Jonty Rhodes

Jonathan Neil Rhodes (born 27 July 1969) is a South African cricket commentator and former Test and One Day International cricketer. He is considered the greatest fielder of all time. [1] He played for the South African cricket team between 1992 and 2003.

Jonty Rhodes
Personal information
Full nameJonathan Neil Rhodes
Born (1969-07-27) 27 July 1969
Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province, South Africa
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleBatsman
International information
National side
Test debut13 November 1992 v India
Last Test10 August 2000 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 17)26 February 1992 v Australia
Last ODI12 February 2003 v Kenya
ODI shirt no.8
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1988–1992University of Natal (Maritzburg)
1988/89–1997/98Natal
1998/99–2002/03KwaZulu-Natal
1999Ireland
2003Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 52 245 164 371
Runs scored 2,532 5,935 9,546 8,907
Batting average 35.66 35.11 41.14 32.86
100s/50s 3/17 2/33 22/52 2/51
Top score 117 121 172 121
Balls bowled 12 14 162 80
Wickets 0 0 1 2
Bowling average – – 83.00 22.50
5 wickets in innings – – 0 0
10 wickets in match – – 0 0
Best bowling – – 1/13 1/2
Catches/stumpings 34/– 105/– 127/– 158/–
Source: CricInfo, 19 July 2009

Rhodes was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province, South Africa. Whilst being noted for his quick running as a right-handed batsman, he was especially noted for his defensive fielding, particularly catching, ground fielding, and throwing from his most common position of backward point. A report prepared by Cricinfo in late 2005 showed that since the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he had effected the ninth-highest number of run outs in ODI cricket of any fieldsman, with the third-highest success rate.[2] He is regarded as one of the greatest fielders of all time and was the first South African cricketer to take 100 ODI catches.

During his career he also played club cricket for the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg and first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, KwaZulu-Natal, Natal and the Dolphins. Rhodes retired from Test cricket in 2000, and from one day cricket in 2003 after an injury during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Rhodes also represented South Africa at hockey, and was chosen as part of the 1992 Olympic Games squad to go to Barcelona; however, the squad did not qualify to go to the tournament.[3] He was also called up for trials to play in the 1996 Olympics but was ruled out by a hamstring injury.[4]

Career highlights

Test career

Rhodes made his Test début against India in the first Test of the "Friendship Tour" at his home ground in Kingsmead, Durban on 13 November 1992, scoring 41 in the first innings and 26 not out in the second.

Rhodes scored his first Test century during the first Test of a three match series against Sri Lanka at Moratuwa during the 1993–1994 season. Batting on the last day, Rhodes scored 101 not out and along with Clive Eksteen salvaged a draw. South Africa went on to win the series 1–0 by winning the second match and drawing the third.[5]

Rhodes announced his retirement from Test match cricket in 2001 in order to allow him to continue playing until the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. His last Test match was on 6 August 2000 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo against Sri Lanka. Rhodes made scores of 21 and 54 in the two innings. Sri Lanka went on to win the match by six wickets. He was also well known for hitting reverse sweep and has also hit the first reverse sweep shot which had gone for a six.

ODI career

Rhodes made his One Day International début against Australia in South Africa's opening match of the 1992 Cricket World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 26 February 1992. Australia batted first, scoring 170, and Rhodes dismissed Craig McDermott via a run out. South Africa scored 171 to win the match by nine wickets; Rhodes was not required to bat.

Rhodes shot to fame after South Africa's fifth game of the World Cup, against Pakistan on 8 March 1992 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. South Africa batted first, scoring 211 off 50 overs. Pakistan's innings was reduced to 36 overs because of rain interruptions, with the target revised from 212 to 194 runs. Inzamam-ul-Haq and Pakistan captain Imran Khan resumed the innings when play was restarted. With the score at 135/2 Inzamam, who was at the time on 48, set off for a run but was turned back by Khan. The ball had rolled out towards Rhodes who ran in from backward point, gathered the ball and raced the retreating Inzamam to the wicket. Rhodes, with ball in hand, dived full length to break the stumps and effect the run out. The run out, the subject of a famous photograph by Jim Fenwick, is still considered one of the more spectacular feats of that World Cup and the defining moment of Rhodes' career.[3][6] Pakistan's innings faltered from then on, eventually finishing on 173/8 with South Africa winning by twenty runs.

On 14 November 1993 Rhodes took a world record of five catches, to achieve the most dismissals by a fielder (other than a wicketkeeper) against the West Indies at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

Rhodes announced that he planned to retire from One-Day International cricket after the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. However, his tournament was cut short when he got injured in a match against Kenya. In Kenya's innings, Maurice Odumbe hit the ball in the air toward Rhodes. Rhodes dropped the catch and in the process broke his hand. The South African team's medical staff concluded that it would take four to five weeks to heal, effectively ruling Rhodes out of the rest of the tournament. Rhodes was withdrawn from the squad and replaced by Graeme Smith.

Post-retirement

After retiring from playing cricket Rhodes was employed Standard Bank as an account executive and is also involved with the bank's cricket sponsorship in South Africa.[7] Rhodes is presently working as a fielding coach in the South African national cricket team.[8] He was the fielding coach for IPL Team Mumbai IndiansOP. He was the fielding coach for Kings XI Punjab at 13th season of Indian Premier League. The Kenyan cricket team announced that Rhodes had been hired as the team's assistant coach and will serve them until the 2011 Cricket World Cup; he will assist Kenya with fielding and batting[9]

In April 2013 South African Tourism appointed Rhodes as their brand ambassador for India.[10] During Cricket World Cup, he will give his expert opinion at PTV Sports and Yahoo.

Coaching career

He was appointed as fielding coach for Kings XI Punjab. In September 2020, Rhodes signed a contract with the Swedish Cricket Federation, ahead of moving to Sweden on a permanent basis.[11] He will help the players of KXIP to improve their fielding skills for ipl 2020.

Recognition

Personal life

He married Kate McCarthy, a niece of Cuan McCarthy, on 16 April 1994 in Pietermaritzburg. The couple has two children a daughter, Danellia Rhodes, and a son Ross Rhodes.[12] The couple has split up since. In 2015, Rhodes' second wife Melanie gave birth to a daughter in Mumbai.[13] He named his daughter India Jeanne Rhodes. This inspiration came from India’s rich mix of culture, heritage, and tradition. Finding India to be very spiritual and forward-thinking, Jonty has been a regular visitor to India. Jonty and Melanie have their second child together, a son named Nathan who was born in India in 2017.

References
  1. "Top 10 Best Cricket Fielders Ever". listdose.co. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. Basevi, Travis (9 November 2005). "Statistics – Run outs in ODIs". Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  3. Oliver Brett (13 February 2003). "Fielder of dreams". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
  4. "Hockey team has an admirer in Rhodes". Rediff.com. 2 September 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
  5. Peter Robinson (28 June 2000). "History favours South Africa". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
  6. Neil Manthorpe. "Player Profile: Jonty Rhodes". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
  7. Brad Morgan (30 January 2004). "What are you up to now, Jonty?". SouthAfrica.info. Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
  8. Cricinfo – Bob was more than a coach to me – Rhodes
  9. "Kenya news: Jonty Rhodes to assist Kenya's World Cup preparations | Kenya Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo.com. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  10. Jonty Rhoes named South African tourism ambassador in India – Latest Cricket News, Articles & Videos at. Cricketcountry.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-23.
  11. "Breaking: Jonty Rhodes signs on with Sweden". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  12. "Jonty dumps wife for girlfriend". Sport24. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  13. NDTVSports "Jonty Rhodes Blessed With Baby Girl, Names Her India Jeanne", "NDTV Sports", 24 April 2015. He has named her "India Jeanne Rhodes". Retrieved on 4 May 2015
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