The champion batsman died of a heart attack on Thursday, aged 59, in Mumbai, where he was part of television coverage of the Indian Premier League.

Jones captained Victoria in a tour game against the West Indies at Wangaratta Showgrounds in December 1996.

While he didn't fire with the bat (19 and 33) in the six-wicket loss, Jones picked up the key wicket of opening batsman Sherwin Campbell for 80 in the first innings.

Star West Indian Brian Lara was in fine form, hammering 86 from 92 balls before stepping on his stumps.

It wasn't Jones' first time at Wangaratta, having represented Victoria in a Sheffield Shield clash in November 1986 against Queensland.

Former Wangaratta and District Cricket Association president Geoff Welch remembered that match well and the encounters that followed with Jones.

"The thing I remember about Dean Jones was his meticulous preparation," Welch said.

"He's obviously a bloke that had enormous natural ability and people got a close look at the way he prepared himself and the lengths he went to, right down to the checking of the wicket.

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"A lot of other blokes would just work around it but he'd be sticking keys in it and talking to the curators.

"Everyone would normally come down about half past nine but Dean would be there any time after half past eight and would have groups of kids throwing balls at him.

"He was practicing and he'd have a kid behind him asking if his bat was coming through straight while other kids would be hurling the ball down at him from about halfway down the wicket.

"By the end he'd be going crook at them for not throwing them straight (laughs)."

Victoria's first choice spinner Ray Bright pulled a hamstring bowling his second over for the match and Jones was required to shoulder the load, delivering more than 30 overs in the first innings.

It was clearly thirsty work.

"He was very disappointed his preferred brand of beer wasn't available so we rectified that on day two with an Esky and a bow around it for Deano," Welch recalled.

"He was a hard-headed competitor and could be abrasive to people at times, but once you got to know him he'd talk all day about cricket.

"I was with him over at Shepparton one day with what we used to call XXXX games and a couple of local players would play.

"We were sitting at lunch and there was a Test going on at Perth and Dean wasn't selected. One bloke said to him 'you're probably better having a hit up here today Dean, by the look of it you would have only been 12th man in Perth'.

"Dean was quick to say 'listen mate, I'd be 12th man for Australia every day of the week if I could be'."

Welch played at North Melbourne and remembers facing Jones' father, Brian, known as 'Barney', who was captain of Carlton.

"He didn't have the flamboyance of Dean, but Dean was telling me that day at Shepparton he'd often have an argument with his father about cricket because it was all they ever talked about," Welch said.

"He told me when his dad was getting a bit heated and he was losing the argument he'd walk down to his bedroom and bring back his Australian cap and say 'how many of those have you got?' (laughs)."

Albury-Wodonga Festival of Sport founder Graeme Hicks also had fond memories of Jones when he made his way to the Border.

Hicks said Jones, who was playing for Australia at the time, arrived to support Victoria in December 1989 in a Sheffield Shield clash against NSW at Lavington.

He was also there when England faced NSW at the venue, scheduled at short notice to give the visitors a game before facing Australia later in the summer.

"He was a great bat and certainly changed the way the game was played," Hicks said.

"He was a very clean hitter of the ball, he timed the ball beautifully. "

In 2003, Jones passed through Albury on his way to Melbourne to complete a fundraising walk he started from Sydney for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute.

After setting up from Culcairn that day, a huge crowd greeted Jones at QEII Square where he was given a reception by supporters, including former Albury mayor Patricia Gould.

Jones' visit coincided with the Summerjam Festival at Lavington Sports Ground, headlined by INXS, where he appeared on stage.

Joining him on the walk was wife Jane and children, Phoebe and Isabella, his Australian cricket captain Allan Border, television host Johanna Griggs, Penrith Panther Ben Ross and aerobics guru Sue Stanley.

The idea came about thanks to England all-rounder Ian Botham, who challenged Jones and Border to do the same.

"For a bit of fun we renamed Dean Street for the day 'Deano's Street'. There was a few things being organised at the time and I thought 'why not call it Deano's Street' and council allowed it for the day which was good," Hicks added.

Jones is survived by his wife and two children.