asked West-Indian pacer Curtly Ambrose to remove his wristband in his bowling arm.

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Accomplishments of Dean Jones

Dean Jones with his daughters (source- twtiter)

Dean Jones achieved success in his small stint in coaching. He worked as the head coach of Pakistan Super League (PSL) side Islamabad United. Islamabad won the PSL in 2016 and 2018 editions. In 2019, he joined Karachi Kings replacing Mickey Arthur as the head coach.

Cricket Australia in 2009 inducted Dean Jones into the Australian Hall of Fame. In June 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “service to cricket as a player, coach, and commentator” as well as efforts on fundraising for cancer charities.

Dean Jones will surely be remembered for the service he provided in the game of Cricket as a player, commentator and a coach.

Also Read: Twitter reacts to shocking news of Dean Jones death

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