Published: Aug 07, 2017, 11:48 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 07, 2017, 11:47 AM (IST)
Dean Jones, who is a part of Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) commentary team, had special connections with Tamil Nadu well before the tournament was invented. The 56-year-old had announced his arrival in international cricket with a spectacular double-century in the India-Australia Test at Chepauk in 1986. Jones has played 52 Tests and 164 ODIs for Australia. In an exclusive interview, Jones spoke on array of topics. He, however, was most pleased with the Australian women cricketers getting equal pay as men — now that the ACA-CA pay dispute is resolved. Jones is hopeful that it affects India as well, and the Eves receive similar hike especially after their remarkable performance in World Cup. BCCI considering pay hike for women cricketers
Speaking to Cricbuzz on the CA-ACA pay dispute, Jones said that James Sutherland handled the situation in a reckless fashion, “I feel the pay dispute could have been handled a lot better by Cricket Australia. In hindsight, James Sutherland should have taken over right from the start. He has only been involved in the last month of the 10-month negotiations. Anyway we got the deal done and got ready to go. It’s unfortunate that it cost us the tour of Australia A to South Africa.” However, Jones was elated on Australian women cricketers receiving equal pay as the men and expects the same to happen in India as well. “The best part of the whole press release sent by CA was that the women cricketers are getting equal pay as the men. Hopefully, it would happen to Indian women cricketers as well. After what the Indian women have done at the recent World Cup, young girls [in India] are inspired to play cricket for their country.”
Jones is highly impressed with women’s cricket especially in terms of power and fitness, “They have started to hit more sixes now. The women cricketers have certainly improved their power and their fitness. Australian women cricketers Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry are being paid more money than Kane Williamson now.”
At the end of the conversation, Jones also picked his favourite players in the ongoing TNPL and his special connection with Tamil Nadu, “The likes of T Natarajan and Baba Aparajith have been doing well. I am also highly impressed with Sai Kishore. It’s a special place for me because the tied Test at Chepauk announced that I have arrived on the international scene. That tied Test was special and we also went on to win the World Cup in Kolkata.”
