Cricket Australia’s domestic One-day Cup was renamed as Dean Jones Trophy to honour Jones who died of a heart attack in India in 2020.
This year, a campaign was launched across Cricket Australia’s digital platforms to identify a shortlist of players to name the tournament after Jones, Michael Bevan, and Andrew Symonds, the three who the Australia Cricket Hall of Fame Committee then assessed.
“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,” Peter King, the Hall of Fame chair, said.
JUST IN: Dean Jones AND Michael Bevan honoured as the #NameTheCup campaign for Aussie one-day competition reaches its conclusion
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 19, 2024
“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.”
Cricket Australia added that the player of the tournament final in March would receive the Michael Bevan Medal, named after another of the World’s finest one-day batsmen.
Jones scored 2122 runs at 50.52 in 55 domestic one-day matches for victoria and led them to the 1994-95 title while at international level, where he was trailblazer in the 50-over game, he scored 6068 runs at 44.81 including seven centuries and was part of the side which won the 1982 ODI World Cup.
“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,” said Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley.
“We are delighted to acknowledge his legacy in perpetuity by naming our premier one-day domestic competition in his honour.”
Jones’ daughter phoebe said, “On behalf of the Jones family we are very grateful for this recognition of our Dad, who we miss dearly. It makes it extra special knowing its fan voted and will be unveiled today at what he nicknamed ‘his office’ at the MCG.
“Dad would be extremely proud to receive this acknowledgement. He loved representing Victoria in this competition and winning the 50-over World Cup for Australia in 1987 was what he described as the greatest cricketing day of his life.”
Along the naming of the trophy, the player of the final will now be awarded the Michael Bevan Medal.
The Dean Jones and Michael Bevan Medal will be presented for the first tim at this season’s final on March 01.
