Australian cricket’s domestic One-Day Cup has been renamed the Dean Jones Trophy after the batting pioneer of the 50-over game was the winner of cricket.com.au’s competition to name the cup.

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The six states have vied for the Marsh Cup in the last five years, but Cricket Australia made the call to move away from the competition being sponsored – over the years it has had 12 different names including the McDonald’s Cup, the Mercantile Mutual Cup and the ING Cup since it began in the summer of 1969/70 – and instead recognise a legend of the game.

Jones, who died of a heart attack in India in 2020 aged 59, was the perfect candidate as he has long been credited with revolutionising one-day batting in Australia during the 1980s and 1990s.

The electric right-hander dazzled crowds when the annual tri-series was a key cog in the Australian summer as hustled between the wickets to steal singles, turns ones into twos when hitting into the outfield all while possessing the power to clear the fence.

Jones scored 6,068 runs at an average of 44.61, including seven centuries and 46 half-centuries with a highest score of 145 against England, across 164 appearances in ODIs for Australia, and his aggressive style of play helped to path the way for modern batters becoming more attacking in the white ball game.

He beat out fellow outstanding candidates Michael Bevan and the late Andrew Symonds to have the trophy named in his honour, and it will be awarded for the first time on March 1, the date of this season’s domestic one day final.

Bevan will also be acknowledged on that date, and in subsequent finals, with the player of the match to be awarded the Michael Bevan Medal.

After fans voted online for who the cup should be named after, the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee put forward Jones and Bevan and Cricket Australia endorsed their recommendations.

A key criteria for the selection was an outstanding record in one-day domestic cricket in addition to their exploits for the national team, and Jones set the benchmark for elite batting numbers at state level for many years.

The Victorian captained his state to a title in 1994-95, and smashed 2,122 runs at an average of 50.52 across 55 matches.

He made four centuries for Victoria, including a highest score of 139 not out against New South Wales as well as 12 half centuries.

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

Jones was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019, and Cricket Hall of Fame chair Peter King said it was a clear cut decision for who should receive the honour.

“When the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame selection committee assessed the players for this honour, one player’s performance, record, standing, contribution and impact stood out clearly for it to be a unanimous decision,” King said.

“Dean Jones revolutionised the One-Day game and stamped it on the minds of all Australians, it is deserved recognition for someone whose contribution was so vast.”