The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kaif, Yuvraj great fielders: Rhodes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 04, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Kaif, Yuvraj great fielders: Rhodes

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, DEC. 3. Jonty Rhodes was intense while talking cricket at the Country Club here on Friday. The former South African player talked about the nuances of fielding, named the best fielders; his new passion for surfing, recalled his unforgettable day at the Brabourne Stadium when he took five catches against the West Indies and the situation back home as regards the national cricket team.

Rhodes said he has seen video footage of Colin Bland and felt he was as accurate as Ricky Ponting. He also named Fanie de Villiers and Brett Lee as great boundary fielders, Mark Taylor for a sure pair of hands; Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Waugh, Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh and Upul Chandana as great fielders. "And of course, an old chap called Jonty Rhodes.''

He was asked if the present situation would result in South Africa struggling to sustain the high standards of the 90s. "South Africa is a unique society. As a young white man growing up in the apartheid system, I was really perplexed without even knowing what was happening in the rest of the country. So, one cannot compare our cricket with India, Australia, Sri Lanka and the rest of the world. It's impossible. We have very different policies in place now," Rhodes said.

"The key point for me now is the school system where at 12 or 13 the kids develop their skills. If we are talking about the South African national squad and giving opportunities because of their colour, I think then the South African cricket will be in a bit of trouble. Transformation is empowerment. We talk of black empowerment in South Africa. But empowerment is imparting skills for opportunities. I think the essential part is what's happening from the age of 10 to 13." The focus is to provide opportunities to all and make sure that in a few year's time, the South African team will be fully representative and picked on merit.''

After retiring from international cricket following the 2003 World Cup, Rhodes started surfing. "I have been fighting Madam Nature for the last ten years. I am keeping fit by surfing. I have tried to take a clean break after playing for South Africa for 12 years and 13 years of first-class cricket. I don't think I will be a very good coach, I don't think I have the patience.''

Asked if he was chiefly responsible for the trends in fielding, Rhodes replied in the negative. "I don't think I was responsible for changing the standards. Of course, some people enjoyed watching what I did. When I was fielding, I wanted every single ball to come to me.''

How does he prepare to field at point? "For me the key was the batsman's body language and also watching the bat. The best fielder today is Gibbs. He's quite flashy though, a one-handed catcher,'' said Rhodes after presenting Rs. one lakh to a NGO, Magic Bus.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport