During Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Cricket Australia (CA) is planning on paying a special homage to legendary cricketer Dean Jones, who tragically passed away due to a cardiac arrest in Mumbai, earlier this year.
CA, along with several others, have been paying their tributes to Dean Jones’ legacy, ever since he passed away in September. With Australia set to lock horns with India, in what would be the 100th Test match between the two sides, CA has planned another round of tributes for Dean Jones, as a mark of respect for his contribution to the game.
On this special occasion, Dean Jones’ wife Jane and daughters Isabella and Phoebe will be in attendance as well. According to CA, the entire Test match will have a whole bay of seats covered with a banner honoring Dean Jones’ legacy.
Wherever you are watching the Boxing Day Test tomorrow, don’t forget to Zinc Up for Deano as a tribute to a cricket icon! ❤️ #ZincUpForDeano pic.twitter.com/OuAckab3Ll
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2020
Moreover, a poem, written by Dean Jones’ great friend Chris Driscoll, will alsp be read during the Tea break. A video homage for Dean Jones has been planned for 3:24 pm, as a tribute to the cricketer’s Test number, 324.
Interstingly,324 was also Dean Jones’ highest first-class score, which the Coburg-born batsman had notched up against South Australia at his beloved MCG in 1994. Jones was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame last year.
‘Deano’ ended up playing 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for his nation and is widely regarded as one of the best limited-overs cricketers the country has ever produced. For the records, ‘Professor’ had also represented Derbyshire and Durham in England’s county cricket.