Jonty Rhodes: The Jumping Jack

While pundits may argue that his countryman and ex-cricketer Colin Bland was the best fielder ever, Jonty is quiet simply the best fielding ...

While pundits may argue that his countryman and ex-cricketer Colin Bland was the best fielder ever, Jonty is quiet simply the best fielding all-rounder that world cricket has ever seen.

Single-handedly Jonty Rhodes has turned the face of matches with his brilliant dives and Jumping Jack approaches. The Rubberman or Superman as he is called can do nothing wrong on a cricket field.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In his first game as a under-13 captain his coach declared the innings with him on 99
• As a junior was a footballer and played hockey too. Had South Africa qualified for Barcelona Olympics in 1992, he might well have played at a cricket World Cup and an Olympics in the same year
• Holds the world record for most dismissals by a non-wicketkeeper in a one-day international, after taking five catches against the West Indies in the Hero Cup in Mumbai (1993-94)
• Was voted one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1999
• First South African to play 200 one-day internationals
• Very much a family man and also a born-again Christian whose values were reinforced after he met his wife Kate
• Quit Test cricket in November 2000 to concentrate solely on one-dayers and family
• Voted the best fielder by fellow international cricketers during the ICC Champions Trophy with a record 75% votes
• The World Cup has brought him accolades galore…
• He is one of the South African sporting icons inluding golfers Penny Heyns and Ernie Els who star in a set of stamps issued by the National Post Office to support the 2003 World Cup
• South African Mint has also launched a 50 cent coin carrying his image
Named the patron of the National Volunteers programme

His sheer presence at the point region is insurance for the likes of skipper Shaun Pollock & Allan Donald. His role in making fielding a passion and very enjoyable for younger players is one which he likes most.

Jonty’s valuable as a batsman as well as he keeps the scorers busy by picking up singles and twos. The spinners hate him for this very reason. And he showed in the build-up to the mega event that he is still very good at this.

Very much a senior statesman in the present South African side, he has been part of most of the fairy-tale ends in three World Cups. The slog overs of his career are here and this could be inspiration for him to make it fourth time lucky for the hosts.