Jonty Rhodes says he is the ‘grandfather of fielding’ now and Tendulkar’s tale about him

By K.R. Nayar 
From Mumbai 

When a legend like Jonty Rhodes sits next to you, ready to play again in the upcoming International Masters League, the obvious question that comes to mind is: how proud is he to see players today diving, stopping, and taking catches like he did, having set the benchmark in fielding?


Jonty Rhodes... "I am the grandfather of  fielding  now". Photo by K.R. Nayar  

Rhodes replied with a smile: "It feels incredible. For a long time, I felt like the father of fielding, and now I'm probably the grandfather of fielding. It’s another generation now. Fielding has evolved. I mean, cricket has changed. We know there are three different formats, and fielding has become a third discipline."

 

Rhodes is pleased that today’s players are sometimes selected based on their fielding skills. "It often depends on their contribution in the field to a large extent, especially when two players have equal abilities."

 


Sachin Tendulkar speaks about the Durban incident. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

Jonty is the sixth bowler 

 

Tendulkar, known for his ability to share stories from his matches, spoke about Rhodes: "Jonty was like a sixth bowler." He then narrated Rhodes' impact on the team. When Jonty was fielding at point, he said, everyone knew that scoring runs in and around that area was nearly impossible. If he was fielding at square leg, one had to think twice before attempting a quick single.

 

Jonty Rhodes... man who set the benchmark for fielding. Photo by K.R. Nayar  

Tendulkar also revealed how off-spinner Pat Symcox and Rhodes choked the opposition's scoring. He mentioned how Symcox would position Rhodes at square leg and challenge the batsman to take runs. Tendulkar added that he felt relieved when Rhodes had to leave the field during a match in Durban. "The outfield was wet, and during one of Rhodes' attempts to stop a quick run, he slipped and fell on his face and had to leave the field. Only after he was gone were we able to get runs in and around the area he was fielding," recalled Tendulkar.

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