Brett Lee's live TV heartbreak after trying to revive Dean Jones

Brett Lee returned to work just hours after he reportedly performed CPR on Dean Jones.

Australian cricket legend Jones died in Mumbai on Thursday after suffering a heart attack.

The 59-year-old reportedly collapsed in the lobby of his hotel, where fellow Aussie great and commentator Lee reportedly tried to revive him.

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Jones was taken to hospital in an ambulance but couldn’t be saved.

Jones and Lee were both in Mumbai working as commentators for Star Sports on the Indian Premier League.

Just hours after the tragedy, Lee returned to work and spoke about Jones, who he described as an “absolute legend.”

“I think the thing we want to say about Deano is he would have wanted us to be here tonight,” Lee said.

“He is an absolute legend. Firstly to his family and friends we send our condolences. It’s a real tough day for everyone, not only for his close mates … and the whole cricketing world in general.

“What Deano would’ve wanted is for us to come out here in the dugout, get it done, have some fun for the game we all love.”

Fellow commentator and Kiwi great Scott Styris described how Jones had exercised in the hotel that morning by running down the corridors.

“That was his way of keeping fit because of course we are in the bubble here in Mumbai,” Styris said.

“Who would have thought merely a couple of hours later he had this heart attack or some sort of cardiac problem. It’s incredibly sad.

“He thought this to be the Deano show really. He’s on to me every day with new ideas on how we can make it better.

“So I think it’s the right thing to do to be here, it’s gonna be hard but we hope to make him feel proud tonight.”

Tributes flood social media after Dean Jones’ death

Australian coach Justin Langer has led a chorus of tributes for Jones, with Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Smith and David Warner all expressing their shock.

Jones had touched so many across the sport, be it as a teammate, opponent, commentator or in a coaching role with Afghanistan and in the Pakistan Super League.

“Deano was a true legend of Australian sport and world cricket, one of the great players and personalities in a golden time for the game,” Langer said on Thursday night.

“His role in the team's World Cup win in 1987 and the 1989 Ashes under AB (Allan Border) were a huge turning point for Australian cricket.

“We can only hope to make Australians as proud of our team as they were of Deano, he will be missed by the game and millions of people around the world.

“Our love to (his wife) Jane and the girls.”

Tendulkar said Jones was “taken too soon”.

"Absolutely heartbreaking news about Dean Jones passing away," Tendulkar tweeted.

"A wonderful soul taken away too soon. Had the opportunity to play against him during my first tour of Australia.

"May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to his loved ones."

Inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019, Jones was a favourite of so many of the sport's fans in the 1980s and early '90s.

Best known for his swashbuckling batting in one-day cricket, he brought an attacking approach to the game where he was happy to take bowlers on.

His strike rate of 72.56 was brisk for its time, while he still maintained an average above 44.61 with seven centuries.

But none of that should take away from the Victorian’s toughness in Test cricket.

After making his debut against the West Indies in 1982, he became a regular in 1986 when he produced what is still regarded as one of the grittiest performances by an Australian Test cricket.

His 210 against India in the 42C heat and extreme humidity of Madras was the stuff of Test folklore, as was the ensuing hospital trip where he required a drip.

“His 200 in Madras in 1986 was one of the greatest and most courageous innings of all time,” Langer said on Thursday night.

with AAP