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Dean Jones Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth24 March 1961

Age59 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceCoburg, Melbourne, Victoria

ProfessionCricketer, Coach, and Commentator

NationalityAustralian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseJane Jones

FamilyFather - Barney; daughters Phoebe and Isabella; son Koby

Dean Jones Biography

Dean Mervyn Jones was an Australian cricketer, coach and commentator whose international career in the 1980s and early 1990s made him a prominent figure in

Early life and background
Dean Mervyn Jones was born on 24 March 1961 in Coburg, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. He grew up in the area where his family had local cricket connections; his father was named Barney. Jones attended school in Coburg and developed into a left-field presence in Australian cricket whose temperament and technique would mark a long first-class and international career.

Career
Jones established himself as a prolific run scorer in domestic and international cricket. In first-class competition he amassed 19,188 runs, including 55 centuries and a highest score of 324 not out, finishing with a first-class average of 51.85. He played for state and county teams including Victoria, Derbyshire and Durham, and at county level compiled notable returns such as a season with 1,300 runs at an average of 49.55 while also captaining Derbyshire.

His international career began in 1984. Jones made his One Day International debut for Australia against Pakistan in Adelaide on 30 January 1984 and his Test debut against the West Indies in Port of Spain in March 1984. Between 1984 and 1992 he played 52 Test matches, scoring 3,631 runs with 11 centuries at an average of 46.55. He was also a mainstay of Australia’s ODI line-up, appearing in 164 matches and scoring 6,068 runs with seven centuries and 46 half-centuries at an average of 44.61. In the 1987 Cricket World Cup he contributed 314 runs across the tournament as Australia went on to win the title.

Jones produced several memorable individual performances. In 1986 he scored 210 in Chennai, the highest score by an Australian in India at the time. Earlier, in the 1981–82 domestic season he recorded the unbeaten 324. He was given the Australia Test shirt number 24 during his playing days.

After his peak playing years, Jones stayed active in the game as a coach and commentator. He was appointed head coach of Islamabad United in February 2016 and led the team to a Pakistan Super League (PSL) title. In October 2017 he took an interim head coaching role with Afghanistan for the Intercontinental Cup. He also worked widely as a commentator and published writing on cricket.

Public profile
Jones was recognized for service to cricket and charitable work. On 12 June 2006 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in acknowledgement of his fundraising for people suffering from cancer and his contributions as a player, coach and commentator.

His appearance was described in records as standing about 182 cm (1.8 m, roughly 6 feet) tall, with blue eyes and white hair in later years. He drove a number of cars including models recorded as a Mercedes E250, a Mazda3 MPS and a 1966 Mustang. He was known by nicknames such as "Deano" and "Legend".

Personal life
Jones was married to Jane Jones. He fathered daughters Phoebe and Isabella and a son named Koby. In public accounts he acknowledged a long personal relationship outside his marriage that led to the birth of his son.

Controversies and challenges
Across his public life Jones faced several controversies and professional setbacks. In 1992–93 he was left out of Test selection amid strained relations with then-coach Bob Simpson. In 2006 a comment he made about South African player Hashim Amla led to the loss of a commentary contract with Ten Sports. The same year a local title he had received in Victoria as "Father of the Year" was rescinded following public disclosure of a past private relationship.

He also experienced danger while working overseas: during a match in the Super Cricket League (SCL) near the Kabul International Cricket Stadium he narrowly avoided a bomb blast that killed three people and injured others.

Later years and death
Dean Jones died on 24 September 2020 at the age of 59. His death was reported as caused by a heart attack while he was in Mumbai.

Latest updates
Jones’s cricketing legacy includes major individual scores, a World Cup-winning role in 1987, and later success as a coach in franchise cricket. His appointment to the Order of Australia and his PSL title with Islamabad United stand among the public milestones that marked the different phases of his long involvement in the sport.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Dean Jones, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Head coach, Islamabad United

Appointed in February 2016 and led the team to a Pakistan Super League title.

2016
Interim head coach, Afghanistan

Served as interim head coach for Afghanistan's Intercontinental Cup side.

2017
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Career Highlights

  1. Scored 19,188 first-class runs, including 55 centuries and a top score of 324 not out
  2. Played 52 Test matches for Australia (1984–1992) scoring 3,631 runs with 11 centuries
  3. Appeared in 164 ODIs, scoring 6,068 runs with seven centuries
  4. Scored 210 in Chennai in 1986, then the highest score by an Australian in India
  5. Member of the Order of Australia (appointed 12 June 2006)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dean Jones born?

24 March 1961

What is Dean Jones known for?

Cricketer, Coach, and Commentator

What is Dean Jones’s marital status?

Married

Who is Dean Jones married to?

Jane Jones