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'Devastated': Cricket world in shock over Dean Jones tragedy

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·5-min read
Dean Jones, pictured here celebrating a century against Pakistan in 1987.
Dean Jones celebrates a century against Pakistan in 1987. (Photo by Adrian Murrell/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)

The cricket world has been rocked by the tragic death of Australian batting great Dean Jones.

Jones died of a heart attack in Mumbai, Indian TV broadcaster Star Sports announced in a statement.

He was 59.

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Jones was in Mumbai with the Star Sports’ commentary team for the Indian Premier League.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing away of Mr Dean Mervyn Jones AM. He died of a sudden cardiac arrest,” Star Sports said in a statement.

“We express our deep condolences to his family and stand ready to support them in this difficult time.

“We are in touch with the Australian High Commission to make the necessary arrangements.

“Jones was one of the great ambassadors of the game associating himself with Cricket development across South Asia.

“He was passionate about discovering new talent and nurturing young cricketers.

“He was a champion commentator whose presence and presentation of the game always brought joy to millions of fans.

“He will be sorely missed by everyone at Star and his millions of fans across the globe. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

Dean Jones, pictured here in 2014.
Dean Jones at the ICC Cricket World Cup "One Year To Go" in 2014. (Photo by Mark Tantrum/Getty Images)

Cricket world in shock over Dean Jones tragedy

Jones played 52 Tests and 164 one-day internationals for Australia from 1984 to 1994, winning a World Cup in 1987.

Regarded as one of the finest batsmen of his generation, he scored 3631 runs in Tests at an average of 46.55, with 11 hundreds and 14 half-centuries.

He also amassed over 6000 runs in ODIs with seven centuries and 46 fifties.

Jones led the way for his aggression in the white-ball game during an era where teams were still cautious with their ODI batting.

Dean Jones and Allan Border, pictured here after Australia's World Cup triumph in 1987.
Dean Jones (L) and Allan Border hold the trophy after Australia's World Cup triumph in 1987. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images)

But Jones still carved out an impressive Test career, with his epic 210 against India in Madras in 1986 etched in Australian cricket folklore.

Former Australia coach Bob Simpson said he had not “seen a braver innings”.

“He was running on adrenaline,” Simpson told Cricinfo.

“During breaks we would have one bloke waiting to take off his pads and another would strip him and put him in an ice bath just to try and revitalise him. It was immensely courageous.”

After his retirement, he worked as a coach and commentator and was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Hame in 2019.

Tributes are pouring in for one of the most popular batsmen of his generation, with Australian stars Steve Smith and David Warner, India captain Virat Kohli, and former Australia coach Darren Lehmann among the prominent figures to express their shock at the news.

with agencies