The Hindu : Sport : Livewires who make the difference

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 25, 2007
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Livewires who make the difference

Vijay Parthasarathy

IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE... IT'S JONTY! A fielding legend was born at Brisbane in 1992 when Jonty Rhodes `flew' to break the stumps and run out Inzamam-ul-Haq. — File photo: V.V. Krishnan

Particularly since the advent of limited-overs cricket in the early-1970s, batsmen have grown less conservative in their stroke selection and sought to score at a quicker rate. To counter this, fielding sides have had to up their performance — they have had to create wicket-taking opportunities while simultaneously constricting the scoring.

The torpor-stricken throw from the deep is no longer tolerated in international cricket; the best men inside the circle possess the reflexes of a jaguar.

Some fielders are associated more with their position in the field than in the batting order.

Back in 1975, Eknath Solkar, whose presence at forward short-leg was crucial to the success of India's spin quartet in Tests, toured the Caribbean and New Zealand primarily as a fielder.

In the 1990s, Jonty Rhodes's efficacy at backward point preceded his later reputation as a decent one-day lower-middle order bat.

Richards's contribution

West Indies and Australia contested the first ever World Cup final, a tight match that finally swung the way of Clive Lloyd's men after they ran out five Australian batsmen.

The bowling and batting performances swung the momentum towards both teams at different points and essentially cancelled each other out.

It was the young Viv Richards, not an automatic selection in the side before the inaugural Cup, who made the difference in the end. Of the three run-outs that he effected two were direct hits.

Australia slid to an unexpected defeat and the outcome defined the direction one-day cricket was to take.

Outstanding fielding puts doubt in the mind of the batsmen and induces hesitation and error. Richards was effective from both sides of the wicket; his throwing off-balance pinpoint and quick. He accounted for opener Allan Turner, and crucially, the Chappell brothers. Vanburn Holder and Keith Boyce made it five for the innings and Australia, chasing a target of 292, fell short by 17 runs.

Rhodes arrives

South Africa returned from its two-decade suspension to play its first World Cup in 1992, and a short, blond-haired 22-year-old who was also a gifted hockey player proved its biggest star.

The iconic image of Rhodes in mid-flight, diving full-length and crashing into Inzamam-ul-Haq's stumps at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, remains the best evidence of the man's skills. The dismissal has since come to be known as `that run-out.'

South Africa batted first in that match, and scored 211 off 50 overs. Pakistan's innings was reduced to 36 overs because of rain, its target revised to 194 runs. Pakistan had reached 135 for two, when Inzamam, on 48, set off for a run. His skipper Imran Khan turned him back.

Reputation for Rhodes

Throughout his career, Rhodes's reputation alone would cut off singles; this time, from square of the wicket, Rhodes raced Inzamam - and won. Pakistan's innings meandered thence, and South Africa won by 20 runs.

It's another matter that Imran's team went on to win the Cup that year.

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