Australian cricket legend Dean Jones dies aged 59

Legendary Australian cricketer Dean Jones, who represented his national side in a total of 216 matches across all formats of the game, passed away on Thursday. He was 59-year-old.

The former right-handed batsman breathed his last after suffering a cardiac arrest in Mumbai, PTI reported.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag and current Indian head coach Ravi Shastri took to their official Twitter handles to  mourn the sad demise of Jones.

Sehwag expressed his grief on the passing away of Jones and wrote that the former Australian cricketer was indeed 'one of his favourite cricket commentators'.

"Saddened to hear the news of Dean Jones passing away. Still cannot believe it. Was one of my favourite commentators, he was on air in many of my landmarks. Had really fond memories with him. Will miss him," he tweeted.

Saddened to hear the news of Dean Jones passing away. Still cannot believe it. Was one of my favourite commentators, he was on air in many of my landmarks. Had really fond memories with him. Will miss him. pic.twitter.com/FZBTqIEGdx — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 24, 2020

Shastri, on the other hand, posted a picture of Jones and conveyed his condolences to the legendary cricketer's family and friends.

"Really shocking to lose a colleague and a dear friend - Dean Jones. Gone so young. Condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace #RIPDeanJones," the former Indian cricketer

Really shocking to lose a colleague and a dear friend - Dean Jones. Gone so young. Condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace #RIPDeanJones  - @cricketcomau pic.twitter.com/pckNBow5Sv — Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) September 24, 2020

Born on March 24, 1961, Jones made his international debut fo Australia during a One-Day International (ODI) match against Pakistan at Adelaide in January 1984.

Just two months later, the fomer top-order Australian batsman played his first match for the national side in the longest format of the game against the West Indies in Port of Spain.

Jones went on to notch up 3,631 runs in 52 Tests and 6,068 runs in 164 matches he played for Australia in the 50-over format during his illustrious cricket career.

Besides this, Jones also amassed 19,188 runs in 245 first-class matches and 10,936 runs in 285 List A games.

In 1994, Jones bid adieu to cricket abruptly after his contentious axing from the side, but remain involved in cricket as a coach, commentator and writer.

Regarded among the best ODI batsmen in the world, Jones was also inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame last year.