Fun to remember how Dean Jones and I riled up Sidhu, recalls Sanjay Manjrekar

Manjrekar also very fondly remembers how Jones remains his only international scalp and stated how Deano would always be thinking on his feet with all the cricketing insights. He was a man, who had known the art of keeping everyone happy and loved having debates, opined Manjrekar.

"It was devastating, to say the least, to hear of the sudden passing away of Dean Jones. Not only was he my only international wicket, he was a good friend too; not just a colleague in the commentary circuit, but a friend. He made me happy, like he did most people. He always had theories and yes, he loved a debate," Manjrekar wrote in his column for TOI.

"His mind was always ticking and he loved to think aloud. He also did not take himself too seriously with these observations and ideas of his. We have had some great laughs together. The one I remember best was how we both pre-planned a strategy to rile up Navjot Singh Sidhu on the Pakistan tour. Dean Jones and I launched a two-pronged attack on Sidhu on how Tendulkar was not as great as he thought. In the end, we both burst out laughing when we saw Sidhu turn a deep red colour like his turban defending the undoubted greatness of Tendulkar. Will dearly miss you Deano! RIP," Manjrekar wrote.