Rhodes, 55, is recognized as one of the best fielders of all time, having become the first South African cricketer to grab 100 ODI catches. He played for the national team from 1992 to 2003.
South African cricket star Jonty Rhodes hailed Ravindra Jadeja the world’s best “complete all-round” fielder on Saturday, and praised former India player Suresh Raina’s on-field ability.Rhodes, 55, is recognized as one of the finest fielders of all time, having become the first South African cricketer to catch 100 ODIs. He played for the national team from 1992 to 2003.
After retiring, Rhodes worked as a fielding coach for numerous IPL teams, including the Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and, most recently, the Lucknow Super Giants.
“I’m a huge fan of Suresh Raina. I adored his playing days, but now he’s retired. In the past, India lacked the cricketing infrastructure to sustain the passion and love for the game. Suresh Raina was someone who would throw himself across the field,” said Rhodes, who was named brand ambassador for the Hero Pro Corporate League cricket competition on Saturday.
“Unlike Raina, I had an extremely affluent upbringing. I played football, hockey, and cricket on good pitches. So I was quite fortunate. “I believe Jadeja is at the next level; he does not dive as much, but he is really quick to the ball. And his accuracy in throwing down the stumps is comparable to Ricky Ponting. He fields both on the boundary and on the circle. “He is a complete all-round fielder,” Rhodes continued.Rhodes also provided valuable insight on what it takes to be a good fielder.
“It has nothing to do with the hands; it’s all about the legs because if you use your legs and arrive at the appropriate time, you can put your hands in a nice position.You can have the best and most magnetic hands in the world, but you can’t get there without legs.
“It’s more about fast body positioning. “It’s all about technique,” he said.Rhodes stated that even at the age of 55, he continues to dive on the field without hesitation.
“I’m not having trouble flying right now; it’s just landing. When I’m on the field, I’m not thinking about’should I dive or not’. “I believe that’s what helped me succeed on the field,” he remarked.
“So, if you’re thinking about not diving, you’ll never be able to stop the ball. My father, who was my coach and a school administrator, used to tell me that the saying “practice makes perfect” is incorrect, and that what matters is perfect practice. “Practice like you’re playing in the match,” he advised.
The league’s commissioner is Chetan Sharma, a former India pacer.
