Tributes to former Derbyshire cricket captain and Australia international Dean Jones

The cricketing world has paid tribute to former Derbyshire captain and Australia batsman Dean Jones following his death aged 59.
By Steve Jones
Published 25th Sep 2020, 09:11 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

On Thursday, Cricket Australia announced that Jones, who played for Derbyshire for a season and a half between 1996 and 1997, had passed away in Mumbai where he was working as a commentator on television coverage of the Indian Premier League.

‘Freakish, flamboyant and fearless’, Jones inspired Derbyshire to a second-placed finish in the County Championship in his first season with the club, scoring 2,653 runs in all formats. Before he arrived they had suffered three consecutive bottom five finishes in the same competition.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He also played 52 Test matches and 164 One-Day Internationals for Australia, winning the Ashes twice and the ODI Cricket World Cup in 1987, beating England in the final.

David Griffin, heritage officer at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, said fans “have had few more enjoyable summers” than that of 1996.

He said: “Since they won the 1936 County Championship, Derbyshire have enjoyed many great overseas players and some wonderful triumphs, but Dean Jones came closest to delivering that greatest prize of all in the glorious summer of 1996. For that, he will be remembered as long as the game is played in Derbyshire.

“Everyone associated with the club offers their condolences and sympathy to his family and friends.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Australia head coach Justin Langer said: “What a great player and a great bloke. We are shocked and very sad to hear of his passing.

Former Derbyshire County Cricket captain Dean Jones, pictured in April 1996. Credit: Mark Thompson/Allsport UKFormer Derbyshire County Cricket captain Dean Jones, pictured in April 1996. Credit: Mark Thompson/Allsport UK
Former Derbyshire County Cricket captain Dean Jones, pictured in April 1996. Credit: Mark Thompson/Allsport UK

“Deano was a true legend of Australian sport and world cricket, one of the great players and personalities in a golden time for the game.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: "This is so sad ... A hero of mine has gone far too soon ... always offered so much advice to us younger players when he played at Derby."

Australia batsman Steve Smith tweeted: “Awful to hear the news of Dean Jones passing away in Mumbai.

“He was a wonderful player for Australia and he will be missed. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Deano.”

Sachin Tendulkar also tweeted to say he was ‘heartbroken’ about the news.

Related topics:DerbyshireAustraliaMumbaiCricket Australia