The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Flawed selection policy costing South Africa dear, says Rhodes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

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Flawed selection policy costing South Africa dear, says Rhodes

MUMBAI, FEB. 15. South Africa needs to change its transformation-based selection policy if it is to excel and regain its place among the elite in world cricket, says former South African batsman Jonty Rhodes.

"The development of South African cricket is a concern. Unlike in Australia where the focus is on excellence, our focus is still on transformation. You cannot become the world's best if your focus is on transformation alone," Rhodes said.

"Our selection policy too has to change a lot if our team wants to be the best in the world. Chopping and changing the players very frequently has not helped the cause.

"Players like Lance Klusener and Kevin Pietersen, who has migrated to England now, have always had a love-hate relationship with the selectors despite performing very well," said the player, whose athleticism in the field won him many fans worldwide.

Rhodes said former Australian captain Steve Waugh, West Indies skipper Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar were among the hardest hitters of the ball he had faced.

"I know for sure that Waugh and Lara could hit the ball really hard as I have broken my hand twice while trying to stop their shots," Rhodes, who is here to promote tourism for Conservation Corporation Africa, told reporters.

"Tendulkar, who uses a heavy bat, is another batsman who hits the ball very hard as his timing is always immaculate."

On the South African batsmen, Rhodes said, "our batsmen are more comfortable playing fast bowlers than quality spinners. We are used to playing fast bowlers on fast wickets back home but we have found it hard facing the likes of Anil Kumble, Shane Warne and Muralitharan." — PTI

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