Justin Langer reveals Dean Jones was in contention for national coaching role

Months after Dean Jones ripped into Cricket Victoria for denying him a coaching role, Justin Langer has made a startling confession.

Australian coach Justin Langer has revealed he foresaw a coaching role for cricket great Dean Jones in the national T20 squad.

Jones tragically passed away in Mumbai from a suspected heart attack on Thursday aged 59, with tributes flooding in from across the sporting world.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Langer said he wanted the Victorian to serve as a mentor in the Australian T20 squad ahead of next year’s World Cup.

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“I was only talking to Jonesy last week … I was talking about getting Deano in to help us with our T20 World Cup stuff as one of those mentor coaches,” Langer said.

“After speaking to Jonesy for five or 10 minutes, that’s when I thought how great it would be for him to have one of those mentor roles.

“Sadly, that is not going to happen.”

Australian coach Justin Langer.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh served in similar roles during last year’s Cricket World Cup and Ashes series respectively.

Jones scored 3631 Test runs in 52 matches at a stellar batting average of 46.55, including 11 centuries.

Langer regarded him as a pioneer in the one-day format, lauding his influence in the game’s shorter formats.

“There is not that many players who really revolutionised the game,” Langer said.

“He was so passionate about Australian cricket, he was so passionate about the game of cricket full-stop and we were talking about how we can do things better.

“In the Australian cricket team, we talk about who’s going to be our next Dean Jones, who’s going to be our next Michael Bevan, our next Michael Hussey; who’s going to be the next Dhoni for us, who’s going to be the Jos Buttler.

“And Dean Jones is one of those people. He could have brought so much for us.

“The things I’ve learned from him and the legacy he leaves to Australian cricket and Australian cricketers won’t be lost on us.

“He was a competitor, he was intimidating, and he was tough.”

In April, Jones blasted Cricket Victoria in an explosive spray on Sportsday, calling the organisation’s strategic plan “awful” and their administration “poor”.

He had applied for a coaching role with the two Melbourne-based Big Bash teams in 2019, but was not considered for either position, CV opting instead for younger, more inexperienced coaches.

Aaron Finch speaking to Dean Jones.

Jones admitted to feeling insulted by the decision, which proved a “catalyst” for his choice to have his life membership with CV rescinded.

“The catalyst was I put in for two jobs for the Stars and the Renegades,” Jones said earlier this year.

“David Hussey resigns from the Cricket Victoria board and gets the job … He had no experience and nothing behind him.

“Michael Klinger went for the job in front of Trevor Bayliss, Brad Hodge and others. He had no experience and gets the job.

“They have given jobs for the boys, and I think it is an insult not just to me, but to overseas coaches.

“Trevor Bayliss is the best coach in the world and they didn’t want him. I feel we are going the wrong way at the moment.

“I wanted my name and my life membership to be rescinded … they asked me why, and I said, ‘One day you might want to ring me up’.

“The way the administration has looked after things is poor.”

Cricket Victoria chief executive Andrew Ingleton released a statement on Friday: “Dean was one of those players who excited you, who had that swagger at the crease that made him a compelling player to watch.

“He inspired cricket fans here and around the world. Beyond the field, he was deeply passionate about Victorian cricket and making our high performance systems as successful as they could be.

“Dean wanted Victoria to be the best and his passing will be heavily felt across our cricket community.”

Dean Jones in 1992.

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Cricket Victoria chair David Maddocks said: “Our deepest sympathies are with his wife Jane and daughters Isabella and Phoebe, together with his many friends, colleagues and team-mates.

“Dean Jones brought so much joy and excitement to a whole generation of cricket fans as an aggressive batsman and athletic fielder. He fundamentally changed the face of one-day cricket throughout the 1980s.

“Deano was a game changer. From his very successful playing career through to his coaching and broadcast commitments after retiring, he was keenly sought after for his insights and experience. He made moments unforgettable and his performance in Chennai in 1986 will never be forgotten.”