Dean Jones: How I lost a Test series against the Windies

[SL_Fan]

Many people ask me why I was stupid enough to ask Curtly Ambrose to take his sweat bands off. It become a massive international incident in the cricket world back then and completely changed the fortunes of the West Indies on their 1992-93 tour of Australia.

Curtly Ambrose was a very difficult bowler to face. Apart from being tall, quick and nasty, Ambrose's length was always difficult to read because of his height and the way he released the ball. His hand, just before release, always moved around a lot and it was so hard to read a bouncer or length ball. His hand action was something similar to the way you would sprinkle salt and pepper over your food.

Then add in the fact that Ambrose wore these white sweat bands, bowling a white ball, and it just caused massive concerns to all batsmen being able to pick the ball properly out of his hand.

Now the date was January 16, 1993, where we played the Windies in a final of the one-day series in front of a full house at the SCG. In the previous match, Wasim Akram broke my thumb with a short one and I was in serious trouble. I couldn't hold a bat properly and I had a young whippersnapper Damien Martyn hunting for my spot. I had to play the final or I might never get back in the team.

The only way I could play was to get jabbed up to take the pain away. Once the anaesthetic took over, I couldn't feel my hand and knew I was in trouble. We won the toss and just before the game started, Bob Simpson thought it was a good time to tell the team who was playing in the next Test in Adelaide. I was the only guy not playing. After being unceremoniously dropped after a good tour to Sri Lanka, to say I was ****** off would be an understatement.

I was furious. So I sat in the corner by myself to watch the game and decided that I would make the best hundred and embarrass Simpson and his selector mates. Just a couple of overs into the match, Simmo thought it would be good to talk to me about what Cricket Australia and the team were going to do for the Adelaide Test. The players were going to have their own rooms and CA would pay for all of the wives and girlfriends to go to Adelaide.

Meanwhile, I noticed David Boon and Tubby Taylor were struggling with Ambrose in particular. Ambrose was wearing these massive sweat bands. I don't know if it was the drugs or what, but I thought if I told Ambrose to take his sweat bands off it would create a massive stir within the Windies team and might get Ambrose to bowl a different line and length.

I thought it would be good time to interrupt Simmo, who was rambling on at the time, talking about a wine tour during the Adelaide Test. I wanted Simmo's approval before I went out to bat. I was blown away when Bob agreed, obviously feeling very remorseful on my non-Test selection. Once Simpson agreed, the whole team went hysterical. "You will get us killed," they yelled at me. I personally couldn't give a **** about them as they were going to Adelaide. So when Boony nicked off to Ambrose, I then passed Mark and Steve Waugh going out to bat. Mark then said to Steve, "He is not going to do it, is he?" I then thought, "gee ... they do talk!" I had never heard them speak to each other in the years I have known them.

My first ball from Ambrose was a ripper. It was quick and short and flew past my right ear. I then asked politely for Ambrose to take his sweat bands off. Everyone, from the players to the fans, were in a state of shock. I noticed Ambrose starting to froth up around his mouth and you could hear a pin drop it was that quiet. What broke the silence was when I noticed a guy who was carrying four schooners who yelled out, "You bloody idiot, Jones!"

Well the next three deliveries were probably the quickest I ever faced! I was thinking, "What the hell have I done?" I have a compound fracture of the right thumb and a hand I can't feel. And when the umpire called "over", I had 11 West Indians and one Australian batsman sledging me!

Mark Taylor was furious. Tubby yelled out, "What are you doing? I have two kids. What are you thinking?" I really couldn't care less about Tubby at the time as he was going to Adelaide as well.

My poor judgment created quite a stir at the time. Ambrose got so mad he took 5-32 and the Windies went on to smash us. Two days later, in the second final at the MCG, Ambrose was still furious and bowled like the wind and took 3-26 to wrap up a series win.

Well, who would have thought five days later in the Adelaide Test, Ambrose would continue the rage by taking 6-74 and 4-46 to even up the Test series 1-1? Test debutant Justin Langer was hit all over his body by Ambrose. But he had my Test spot so I didn't have a lot of sympathy for him. Who was to know Langer would go on to become one of the great openers.

A few days later, in the final Test at the WACA Ground, Ambrose was unstoppable and took 7-25. In one spell he took an amazing 7-1 to wrap up the series. I think I got seven phone calls that night from different Australian players still seething about what I did at Sydney just a couple of weeks back. Talk about carrying a grudge!

Can I take this opportunity to apologise to all the Australian players and fans for asking Ambrose to take his sweat bands off. It was an error in judgment and it won't happen again. "Amby" still won't talk to me and he needs to get over it.

No one talks about Steve Waugh sledging Ambrose in Trinidad on the '95 tour. There is no justice in this world as Waugh got away with it, but I didn't. Curtly and Steve later agreed to a memorabilia deal that included a set of wristbands and made them thousands. I always knew Waugh was smarter than me.


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Good read

 

[Robert]

I always liked Deano. He was a kind of KP figure in that his career was shortened because he got up too many people's noses.

 

[Junaids]

I always liked Deano. He was a kind of KP figure in that his career was shortened because he got up too many people's noses.

Exactly.

He was the most gorgeous batsman, wasn't he?

A joy to watch!

 

[JibranAnsari]

Haha..never mess with the big boys.

 

[Robert]

Exactly.

He was the most gorgeous batsman, wasn't he?

A joy to watch!

Border at four, Deano at five, Tugga at six. Murder row.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Good read

Lovely read

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Exactly.

He was the most gorgeous batsman, wasn't he?

A joy to watch!

There was something fishy in his Int Career ending prematurely ? Did he got Mark & Shane's way ?

 

[Monsee]

Excellent share, very entertaining story!

 

[StreetSmart]

hahhahahahah to Ambrose. The best part of that was Ambrose expression specially in the end

 

[Madplayer]

great read. Enjoy the way Deano writes and speaks. Always entertaining.

 

[Stallion__]

Yeah, good read.

Btw did Ambrose put those bands on again later in the match?

 

[SL_Fan]

Looks like it he certainly has both of them back on from around the 2:47 mark

 

[SL_Fan]

And this is what the big fella did in the coming days to take out the Tests series as well. After being one nil down that is

74/6 and 46/4

25/7 and of course this one 32 balls, 1 run, 7 wickets to wrap up the series

 

[Junaids]

And this is what the big fella did in the coming days to take out the Tests series as well. After being one nil down that is

74/6 and 46/4

25/7 and of course this one 32 balls, 1 run, 7 wickets to wrap up the series

Australia had been 1-0 up and 2 runs from Test and series victory in the Fourth Test at Adelaide, but the West Indies won by 1 run to level the series.

This was Allan Border's last chance to dethrone the West Indies as world champions.

I've got a brilliant video of Sky sportscaster Jeff Stelling in the U.K. delivering a sports bulletin on Sky News after the West Indies won the Fifth Test at Perth after 2 days and 1 session.

As he talks over the highlights, with Allan Border looking haunted and completely destroyed - having been on the verge of series victory six days earlier - Stelling just cannot control his laughter at the Aussies snatching total defeat from the jaws of victory.

He just smirks, then laughs, then practically rolls around with joy.

 

[SL_Fan]

Oz were gone for all money in that fourth Test tho. Must have been great watching. Unlucky not to take out the first Test but only a couple of wickets away from winning that one. Legendary series.

 

[Junaids]

Oz were gone for all money in that fourth Test tho. Must have been great watching. Unlucky not to take out the first Test but only a couple of wickets away from winning that one. Legendary series.

I listened on shortwave radio in London, at 6 am before going in to medical school.

And it was the Australia Day holiday, which is why the Adelaide Oval filled up as May and McDermott inched closer and closer to victory, and Allan Border's dream.

I remember every word of the ABC Radio commentary: it will be burned into my brain until I die!

"Is he out caught behind? He is! The West Indies have won by 1 run!"