Cricket Australia calls for fans to name men’s domestic one-day trophy in honour of a former great – and one late star was the obvious choice for many
- The late Dean Jones was the player many fans chose on X
- Jones died in 2020 at the age of 59 in Mumbai after suffering a stroke
- Michael Bevan and Shane Warne also have strong claims
Cricket Australia has taken to social media to call for the national men’s one-day trophy to be named after a former great.
The response to X overwhelmingly pointed to one person: the late Dean Jones.
The Victoria-born batsman, who played 52 Tests and 164 one-day internationals in his successful career, died in Mumbai in 2020 after suffering a stroke.
He remains a fan favourite, thanks to his footwork and aggressive technique in the goal crease, which made him a key member of the Australian squad that won the 1987 ODI World Cup and the 1989 Ashes series in England.
Jones also averaged over 50 swings with the bat with his beloved Victoria.
Criteria include being a leading player for Australia in ODI cricket, having an elite record in the men’s one-day domestic competition and being a player synonymous with the 50-over format of the sport.
This can be through elite performances or through inspiring evolution in the way the format is played.
‘The Dean Jones Cup. Probably the man who made one-day cricket entertaining,’ posted one fan.
Cricket Australia wants to name the national men’s one-day trophy after a former great player. The response to X has overwhelmingly pointed to one person: the late Dean Jones.
Michael Bevan, who saved Australia at the crease of ODI matches so many times during his career, also has a strong claim
Late cricket legends Shane Warne (centre) and Andrew Symonds (right) will also be considered by Cricket Australia
Another said: ‘Dean Jones. Stop the vote.’ A third said: ‘It’s a toss-up between Dean Jones and Michael Bevan.’
Bevan, 54 and raised in Canberra, is widely regarded as one of Australia’s best ever ODI batsmen, while Shane Warne, Andrew Symonds and Steve Waugh are also popular choices online.
Symonds died in May 2022 after a car crash in Queensland, just two months after Warne suffered a heart attack while on holiday in Thailand.
“Australia has a rich history in one-day cricket and the format has produced inspiring players and teams for generations,” said James Allsopp, head of the California cricket league.
‘By naming the One-Day National Trophy after one of our greatest players, Australian cricketers once again have the opportunity to honour the legacy of their past cricketers while strengthening the bond between past and present players.
‘With so many legends in one-day cricket, we know that whoever the trophy will forever be named after absolutely deserves the honour.’
According to Cricket Australia websiteOver the coming weeks, articles, video highlights and social media posts, plus associated social channels, will explore who has made the greatest contributions to the men’s one-day competition.
Fans can be part of the process by participating on these social channels, voting in polls on cricket.com.au, the CA Live app or by emailing onedaycup@cricket.com.au.