'Legends never die': Family's heartbreaking Dean Jones tributes
Dean Jones’ family have posted a series of moving tributes to their late father and husband on social media in the wake of the Australian cricket great’s funeral on Wednesday.
The prolific batsman turned media professional was farewelled at the MCG, where he was given a final lap of the Melbourne Cricket Ground with music from friends and favourite artists Elton John and INXS playing.
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Jane Jones shared video of the lap on Twitter after the funeral, accompanied by a heartbreaking caption.
“Till we meet again,” she wrote.
The couple’s two children, Phoebe and Isabella, also posted tributes to their late father on Instagram.
“Legends never die. I love you Dad,” Isabella wrote.
Legends never die. 🥀 I love you Dad.
A post shared by A u g u s t a (@augustajones) on
My best feeling is that I’m a little piece of you @profdeano ♥️🏏
A post shared by P H O E B E J O N E S (@phoebejones.xo) on
“My best feeling is that I’m a little piece of you,” Phoebe wrote on her post.
There was an outpouring of support from all corners of the cricket world for the family.
Shane Warne described the service as ‘beautiful’.
“Beautiful and a very moving tribute. Just so bloody sad,’ he said.
With Melbourne still under severe COVID-19 restrictions, the service for Jones under the famous stadium's bright lights was limited to 10 people.
Jane said her daughters daughters Phoebe and Isabella would miss his "zest for life".
"We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love for Dean over the last week and can't thank everyone enough for their support and for sharing their memories with us," Jane said.
"It has been an awful time to navigate as a family, but I could not have thought of a more fitting place to say goodbye to my husband.
"What better way to honour him than with the music of his friends Elton John and INXS echoing throughout the empty stadium.
"We'd like to extend a huge thank you to the Melbourne Cricket Club and the MCG for their willingness to create our personal tribute to Dean and for Cricket Australia's support.
"We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Department of Foreign Affairs for ensuring Dean was returned home to us as quickly as possible."
Cricket hero Dean Jones farewelled at MCG
An Australian flag and a floral 324 arrangement - showcasing Jones' Australian Test cap number - adorned his coffin as a hearse took him on one last lap of the MCG.
Jones died of a heart attack while overseas to commentate on the Indian Premier League.
He played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for Australia and is regarded as one of the country's greatest white-ball players.
A favourite of so many of the sport's fans in the 1980s and early 1990s, Jones was inducted into the Australian cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.
With AAP
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