Former Australia cricketer Dean Jones, in Mumbai for IPL commentary, dies of heart attack

Former Australia cricketer Dean Jones died of a heart attack on Thursday in Mumbai. He was 59. Dean Jones was in India to fulfil his commitments for the host broadcasters of the Indian Premier League. He suffered a massive heart attack at a hotel in Mumbai after 12 PM on Thursday.

"It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing away of Mr. Dean Mervyn Jones AM. 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. We are in touch with the Australian High Commission to make the necessary arrangements.

"Dean Jones was one of the great ambassadors of the game associating himself with Cricket development across South Asia. 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.

Dean Jones dies: The Australia great who lived and breathed cricket

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends," Star Sports India, the host broadcasters for IPL 2020, confirmed the news of Jones's passing in a statement.

Dean Jones played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for Australia during an international career which spanned 8 years between 1984 and 1992. He scored 3631 runs in red-ball cricket at an average of 46.55 with 11 hundred and 14 half-centuries.

In one-day internationals he amassed 6068 runs at 44.61 with 7 hundreds and 46 fifties.

Popularly known as "Professor Deano", the Victorian was famous for his attacking batting style as a top-order batsman in one-day internationals. Jones played 245 first-class matches in which he amassed a total of 19,188 runs at an average of 51.85 with 55 centuries and 88 half-centuries.