Australian cricket legend Allan Border has paid rich tribute to his late Aussie teammate and one of the most loved cricket commentators Dean Jones while hailing the latter for “revolutionizing” the game of cricket.
Jones passed away on Thursday (September 24) at the age of 59 after suffering a massive heart attack at the hotel in Mumbai, India – where he was staying as part of the Star Sports' Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 broadcast set-up. Jones’ family, back in Australia, have been informed about his sudden demise.
It is being said that the former Australian batsman, who was part of the Star Sports Select Dugout, has attended a briefing session after breakfast for the day’s IPL broadcast and then was enjoying a casual session of bat and ball with colleagues in the corridors of the hotel he was staying in South Mumbai.
The reports suggested that the cricket commentator was absolutely fine before he suffered a sudden collapse, following which he was rushed in a standby ambulance to the Harkisandas Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival in Mumbai on Thursday.
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He was part of Australia’s 1987 World Cup-winning unit, and his international career spanned from 1984 to 1994 where he played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for his country before making a name for himself in the coaching and commentary world across the globe.
Following the saddening news, Border paid respects to his former teammate by saying Jones “revolutionized the game” of cricket and he loved him while recalling his courageous innings in Madras.
As per reports in Foxsports.com.au, Border said of Jones: “He revolutionized the game and I loved him. When he scored his 200 in Madras he was so dehydrated but he kept going. At 170 I said 'if you can't keep going I'll get a Queenslander on'.”
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Earl Eddings has also expressed grief over the sudden demise of Dean and paid respect to the cricketer by saying he was a hero to a generation of cricketers and will “forever be remembered as a legend”.
Eddings stated: “He was a hero to a generation of cricketers and will forever be remembered as a legend of this great game. Anyone who watched cricket in the 1980s and 1990s will fondly recall his cavalier approach at the crease and the incredible energy and passion he brought to every game he played.”
He signed off by saying, “Although many remember him for his brilliance in the 50-over game, arguably Jones' finest moment in the national team came in scorching conditions in Chennai in 1986, where his selfless and courageous innings of 210 helped Australia to a famous tie against India.”
(With ANI Inputs)
