Dean Jones turns golf pro

Hooking the ball over the boundary was never a problem for Dean Jones during his cricket career but he'll be hoping he never does it is his new profession. Jones, 51, has announced his decision to become a professional golfer and join the seniors tour, starting with a tournament on the Gold Coast on July 23.

"If you have a dream and you want to do something, have a dip, don't be 10 years later having a beer saying 'I wish I'd had a go'," Jones told the Age. "My major problem was 'am I good enough'. But I played the Victorian senior open last year and I finished third. It gave me the belief that I can cut the mustard, that I can compete with these guys."

Jones will juggle his new career with his existing cricket duties with the Bangladesh Premier League. He is not the only Australian cricketer to take his golf more than a little seriously: earlier this year Greg Blewett represented South Australia in the Australian Interstate Teams amateur championship.