Dean Jones (cricketer)

"Deano" began his first class career in the 1981-82 season with Victoria in the Sheffield Shield. He made his Test debut for Australia in the West Indies in 1984.

Between 1984 and 1992, Jones played 52 Test matches for Australia, scoring 3,631 runs, including 11 centuries, at an average of 46.55. His most notable innings was in only his third Test, against India in the Tied Test in Chennai (Madras) in 1986. Suffering from dehydration in the oppresively hot and humid conditions, Jones was frequently vomiting on the pitch. He wanted to go off the field "retired ill" which led his captain Allan Border to say that if he couldn't handle the conditions, "then let's get a tough Queenslander" (Greg Ritchie was the next man) in to bat. This comment spurred Jones to score 210.

Jones was one of Australia's most successful batsmen in one-day international matches. In 164 matches, he scored 6,068 runs, including seven centuries and 46 half centuries, at an average of 44.61. He played in the 1987 World Cup winning team, and was noted for his electric running between the wickets, outstanding out-fielding and aggressive batting especially against fast bowlers. With his flamboyant style of play he became a crowd favourite.

Jones also played for Durham and Derbyshire in the English County Championship. No stranger to controversy, he left Derbyshire in mid-season and also had run-ins with authority and team mates in his home state of Victoria. During his career, he scored 19,188 runs in first class matches, including 55 centuries and 88 half centuries and a highest score of 324 not out, at an average of 51.85.

Jones is now a coach and a commentator. He is well-known for his condemnation of the bowling action of the Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

He is also a noted fundraiser for people with cancer. On 12 June 2006, in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, he was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for "service to cricket as a player, coach and commentator, and to the community through fundraising activities for organisations assisting people with cancer".

Dean Jones' career performance graph.

External links

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