The sudden death of the great Australian cricketer Dean Jones has left the cricket world and his millions of fans in shock and mourning.
But the iconic moments from his glittering career still shine brightly. We look at five of his top innings, and the one that he always rated as his personal best is not what you think.
Dean Jones in Trinidad in 1984.Credit:AP
48 v West Indies (Port of Spain Test, 1984)
Jones never forgot his debut, for he faced the West Indies in their pomp featuring the fearsome attack of Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Wayne Daniel. Coming in at No.7 with the tourists in trouble at 5-85, he was hit in the stomach with the second ball, but showed courage to share in a century stand with Allan Border. "I made 48, figured in a century partnership with AB and still rate it as my best-ever Test knock given all the circumstances," Jones wrote in Deano, My Call. "I remember AB saying that if I could get through that innings I'd never face a tougher one or faster bowling again in my whole career."
210 v India (Madras Test, 1986)
This was not just one of Jones' best knocks, but is arguably one of this country's finest of all time. In the stifling heat, humidity and wafting stench of Madras, Jones, returning to the side after a two-year absence, produced an innings of such magnitude that his body all but shut down. He was put in and taken out of iced baths by teammates during breaks in play.
On 170, Jones, vomiting, trembling and with cramps, considered leaving the field. Border then famously said to him: "All right, if that's the way you feel, let's get a real Australian out here. A Queenslander." Greg Ritchie was the next man in.
Jones famously battled on, a legend was born and the two nations played each other to a standstill in a famous tied Test.
216 v West Indies (Adelaide Test, 1988-89)
Jones, a nervous starter, was overlooked for the first two Tests of this series and had not had much of an impression in his two Tests back, but now at No.4 in the order he rubber-stamped his spot in the side with a glorious knock - and career high - against a four-man pace battery of Curtly Ambrose, Patrick Patterson, Malcolm Marshall and Courtney Walsh.
On the way to 216 in Adelaide in 1989.Credit:Getty Images
He and fellow Victorian Merv Hughes shared in a ninth-wicket stand of 114, which finally put the tourists on the back foot.
While the Test was drawn, it laid the platform for the breakthrough 1989 Ashes series victory.
Another day out in Adelaide.Credit:Bryan Douglas
116 and 121 not out v Pakistan (Adelaide Test, 1989-90)
Jones had another Adelaide trip to remember, this time against a formidable attack of Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed. In a drawn clash, Jones, at No.5, prospered from an early life and held the home side together in its first innings and finished unbeaten in the second. While the pitch was flat, centuries in both of innings of a Test is a remarkable feat.
145 v England (Gabba, 1990-91)
Jones had three one-day international centuries in four innings in 1986-87, but it was hard to go past his 145 at the Gabba in 1990-91 as one of his finest.
He may have had a lean Ashes series, but on this day he tormented the tourists, particularly fast bowler Martin Bicknell.
In what was to prove his seventh and final ODI ton, Jones found the boundary at will - even with one-handed swipes to fine leg.
One towering straight six prompted commentator Richie Benaud to turn to Geoffrey Boycott in the Channel Nine box and deliver a famous line: "Just reach out and catch it, Geoffrey."
Jon Pierik is cricket writer for The Age. He also covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.
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2020-09-24 22:24:00Z
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