Jonty Rhodes ready to take field again

CANTERBURY, MAY 8: South African Jonty Rhodes will be fit for the start of the World Cup after all, coach Bob Woolmer said today.``A bit ...

CANTERBURY, MAY 8: South African Jonty Rhodes will be fit for the start of the World Cup after all, coach Bob Woolmer said today.

“A bit of treatment and some rest seem to have done the trick,” said Woolmer.

Rhodes will miss tomorrow’s warm-up match against Kent here but is “almost certain” to play against Middlesex on Tuesday in the South Africans’ final dress rehearsal before the tournament.

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Rhodes, arguably the world’s best fielder and a useful middle-order batsman, has been struggling with a right forearm injury for two week. Yesterday, skipper Hansie Cronje conceded Rhodes was struggling to be ready for the team’s first World Cup match against India in Hove on May 15.

Fast bowler Steve Elworthy, however, remains doubtful with a calf injury. Yesterday’s game against Sussex in Hove was washed out.

“We really need to play now,” said Woolmer. “There has been enough talking and the players get bored with just practising.”

South Africa practised in the middle today and Woolmer said thiswould be the pattern wherever possible.

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“It was a big blow to miss out on the game yesterday,” he said. “The difficulty now is to get everyone into some form in just two more warm-up games.”

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