12 facts about Dean Jones: The gutsy ODI legend of Australia

Dean Jones was an important part of the ‘rebuilding phase of Australian team in the 80’s. Jones was famous for his aggressive style of batting, particularly against fast bowlers. The right hander was a fearless cricketer who would advance down the pitch and loft bowlers over their heads. Jones was a perfect limited overs material who had tremendous will power. He was noted for his electric running between the wickets and was the quickest runner between the wickets Australia had in their time, putting pressure on opposition fielders, as well as teammates at the non-strikers end to react fast. As a fielder, he was matchless, especially in the outfield and was perhaps the first cricketer to have learnt the perfect slide while fielding in the boundary region. His positive, aggressive and flamboyant style of cricket made him a crowd favourite everywhere he went to play.

1. Born on:

Dean Mervyn Jones was born March 24, 1961, in Coburg, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria.

2. Battles illness before debut:

He was selected in the Australian squad on the 1984 tour of the West Indies as a replacement for Graham Yallop. He was not picked in the original XI, but was drafted into the side after Steve Smith fell ill. Despite his illness before the match, he made 48. He described it as his “best knock”.

3. The marathon innings:

Dean Jones’s most notable innings came in only his 3rd Test against India in 1986. In the tied Test in Chennai, he suffered from dehydration due to hot and humid conditions and was frequently vomiting. Jones wished to retire and go off the field which made his captain Allan Border to say “then let’s get a real Australian” (referring to bringing in the next batsman). This comment spurred Jones to score 210 but later ended up in hospital on a saline drip.

4. Part of the 1987 World Cup:

Jones played in the 1987 World Cup winning team. He scored 3 half-centuries during the tournament and made 33 in the final against England which Australia eventually won to get hold of their first major trophy.

5. ODI centuries on consecutive days:

Jones once scored ODI centuries on consecutive days, with 104 against England on January 1, 1987 and 121 against Pakistan the following day, both games held in Perth.

6. Test stats:

Jones played 52 Tests for Australia between 1984 and 1992 and scored 3631 runs at an average of 46.55. His stint in the baggy green saw him score 11 centuries and 14 half centuries. His record was very good and many considered him unlucky to be dumped from the Test team.

7. ODI legend:

In 164 one-day internationals, Jones scored 6068 runs at an average of 44.61 with a strike rate of 72.56. That may seem slightly pedestrian now with teams regularly scoring over 300, but in its day it was the benchmark for world cricket. His average still places him in the all-time top 10 for players who featured in over 50 ODIs.

8. The apex first-class cricketer:

Jones had a prolific first-class career with Victoria. He still holds the record for the most runs for his state, amassing 19,188 over 245 games. He scored 55 centuries and 88 half-centuries with a highest score of 324 not out.

9. Honors:

On 12 June 2006, Jones was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia during the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for “service to cricket as a player, and to the community through fundraising activities for organisations assisting people with cancer”.

10. Stinging remark:

Jones’ commentating contract with Ten Sports was terminated after referring to South African player Hashim Amla as a “terrorist” on 7 August 2006. When Amla, who is a Muslim with a full beard, took a catch, Jones was heard to say “the terrorist gets another wicket”. Jones made the comment during a commercial break, but the comment went to air live in South Africa as its broadcast had not been interrupted. He has since apologized to all concerned

11. Terrible revelation:

In July 2010, Jones was stripped of his 2007 Father of the Year title after he admitted that he had a nine-year affair with a flight attendant, and fathered a son whom he had never seen

12. Coaching duty:

He is currently the Head Coach of Islamabad United (PSL) in PSL 2016 and they won the first ever PSL in Feb-2016.