Memories of ‘Deano’, the legend who lifted county
THE cricket world was rocked by the news yesterday that former Derbyshire captain Dean Jones had died, aged 59, from a massive heart attack.
One of the earliest and best exponents of the modern fast-scoring one-day game, Jones played 59 Tests and 164 one-day internationals for Australia, before enjoying a successful coaching and commentating career.
He was preparing to commentate on an Indian Premier League game when he died in his hotel room.
In Derbyshire, he is forever remembered for a spectacular season as captain in 1996 when the county came closest to repeating their only County Championshipwinning campaign of 1936.
Under Jones, they came second, behind Leicestershire, playing fearless, aggressive cricket, the Australian galvanising the individual talents of Kim Barnett, Chris Adams, Devon Malcolm, Phil de Freitas and Dominic Cork, among others, into an effective unit.
Derbyshire cricket blogger Steve Dolman wrote this tribute about Jones:
He was as close to the stereotypical Australian as you could wish for. Hard as nails, blunt and with a never-say-die attitude that was just what the doctor ordered. With the benefit of hindsight it was never going to last but it was, without doubt, magnificent while it did.
Jones was a fixture in a fine Australian side and came with the reputation as being perhaps the best one-day batsman in the world.
By the end of the 1996 season, “Deano” had confirmed himself as an outstanding player across all formats. He had also, despite a brusque, often confrontational persona, managed to turn a side of talented individuals into a team that came tantalisingly close to championship success.
Jones scored 1,502 championship runs at 52 that summer but he inspired Chris Adams to more then 1,700 runs, while Kim Barnett contributed 1,400. Adrian Rollins passed 1,000 too, while Karl Krikken averaged 40 from almost 900 runs down the order.
Individually and collectively, there have been few seasons when Derbyshire have batted better. Jones added a further 1,151 runs at 68 in the one-day games: 2,653 runs in a summer of leading by example.
Having addressed Derbyshire’s perennial weaker suit, an attack featuring Devon Malcolm, Dominic Cork and Phil de Freitas was always likely to win games.
Jones set bold fields, encouraged and cajoled his charges and finished the season with a side that managed second place behind Leicestershire. With his friend and coach from Victoria, Les Stillman, Jones became an instant hero. Younger players loved him, older ones, for a season at least, tolerated and responded to his way of working.
As a batsman he had all the shots, strong on anything short, unforgiving on the over-pitched ball. His footwork was quick and precise, with perhaps his strongest area between mid-wicket and mid-on. A strong bottom hand often saw any bowling shortcomings treated savagely in that area.
Yet it was his running between the wickets that seemed an even stronger suit. When he was batting, ones became twos, twos became threes. Derbyshire looked professional, challenging and good.
They took quick singles where, previously, batsmen might have held the pose of a correct defensive stroke. It was impressive to watch.
Like Peter Kirsten before him, Jones played himself in and worked the ball around before unveiling a wide array of shots. He was not a stylist, like Mohammad Azharuddin, but generally looked to be balanced, composed and in control at the crease.
In over 40 years of cricket watching, he remains the best pacer of a run chase I have seen, never seeming to panic if the run rate mounted. He would have made a fortune in the IPL.
The “season of Deano” was magnificent yet, like all good things, it
could not last.
He returned for 1997 but it all went pear-shaped after an impressive start. He was left unbeaten on 99 when the rain interrupted a victory march against Kent (248-3 chasing 337 to win) but the batting collapsed in successive matches and when Hampshire chased well over 300 to win in 55 overs at Chesterfield, Jones resigned, citing poor attitude from senior players.
Mid-June and he was on the plane home – but never to be forgotten by Derbyshire supporters of the time.