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So Long Professor Deano!




Fielding never came naturally to me and I was guilty of dropping some crucial catches in my limited career as a player. Though sometimes a more relaxed self was taking tough catches making them look simpler, it was only by chance rather than conviction.

Last night was watching Select Dugout (always prefer this channel for the insightful views the pundits there give instead of regular star sports). The match was going one way; while enjoying the ranting tweets of the greatbong, catching up the later part of the game having my dinner with little realization that these were the last Live minutes of Dean Jones on air.

During the course of this one sided game, Professor Deano managed to make the telecast interesting by coming up with a priceless bit of advice; viz. while attempting to catch skiers, always ensure the hands are partially overlapped and your dominant hand is receiving the ball so that it remains intact and does not spill off. Was thinking if only such cricketing intelligence were passed in the commentary box more often instead of redundant liners like "run your first run harder and put pressure on the fielder" etc, the bits and pieces cricketers like us would have learned and enjoyed so much more..

The commentary career of Professor Dean Jones was fraught with analysis like this. The man who revolutionized ODI cricket with aggressive running, above the infield shots, sliding stops, fielding with shades, sunscreen lotions continued the change the world of commentary as well with his Prof. Deano Calculations and analysis.

He was the fulcrum of the resurrection of the Australian team which won the 1987 World cup. He somehow never got his proper due or send off which a legend deserves and was hurried off into retirement while Marsh's and Moody's got a longer rope..

RIP Dean Jones, it was fascinating the way you approached your game, and thanks for all those wonderful memories on the field, even though most of your great knocks were against India, there was no feeling of resentment as we fans always watched you with a sense of disbelief and awe.

Ideal that he breathed his last in India, the land/team that made him immortal whether it be the epic Chepauk knock of 211 o the 90 in a thriller in the 1992 world cup..
#SelectDugout may not be the same and will definitely miss your Professorly insights and you seem to have passed on the baton of Wisdom to Scott Styris, Bret Lee Mike Henson, and ilk..

So Long Legend.. 

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