Jonty Rhodes, The Man Who Set A New Benchmark In Fielding At International Level
He redefined fielding in limited-overs cricket. He told the world saving runs is as important as scoring them. For many, he is their favourite South African cricketer and he is none other than Jonty Rhodes. Take a look at a rare collection of photos that you might have never seen:
Getty
He redefined fielding in limited-overs cricket. He told the world saving runs is as important as scoring them. For many, he is their favourite South African cricketer and he is none other than Jonty Rhodes. Take a look at a rare collection of photos that you might have never seen:
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Reuters
Known primarily as a stunning fielder, Rhodes was a more than handy batsman in the middle order. In fact he has one batting feat that even Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting don't have - a Test century at Lord's.
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Reuters
As a kid, Rhodes was diagnosed with epilepsy but that didn't deter him from taking up sports at the highest level. Here he is waving to the crowd from the Lord's balcony after receiving the man-of-the-match award for his Test century at Lord's against England in 1998.
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Reuters
Equally adept as field hockey and rugby, Rhodes chose cricket above all sports.
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AFP
Andy Flower might have reinvented the reverse sweep to hit fours at will, but it was Rhodes who was one of the first cricketers to use the unorthodox shot to hit sixes.
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AFP
He would do anything for his side, a committed fieldsman, Rhodes would invariably be the one who'll get under the helmet and field at the hated silly point and forward short-leg positions. And, he was brilliant at that.
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Reuters
Ball boys weren't needed with Rhodes was stationed at the boundary. Here, he shows his climbing skills as he goes to retrieve the ball from the stands after a six that was hit by New Zealand's Roger Twose in 1999.
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Reuters
For Jonty, practice sessions were as crucial as the main game and he would never shy himself from stretching to take stupendous catches while practicing.
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AFP
Not just while warm-ups, he would go the extra mile to please his fans.
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Reuters
South Africa's Mint launched a commemorative coin for the 2003 Cricket World Cup on November 1, 2002. The coin depicted a likeness of Jonty Rhodes diving to make a run-out.
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AFP
Out of the many assignments he took up after retirement in 2003 was as a TV expert and he still continues to be a sought after commentator with his in-depth insights into the game.
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Reuters
He always battles for various socio-environmental causes. Here Rhodes is being unveiled as a brand ambassador of the Conservation Corporation Africa as he promoted wildlife safari tourism in South Africa.
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BCCL
Jonty promoting Chapter 10 wines for a subsidiary of United Breweries in Mumbai.
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BCCL
Jonty just loves spending time with little children and he is invited by many clubs to hold cricket clinics for budding cricketers.
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AFP
Before the 2011 World Cup, Rhodes also worked as a fielding consultant with the Pakistan cricket team. Although, that didn't quite work for the men in green.
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AFP
During the 2011 World Cup in India, Rhodes gave his expertise to the Kenyan cricket team.
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AFP
Even while coaching, Jonty used to lead by example by being one of the most diligent ones to come out and start exercising from the word go even when no one was around.
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BCCL
Rhodes is a responsible parent as well. Here he takes the kids of his then girlfriend, and now wife Melanie Wolf, for a stroll at the Wankhede Stadium, the home of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
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BCCL
You don't need a crane when you've got Jonty around.
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BCCL
And he's pretty good at adventure sports too. He promotes surfing in India.
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BCCL
This is where he's killing it, riding a Royal Enfield to the Mumbai Indians' practice.
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AFP
And he's not shy of being a socialite at times.
