Australian cricket great Dean Jones has died in India aged 59. Daily Mail Australia understands he was with fast bowler Brett Lee , who desperately tried to revive him
Australian cricket great Dean Jones has died in India aged 59.
The player turned commentator, who was born in Coburg, Melbourne, died of a 'massive' heart attack in a Mumbai hotel on Thursday.
Jones was in the subcontinent as part of Star India's commentating team for the IPL, which is being played in the UAE.
Daily Mail Australia understands Jones collapsed in the lobby of the hotel as he entered with former fast bowler Brett Lee, who desperately tried to revive him with CPR.
According to close friends, Jones went for a run on Thursday morning before suffering the heart attack at lunchtime.
'It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing away of Mr. Dean Mervyn Jones AM,' a Star India statement read.
'He died of a sudden cardiac arrest.
'We express our deep condolences to his family and stand ready to support them in this difficult time.'
Star India said it is in communication with the Australian High Commission.
Jones is seen during a ODI match against South Africa at the SCG in January 1994
Jones celebrates Christmas with his two daughters last year
Jones looks on during a One Day International match in July 1992
'Dean Jones was one of the great ambassadors of the game associating himself with Cricket development across South Asia,' the statement continued.
'He was passionate about discovering new talent and nurturing young Cricketers. He was a champion commentator whose presence and presentation of the game always brought joy to millions of fans.
'He will be sorely missed by everyone at Star and his millions of fans across the globe.'
Jones is hailed for revolutionising the One Day International format.
The cricket great played in 52 Tests for Australia and averaged 46.55 batting in the middle order.
He scored 3631 runs and 11 centuries in his illustrious career.
'Dean Jones was a hero to a generation of cricketers and will forever be remembered as a legend of this great game,' Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings said.
'Anyone who watched cricket in the 1980s and 1990s will fondly recall his cavalier approach at the crease and the incredible energy and passion he brought to every game he played.
Jones is hailed for revolutionising the ODI format
Shane Warne and Jones pose for a photo at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2006
'This is a truly sad day. Deano's loss will be felt not just at home in Australia, but across the globe.'
A classy right-handed batsman, Jones played in an era of great change in Australian cricket.
He played his first of 52 Tests against the mighty West Indies at Port of Spain in 1982 with his most famous innings his double century in the tied Madras Test in 1986.
There, he spent more than eight hours at the crease in 42C heat and severe humidity for his 210.
It earned him not only a place in Australian cricket folklore, but left him on a drip in hospital after losing eight kilos and any memory of the second half of his innings.
'The fractured memory of that amazing experience still jumps back into my mind in bits and pieces,' Jones wrote in his 1994 autobiography 'Deano My Call'.
'Some of them blurred and some crystal clear.
'Sometimes I have to refer to descriptions written at the time to fill in huge gaps in my own consciousness.'
Jones speaks to former prime minister John Howard at Maroubra Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs
Jones is seen with his wife Jane and their daughters Augusta and Phoebe at the SCG
Former Australia coach Bob Simpson said he had not 'seen a braver innings'.
'He was running on adrenaline,' Simpson told Cricinfo.
'During breaks we would have one bloke waiting to take off his pads and another would strip him and put him in an ice bath just to try and revitalise him. It was immensely courageous.'
For all his toughness shown in that innings, Jones led the way with his aggression in the white-ball game during an era where teams were still cautious with their ODI batting.
His 6068 runs in the format was the second highest of all-time when he played his last match in 1994, while his strike-rate of 72.56 was also brisk for that era.
He played with flamboyance, not afraid to walk down the pitch to bowlers, attacked when running between the wickets and saved runs in the field.
The end of his time in Australia's Test team was controversial, with his axing in 1992 still one of the most perplexing in Australian cricket.
Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border told Foxsports.com.au Jones 'revolutionised the game'.
'I can't believe this news but I'd like to pay tribute to Brett Lee for everything he did,' Border said.
'Deano was unbelievable at the Test level but his aggression at the one day level will be remembered forever.
'He loved his family, cricket golf and wine. I loved batting with him and he backed me and for that I will always love him.'
The cricket great played in 52 Tests for Australia and averaged 46.55 batting in the middle order. He scored 3631 runs and 11 centuries in his illustrious career
Former Australian Cricket World Cup players Dean Jones, Brett Lee, Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Damien Fleming and Adam Gilchrist pose with the the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy during the Ricky Ponting Tribute Match at Aurora Stadium on January 30, 2014
DEAN JONES' CRICKET CAREER
Tests: 52
Runs: 3631
Centuries: 11
Average: 46.55
High score: 216
ODIs: 164
Runs: 6068
Centuries: 7
Average: 44.61
High score: 145
Cricket greats posted their condolences when the shock news broke on Thursday night.
Former England Test cricketer Monty Panesar said: 'Very sad to hear passing away of Dean Jones.
'Top commentator and coach, great cricket brain, will be missed by the cricketing community #RIPdeanjones.'
Indian cricket coach Ravi Shastri said he was shocked to lose 'a colleague and a dear friend'.
'Gone so young. Condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace,' he wrote.
Former Australian captain Steve Smith described Jones' passing as 'awful' news.
'He was a wonderful player for Australia and he will be missed. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Deano,' Smith wrote.
David Warner said: 'I can't believe this news. So very sad to hear about this. RIP Deano, you will be missed.'
Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar said Jones' death was 'heartbreaking'.
'A wonderful soul taken away too soon. Had the opportunity to play against him during my first tour of Australia,' he said.
'May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to his loved ones.'
Jones leaves behind his wife Jane and their two daughters, Augusta and Phoebe.
Cricketers quickly posted their condolences to Twitter when the news broke on Thursday night
Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to the 'absolute cricketing legend'.
'A true entertainer at the crease, whose flair with the bat and electric running between the wickets changed the game forever,' he said.
'A genuine good guy and a huge loss.'
'Our hearts go out to Dean's family, friends, the Australian cricket family and his many fans.'
More to come
Jones enjoys a game of beach cricket against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2006
Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to the 'absolute cricketing legend'
