Dean Jones illuminated the one-day game. He enlivened every match he played with his combination of aggressive batting and inventive shot-making.
Jones was in many ways a harbinger for how limited-overs cricket would change and adapt over the years. From the beginning of one-day internationals in the early 1970s, and through to the 1980s, the limited-overs game was little more than extension of Test match cricket.
Batsmen may have been a little more aggressive, and field placings were often different, but there was little to distinguish one-dayers from their longer cousins.
Dean Jones was part of a generation that changed the approach. He attacked early and was often aggressive in the initial stages of an innings. He used the entirety of the ground, both in the air and along the grass. He played shots that were not from the textbook. At a time when Australian cricket was at its lowest, he made the game look fun. And he was loved for it.
There were many great moments for Jones in the limited-overs game: his three centuries in four games in the 1990-91 summer, two centuries in two days against strong English and Pakistani teams in the 1987 Challenge Cup, two important half-centuries against New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup.
(Photo by Getty Images)
However, his best innings may actually have come against the green and gold rather than for it. In 1996, Jones was selected to play for a World XI against Australia in a match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cricket Association. By that stage, Jones was about to turn 35 and had been out of the Australian team for almost two years.
As befitting the man, Jones’ international career did not end with a glorious send-off or a slow ride into the sunset. Jones’ unceremonious dismissal from the Australian Test team in 1992 hurt him badly. He was an integral member of the one-day side for another two years, but he eventually retired from international cricket in 1994 when it became clear that he would never play another Test.
Steve Waugh said it best about Jones in his tour diary from 1994: “I know how he desperately wanted to wear the baggy green cap again and when he thought that was an impossibility, he didn’t want to keep torturing himself.”
By the time Jones was selected for the World XI, he had an axe to grind with Australian selectors and wanted to show that he was still good enough. He was. Australia had just come back home after losing the 1996 World Cup final, and had picked a strong side. The bowling attack was headlined by Shane Warne, who was backed up by a quality pace attack of Paul Reiffel, Damien Fleming and a young Jason Gillespie.
To watch the highlights of Jones’ innings is to get a sense of his greatness. In the 23rd over, Jones was facing Gillespie, who was properly quick in his youth, and proceeded to dance down the wicket at him and smite him through cover. In the 30th over, Jones faced his fellow great Victorian, Shane Warne. Early in the over Jones took a hop and a skip forward and used his wrists to loft the ball into mid-on for a boundary. Later in that over, Jones picked Warne’s flipper and used his incredible footwork to pull the ball comfortably to bring up his half-century.
In the last over of the innings, Jones was on 95*. Despite Fleming and Gillespie both having overs left, Mark Taylor had thrown the ball to the gentle off-spinners of Mark Waugh. Jones seized upon this generosity and once again advanced down the wicket to loft Waugh over the fence for six to the delight of the MCG crowd.
Jones never made an international century at his home ground. He got 80 or above on five occasions at the MCG, but could never quite get that ton. He finally achieved it against Australia. This was no mere exhibition ton either. Jones was the only century maker in the match, and the next highest score for the World XI was Shaun Pollock with 29. This was among a World XI that included greats of the game like Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, Richie Richardson and Martin Crowe.
The MCG was no easy pitch to bat upon either. In those days, the MCG square played like the grass was grown on top of chocolate pudding – dark in colour, and very soft and slow.
At a time when Jones’ career was fading away, he shone brightest of all. Dean Jones was a truly great player and will be sadly missed.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
His combination of batting average and strike rate on its own wasn't outstanding. But to maintain those levels for so many seasons, and with such personal flair... All batsmen in all ODIs played in Australia, during Jones' career 1984-1994- Clive Lloyd batting average 58.57 strike rate 82.99 Peter Kirsten batting average 52.75 strike rate 68.28 Neil Fairbrother batting average 51.16 strike rate 68.22 Dean Jones batting average 47.31 strike rate 71.03 Alec Stewart batting average 43.00 strike rate 71.55 Viv Richards batting average 40.91 strike rate 82.15 Gordon Greenidge batting average 40.38 strike rate 69.05 Mike Veletta batting average 38.50 strike rate 68.44 Asif Mujtaba batting average 37.50 strike rate 75.75 Allan Lamb batting average 37.47 strike rate 75.15
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Fair enough if only considering people who actually played one day cricket.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Sure but don’t think that accounts for an 18 run difference in run rate. And the Windies weren’t invincible in ODIs from the mid 80s onwards.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Nice one, remember enjoying that article Bernie. I was thinking of actual ODI players since the 70s. But I might consider him ahead of Chappell.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I’d agree with you Cameron. He was a great. I’m just saying that some of the comments about him being a trailblazer are a bit hyperbolic in terms of world cricket, as they overlook the way Viv Richards, an even more dynamic batsman, played. Viv played ODI series in Australia almost every year for a decade from 1977 starting with the Packer WSC. Comparing Jones strike rate with Richards’ is apples with apples in this respect as scoring wasn’t generally quicker a few years earlier.
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Bernie, Pretty much anything John Benaud says is fine with me. One of the most practically sensible leaders & selectors we’ve had. I was never a huge Jones fan, I thought him too brash & full of himself, although I respected his talent. I’m just musing that he was cut off so suddenly. But of course, fairness is not part of this world, is it.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Cameron Boyle … From late 1986 until early to mid 1991, when Richards was past his peak as a one day batsman, Jones was arguably the best one day batsman in the world. The only other real contender in that period would have been Javed Miandad. However, he was not superior as a one day batsman to Steve Smith now, or Greg Chappell before him among Australian players, and Ricky Ponting was our king one day batsman.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Kanggas2 Viv faced Lillee, Imran and one or two others. He was, in the words of Ian Chappell, one of the hard men in those West Indies teams that shaped and moulded them into what they became. The other two hard men that Chappell cites were Andy Roberts and Derryck Murray.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Dave J … He gets an honourable mention … unless you would drop any of Bradman, Ponting or Greg Chappell to accommodate him? https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/07/23/all-time-aussie-one-day-xi/
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
My heart is functioning just fine Sheek I assure you. I am also well read on such matters. Fortunately some people realise it. Cheers mate.
Cameron Boyle
Roar Guru
With regards to Jones' strike rate, yes he had a lower rate than some of the greats that played above, but I think you have to compare apples with apples. When you look at the strike rates of other Australian batters who played during Jones' career than his strike rate is more than handy. When compared to other Australian top-order players, the only one with a better strike rate during Jones's career was Mark Waugh (80). Jones' rate was better than contemporaries like AB (72), Steve Waugh (72), Tom Moody (65), Graham Wood (65), David Boon (65), Mark Taylor (56) and Geoff Marsh (56). Australia was a tough place to play back then with its bowling-friendly pitches and large grounds, I think Jones' record holds up better than you suggest.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I did. Thanks for pointing it out.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Bernie, you left out Hoggy's 52 at No.11 vs the WI. The greatest innings of all time.
Cameron Boyle
Roar Guru
That's a great point Brainstrust. His running also forced his partners out of their comfort zone as well and I think helped make Australia a betting team in the way that they worked for each other. Leading into the 1987 World Cup, I don't think Australia was the most talented side there, but they won because they helped squeeze out advantages at the margins of the game - such as fielding, and running between the wickets. Jones played a huge role in setting the standards that helped lead Australia to the cup.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I did not bring up any argument … I merely quashed ill-informed arguments that others brought up citing a credible source (as well as statistical facts) in the process. A selector of the time passing on the wisdom behind the decision, via a book, is not an opinion … it answers the actual ‘why’ the selectors did it. Can you really not see that?
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
It’s incorrect in your opinion. Doesn’t make you right or wrong . No one can claim selectors get things right all the time either . But I’m not prepared to engage you further. I feel like this is a time to pay tribute , rather then rehash this old argument that you brought up . It’s too soon .
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
I don’t think people say he was better then Sir Viv , but Richards was batting in a far superior team and had the benefit of smashing runs against weaker bowling Viv never faced Ambrose Marshall etc , so of course his run rate is going to be better ..
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Rubbish. I was a fan of Jones and rate him highly. Why is it ok for people to incorrectly claim he was harshly dealt with by selectors but it's not ok to debunk such flawed ideas? I have not disparaged him as a person one little bit ... I didn't even know him personally.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Jones was our viv in a way . He was a hugely important player in a time when cricket was very popular and exciting. I was at the scg for the Jones v Ambrose day .. great memories of those Aussie v windies games .
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I haven’t cherry picked anything. By excluding dead tests against the west indies i have also excluded tons from Taylor, Boon and Mark Waugh as well as 4 half tons by Border and at least one half ton by Steve Waugh. This kind of clutching at straws is really getting tedious. Jones was a fine test batsman but his record against the west indies was dismal. End of story.