The Hindu : Sport : Twenty20 concept is thrilling: Rhodes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 18, 2005

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Twenty20 concept is thrilling: Rhodes

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 17. Fielding legend Jonty Rhodes, while admitting that those selected in the South African cricket team deserved a fair run, observed the country had specific requirements during the post-apartheid period.

Rhodes, here as Conservation Corporation Africa's (CCA) ambassador to India, CCA is a prominent eco-safari operator, expressed the hope that, with the emergence of new talent, the Proteas will come through the demanding phase.

He said the selection of the South African team was more consistent during the ODI series against England, which the host won 4-1.

"In the one-dayers, we played as a team. During the Test series, apart from Jacques Kallis, no other South African stood up with the bat."

Rhodes was quick to point out that England was presently ranked second in Tests, while South Africa, with a relatively new captain and coach, was settling down as a unit.

The Twenty20 concept, the former South African cricketer felt, was an exciting addition to the game. "It's not all about the fours and the sixes. It provides an opportunity for the players to express themselves. But the 50-over format is still the game for me, it is still thrilling. The Twenty20 variety should be an extension."

On the International Cricket Council's decision to allow the flexion of the bowling arm till 15 degrees, he believed it would be a difficult law to implement. "When you are watching a player bowl, how do you know by how many degrees he is straightening his arm? I read in the papers that since Shoaib Malik was involved in an accident, his arm cannot bend or straighten. Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) they say was born with a deformity. They can measure the flexion at the nets, fix things to their arms, but I think it might be impossible to gauge it in a match situation."

The man, who defied gravity with astonishing regularity on the field, picked Justin Ontong as one of the emerging outstanding fielder in contemporary South African cricket.

Rhodes said South Africa was maintaining high fielding standards, with even a big-made paceman such as Andre Nel throwing himself at the ball rather than taking the easy option of using his foot.

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