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Cricket Australia honours one-day ‘pioneer’ Dean Jones

Cricket Australia honours one-day ‘pioneer’ Dean Jones

Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the men’s domestic one-day cup will be named in honour of Dean Jones.

Jones, who died of a heart attack in India in 2020 aged 59, was one of Australia’s greatest ODI players, scoring 6,068 runs across 164 appearances in the format.

He averaged 44.61 and finished with a strike rate of 72.56 at the end of his international career, which included helping Australia win its first men’s World Cup in 1987.

Jones also captained Victoria to the 1994/95 men’s domestic one-day cup title.

The men’s domestic one-day cup champions will receive the Dean Jones Trophy following the final on March 1.

Jones’s daughter Phoebe said her family was grateful for the recognition.

“Dad would be extremely proud to receive this acknowledgement,” Phoebe Jones said in a statement.

“He loved representing Victoria in this competition and winning the 50-over World Cup for Australia in 1987 was what he described as the greatest cricketing day of his life.”

CA chief executive Nick Hockley said it was fitting Jones received the honour.

“Dean Jones is an icon of the game and pioneer in one day cricket, who entertained fans around the world wherever he played,” Hockley said.

“He was a World Cup winner, an innovator and possessed one of the best records in 50-over cricket for the era that he played.

“We are delighted to acknowledge his legacy in perpetuity by naming our premier one-day domestic competition in his honour.”

The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee recommended Jones receive the honour after more than 10,000 people voted on CA’s digital platforms.

CA also announced the player of the men’s final will receive the Michael Bevan Medal.