To a generation of cricket-loving Australian children, Dean Jones was a hero. To Victorians, he was something closer to a sporting martyr but his death at 59 prematurely robs a family of a husband and father, and removes from the Australian sporting landscape a cult figure, writes Russell Jackson.
When he skipped his way into big-time cricket like a brash featherweight, they called him 'The Jones Boy'. By the time Dean Jones departed the international scene, he was history's man. Australia's batting wunderkind of the 1980s and '90s had done nothing less than revolutionise limited overs cricket.
Moments after hoicking poor Martin Bicknell for an absurd, one-handed six over fine leg, Jones threw every ounce of his weight into a lofted, straight drive towards the commentary box containing Richie Benaud and Geoffrey Boycott. Purring with delight, Benaud issued one of his classic lines: "Just reach out and catch it, Geoffrey." At home, it felt like the ball would crash through the screen. Jones was bombastic.
Jones was of a generation of superstars instantly identifiable by their first names: Viv, Javed, Merv, Imran. Thanks to the inefficiencies of Australian informality, Jones was Deano — to teammates and his adoring public. Only Richards out-swaggered Jones on the way to the crease. Like Viv, Jones chewed gum like it was a secondary competition within the game.
It barely needs stating at this point, but his definitive Test innings occurred in the feverish tied Test at Madras in 1986
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