Vic Richardson, who captained Australia in Test cricket in 1930s, passed on some cheeky advice to his grandson – Ian Chappell. ‘If you ever get a chance to captain Australia, don’t do it like a Victorian.’
What Richardson meant was that Melbourners were traditional and waited till things happened rather than making things happen. Not Dean Jones though. This Melbourne born and raised former Test cricketer was proactive on the field and was a trend setter. He certainly was ahead of his time and one of the successful captains of Victoria.
Jones’ eccentrics knew no bounds. Once in Pakistan he gave a weather report while travelling on a donkey. On another occasion in Dambulla, he gave a pitch report dressed like a Professor. That earned him the nickname Professor Deano. He was paired up with a young Anarkali Akarsha, who was just 18. The show by the pair was an instant hit among fans. Jones didn’t need any introduction but this was the platform that helped launch Anarkali’s successful career in the film industry.
His excesses brought him trouble too. Australia were taking on West Indies in an ODI in Sydney in 1993 and news broke that morning that Jones had been dropped for the Adelaide Test scheduled for later that week. Going out to bat, Jones told coach Bob Simpson that he was going to ask Curtly Ambrose to take the wrist band off.
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“You will get us killed, my teammates yelled. I personally couldn’t give a damn about them as they were going to Adelaide. I heard Mark Waugh telling his older brother, ‘Surely he is not going to do it is he,” Jones wrote in his autobiography.
So, Jones went out to the middle and told the umpire that he cannot see the ball properly due to Ambrose’s white wrist band. Ambrose was forced to take it off and was furious. And the rest as they say is history as Ambrose claimed one of his three five wicket hauls against the Aussies that night.
Jones was the first cricketer to wear sunglasses on the field. The fashion was initially frowned upon but later it became not only common but leading brands paid players to wear their products. He was someone willing to explore avenues as a player and then later on as a coach and commentator.
In mid 1980s as Australia were rebuilding under Allan Border, Jones was one of the young players coach Bob Simpson picked. He would go onto become an important cog in the wheel that won back the Ashes and of course the 1987 World Cup against many odds.
Perhaps, in his era, only Viv Richards played the limited overs game better. Jones was an innovator. At a time when Australia’s trademark was ‘grinders’ like Border and Keppler Wessels, the likes of Jones and David Hooks threw caution to the wind with their extravagant stroke play.
Jones had all the shots. He would step out to quicks, upset their rhythm and would have plenty to say. His running between the wickets was electric. He was the pioneer of the ‘run on the throw’ theory. It basically means that in the large Australian grounds, batsmen could afford an extra run when the fielder was throwing the ball in.
Jones had a huge affection for Sri Lanka although it was Australia’s tour to the island in 1992 that marked the end of his Test career. Television Producer Hemant Buch revealed in a tribute to the great man that Jones hoped that the Lanka Premier League will take place so that he could visit Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Cricket almost got him on board as Head Coach of the national cricket team too. When SLC parted ways with Graham Ford, they were looking for a successor and Jones fit their criteria. Negotiations were smooth but the parties did not see eye to on a couple of matters. Firstly, Jones wanted US$ 40,000 a month. SLC would have probably agreed to that condition but the moment he said that he is only available for six months of work in a year that was the last straw.
Very few could match Jones’ knowledge. He was very clever on picking up minute details. Upul Tharanga for example holding the bat on his right-hand while being at the non-striker’s end; the number of dot balls that Sri Lanka were conceding in one-day cricket; the number of football injuries our cricketers were picking up and placing the fine-leg fielder too square – almost at long-leg – when Lasith Malinga was bowling were some of them.
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Jones loved the game so much. Such was his passion for the sport that he had no reservations in travelling to Pakistan on a regular basis. He in fact visited Afghanistan too on a coaching assignment.
Justin Langer, the Head Coach of Australia since taking over has brought in some leading ex-players as mentors of the side. Mike Hussey, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh have all played their roles. It was supposed to be Jones’ turn during next year’s T-20 World Cup. It would have been very interesting to see what new thing Jones would have brought to the table.
Amidst the sorrow of his loss, leading Australian journalist Malcolm Conn made some pertinent points. “The terrible loss of Deano so young is a sad reminder for everyone over 50 to give yourself and your family a present by booking in annually for a thorough physical with your doctor. That way we may be together a bit longer,” Conn wrote.
