Dean Jones may have enamoured many with his joyful ways as a cricket commentator and broadcaster, but it shouldn't be forgotten the man was also a pioneer of one-day batsmanship in his times.
Jones, among Australia's finest right-hand batsman, with his attacking style of play and astute game awareness capturing people's imaginations, played 164 ODIs from 1984-1994 with 6,068 runs at an average of 44.61 and strike-rate of 72.56.
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"Dean Jones was among the best One-day batsmen in the world, on par with Viv (Richards) and Javed (Miandad)," said India's head coach Ravi Shastri, who played a lot of his cricket against Jones, in a heartfelt tribute while speaking to TOI on Thursday (September 24), as 'Deano' took his last breath at the age of 59 after a sudden cardiac arrest.
"He was ahead of his time in the 50-over format, had an attacking style, his running between the wickets was excellent and he was right there at the top," Shastri added.
Jones also batted in 52 Tests for Australia, making 3,631 runs at an average of 46.55, including a famous double hundred in India in the Madras 1986 tied Test, an innings the man felt proud of throughout his life.
"His 210 at Chepauk, battling the heat and humidity, was an exemplary effort. In my opinion, it ranks as the second-best innings ever played by an overseas Test batsman in India, after Kevin Pietersen's Wankhede innings in 2012," said Shastri.
After retirement, Jones enriched the game with his voice behind the mic. In the commentary box, Shastri says, his excellent work ethic, strong tactical nous and sense of humour made him such a great guy to work with.
"With him around, there was electricity. All the time I've known him, he was a livewire. I'm 58, he was 59, and I've known him since 1986 - that's almost 35 years."
"I will never forget him hosting me at his home for the Christmas-day lunch during the 2003-04 India tour of Australia," he said.
In the end, Shastri expressed disbelief at his friend's passing and conveyed condolences to Jones' family.
"Really shocking to lose a colleague and a dear friend. Gone so young. It's very sad that he had to pass away in my city, and at a time when I couldn't even meet him. I'm very sorry for Jane (his wife) and the kids," he signed off.
