Vale Dean Jones

The ACA has been left stunned by the sudden death of Dean Jones.

Jones represented Australia in 52 Tests and 164 One-Day Internationals before retiring from international cricket in 1994. He continued to play first-class cricket for another four years and was an icon of Victorian cricket, retiring as the state’s leading run-scorer with 9622 runs including a top score of 324 not-out.

Jones was a cricketing hero for a generation of Australians who grew up watching the game in the 1980s and 90s. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his services to cricket and charity and was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame last year.

ACA Chair Greg Dyer described Jones as an extraordinary player.

“Dean played a different game – he was one of those players where it simply didn’t matter where you bowled to him. As the science of one day cricket was still being formed, Dean came in and totally transformed it – not just with his incredible stroke play but his running between wickets and athletic fielding.”

Dyer, who was a member of the 1986 Australian touring squad to India, still speaks in awe of Jones’ 210 in the tied Test in Chennai.

“I’ve never been to war, and I mean no disrespect to those who have been, but I still regard what he did in the tied Test as the most heroic thing I’ve seen anyone do. To bat the way he did, well past when he should have was unbelievable. He was an amazing talent with incredible self-belief.

“Dean’s loss will be felt not just by past and current players in Australia, but people who love cricket right throughout the world. On behalf of the ACA, our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Jane and daughters Isabella and Phoebe, as well with our many members who counted Dean as a dear colleague and friend.”