Shane Warne recalls how teammate Dean Jones brutally sledged him at the start of his career. Dean Jones, the Australian batsman turned commentator died after a massive heart attack leaving cricket fraternity shocked. In the miserable turn of events, the cricket experts were stunned after Dean Jones died to add to the already disastrous 2020 which saw corona-virus and death of major celebrities.
He was in Mumbai while preparing for the Dugout shoot as an IPL commentator, but something unfortunate was written in fate. People are remembering him all over the world including former Australian legendary spinner Shane Warne also remembered Dean Jones for his brutal assault while the leg spinner was just starting his career.
Shane Warne Remembers Dean Jones Who Called Him Champ Despite His Failure As A Spinner Early In His Career In Tests
When Shane Warne walked in to bowl for his First-class debut match in the 1990-91 season, Dean Jones was already an established name.
The spinner was just included in the squad to make his Test debut against India at SCG in 1992 January. His debut turned out to be infamous as it didn’t go according to his plans and Ravi Shastri smashed him all over the park at SCG.
“In that first Test I was getting smacked around the park, Ravi Shastri skies one to deep cover, and Deano takes the catch. He comes into the huddle and says, ‘Well done champ’. He used to call everyone champ. He said, ‘You’ve got your first one, they can’t take that away from you,” Warne wrote in The Daily Telegraph.
Shane Warne finally dismissed Ravi Shastri, but it was way too late as the batsman already amassed 206 runs by standing 10 hours on the crease.
Shane Warne Had A Horrifical Start To His Test Career
The horror streak continued for Warne as he went wicketless too in his second Test against India at Adelaide Oval. His career bowling average was at 228, but incredibly and fortunately he was selected for Australia’s tour to Sri Lanka. However, nothing changed for him and he kept moving without success.
He conceded another 107 runs without a wicket and at the end was able to dismiss a tailender Pramodya Wickramasinghe. However, he took the last three Sri Lankan wickets without conceding a run in the second innings igniting a second innings collapse and contributing to a remarkable 16-run Australian win.
“We went to Sri Lanka in 1992, and I was getting smacked all over the park again, and I got my second Test wicket. (Jones) came in the huddle and said, ‘Well done champ, you now average 435 runs per wicket, well done,’” Warne recalled.
However, Shane Warne’s performances in the last two Tests in Sri Lanka were also dismal as the selectors dropped him for the First Test against the West Indies in the 1992–93 season.
Greg Matthews played in Shane Warne’s place but was unable to dismiss West Indian tail-enders on a turning track. Shane Warne was thus recalled for the Second Test in Melbourne which was a Boxing Day Test where he took finally took 7/52 in a match-winning performance in the second innings. This is how Shane Warne remembered that the start of the career saw some brutal sledge hurled at him by Dean Jones.