Cricketer Dean Jones dies after collapsing in a Mumbai hotel
The cricket world is in shock after the sudden death of Dean Jones who defined the excitement of 1980s cricket.
Dean Jones, the man with the dancing feet and flashing blade who defined the excitement of 1980s cricket, has died in a Mumbai hotel surrounded by cricketing legends.
Fellow former cricketer Brett Lee was on the scene and performed CPR but the 59-year-old was pronounced dead at 6.30pm (AEST) on Thursday.
Jones was working for Star Sports in its Mumbai bunker where he was anchoring IPL matches alongside Brian Lara, Graeme Swann, Scott Styris and Lee, who were all staying in the same hotel.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing away of Mr Dean Mervyn Jones AM,” Star India said.
“He died of a sudden cardiac arrest. 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.”
Shocking news... This year gets even worse. Was joking with Deano last week about carrying a red book with me to the match. Terrible... My heartfelt Condolences to the family. ðŸ™ðŸ½
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) September 24, 2020
A brilliant, attacking batsman, he averaged 46.55 in his 52 Test matches for Australia and scored 11 centuries, including a double century in the 1986 tied Test in Madras that is celebrated as one of the most courageous in Australian cricket history.
He was so dehydrated at the end of the innings he was rushed into an ambulance gravely ill but pulled through that scrape.
The comms pay their tributes to Dean Jones who passed away earlier today in Mumbai.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2020
Rest in peace, Deano pic.twitter.com/WrUyVYcHrE
Lee returned to television screens just hours after Jones’ death alongside ex-New Zealand cricket star Scott Styris, describing Jones as an “absolute legend”.
“I think the thing we want to say about Deano is he would have wanted us to be here tonight,” Lee said.
“It’s pretty much the ‘Select Deano’ we call it. It’s Deano’s dugout tonight.
“He is an absolute legend. Firstly to his family and friends we send our condolences. It’s a real tough day for everyone, not only for his close mates ... and the whole cricketing world in general.
“What Deano would’ve wanted is for us to come out here in the dugout, get it done, have some fun for the game we all love.”
Styris described how Jones had exercised in the hotel that morning, which had been booked out by the broadcaster with crew keeping to a bubble format.
He said he had breakfast with him and watched him run down the hallway to keep fit.
“That was his way of keeping fit because of course we are in the bubble here in Mumbai. Who would have thought merely a couple of hours later he had this heart attack or some sort of cardiac problem. It’s incredibly sad.
I can’t believe this news. So very sad to hear about this. Rip Deano, you will be missed. pic.twitter.com/Mc8h36gnWe
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) September 24, 2020
Jones was on the phone to former captain Allan Border on Thursday morning, the pair excitedly discussing plans for a new venture.
Border told The Australian he was too upset to speak.
One-day captain Aaron Finch expressed his sympathies. “Still in shock hearing the news of Deano’s passing. Thoughts are with Jane and the family at this incredibly tough time. A great man with an amazing passion for the game.”
Really shocking to lose a colleague and a dear friend - Dean Jones. Gone so young. Condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace #RIPDeanJones 🙠- @cricketcomau pic.twitter.com/pckNBow5Sv
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) September 24, 2020
Sachin Tendulkar also paid tribute to the batsman who was a legend in India because of his double century. “Absolutely heartbreaking news about Dean Jones passing away,” Tendulkar wrote.
“A wonderful soul taken away too soon. Had the opportunity to play against him during my first tour of Australia. May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to his loved ones.”
Absolutely heartbreaking news about Dean Jones passing away.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 24, 2020
A wonderful soul taken away too soon. Had the opportunity to play against him during my first tour of Australia.
May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to his loved ones. ðŸ™ðŸ¼ pic.twitter.com/u6oEY1h7zz
Jones said recently: “If I had to die for the love of the game, what else would be a better place than a cricket ground wearing my baggy green cap.”
He claimed not to remember anything after making the first 120 and believes the series win under Allan Border changed the course of Australian and Indian cricket.
“We had never really had a cricket match that defined the two countries’ relationship,” he said.
“We were the first Australian team that really enjoyed going to India, that really enjoyed the people – so much so that we made special efforts to get involved in their culture.
“Our official photograph for the tour was done in front of the Taj Mahal, and from then on we’ve gone to the effort to go to one of the landmarks of the country and do a photo there. We really enjoyed the people and the food and we started to get on.
“Every other Australian team had said, ‘You’re going to get sick, there’s millions of people, it’s hard work, the grounds are awful and they’ll turn square.’ And now look where it is. Now it’s called the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – two of the great guns.”
Still in shock hearing the news of Deanos passing. Thoughts are with Jane and the family at this incredibly tough time. A great man with an amazing passion for the game.
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) September 24, 2020
He was one of Australia’s most recognised former cricketers in India and loved the country. Just last week he messaged from his hotel room saying how excited he was to be back on the road and how strange life was in quarantine.
The commentators were not allowed to leave the hotel and were confined to their rooms without access to the bar, pool or other facilities.
Despite having a number of coaching jobs in Pakistan and Afghanistan Jones had become frustrated in recent years at his inability to get a job in Australian and had a major falling out with Cricket Victoria.
Jones was married to his wife Jane for 24 years and was extremely proud of his children.
