Bonita Baskett

It was in 42-degree heat at Madras in 1986 that Dean Jones – who has died of a heart attack aged just 59 – played perhaps the bravest Test innings by an Australian. The game would finish as the second tie in Test history, but not before Jones, winning only his third cap, had made an epic 210 in eight hours 23 minutes, lost 8kg, vomited more than a dozen times and peed in his whites. He was rushed to hospital, where he was placed on a saline drip – and later said he couldn't remember anything after reaching 120. These days, there would have been an inquiry into an experience that some claimed left him traumatised. Back then, he was simply propped up by team-mates in an ice bath during intervals, and told by captain Allan Border that he would send out a fellow Queenslander if Jones – born in the Melbourne suburb of Coburg – wasn't tough enough to carry on. There has never been a more braver innings by an Aussie batsman than Dean Jones' in Madras Jones vomited over a dozen times as he hit an epic 210 in over eight hours at the crease RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Cricket's race shame: Sportsmail investigation reveals… Dean Jones was a flashy showman long before such a man… Australian cricket legend Dean Jones dies of heart attack… NASSER HUSSAIN: Forget about the multicultural England side… Share this article Share 114 shares Steve Waugh, his tour room-mate, remembered Jones looking 'gaunt and pale in the face and had a vacant expression that suggested he was in serious trouble… He had lost control of his bodily functions, and was slumped in his chair saturated in urine, shaking uncontrollably and virtually incoherent.' Jones's character was never in doubt after that – though he made sure he drank water, not tea and coffee, on future tours of Asia. Over a decade, he forged a career as a high-class Test batsman capable of averaging 46, and a one-day pioneer who hared between the wickets like a maniac and marshalled run-chases like a genius. In ODIs Australia won batting second, Jones averaged 65 – and was often not out. He would have been a natural in the age of Twenty20.  Over a decade, Jones forged a career as a high-class Test batsman for Australia Jones pictured raising his bat in celebration of reaching a ton in a ODI against Pakistan in 1987 The vibrancy of his strokeplay made his death on Thursday in Mumbai, where he was doing commentary work on the IPL for India's Star Network, all the more shocking. Reports suggested Brett Lee, the Australian fast bowler turned pundit, tried to revive him. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke tweeted: 'Speechless. Devastated. RIP great man.' Ricky Ponting said he was 'heartbroken'. Justin Langer, Australia's coach, said: 'What a great player and a great bloke.' Tributes continued throughout the day, from all corners of the cricketing world. Jones was a bridge between two eras, making his Test debut against the mighty West Indians in March 1984 as Australia tried to come to terms with the retirements of Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rodney Marsh, and playing his last Test in Sri Lanka in September 1992, just as Shane Warne was emerging on the scene.  Ex-Australia skipper Michael Clarke was devastated by the sudden passing of Jones (pictured) Shane Warne and Jones pose for a photo at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2006