Rhodes to mark Kingstown one-dayer with 200th cap

Neil Manthorp

Jonty Rhodes, one of the greatest fielders in the history of the game, will become South Africa's first double centurion in one-day internationals at Arnos Vale on Wednesday.

The athletic cover point is set to make his 200th appearance in the final game of the seven-match series between West Indies and South Africa.

The tourists, who became the first team ever to win a test and one-day series in the Caribbean 10 days ago, will be bidding for a 6-1 triumph.

Rhodes, 31, who made his one-day debut at the 1992 World Cup in Australia, said he would not be dwelling on his own achievement.

"I've never been big on milestones and statistics in my career and maybe that's a fault of mine," he said on Tuesday.

"With a guy like Hansie (Cronje) around, I never thought I'd be the most capped player because he played every game and I missed a couple with injury."

Former captain Cronje represented his country in 188 one-day internationals before being banned for life by the United Cricket Board of South Africa last October as punishment for his role in cricket's global match-fixing crisis.

Rhodes, who still has some to way to go if he is to overhaul Mohammad Azharuddin's world record of 334 one-day caps, has set his sights on playing in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

"The next World Cup is my goal, not the number of caps. Besides, there are 25-year-olds in the (South Africa) team who have already played 120 or 140 games - they'll be playing 250 or 300! I'm just grateful to have played two, let alone 200."

Rhodes felt that South Africa still ruled the roost as the best fielding side in the game.

TWO ASPECTS
"Kepler Wessels used to say there were two aspects of the game at which we could be the best in the world, regardless of experience, and those were fitness and fielding. We're as good a fielding side as we have ever been but we're more match-fit than we were then.

"But we were at our fittest under Kepler and even Hansie because they were both fitness-orientated guys. They were both batsmen as well whereas (current captain) Shaun (Pollock) is a bowler who understands that people need to rest sometimes."

Since retiring from test cricket last year to concentrate on the abbreviated game, Rhodes has enjoyed the challenge of adapting to the plentiful changes which have occurred in one-day internationals.

"The skills have definitely changed and we've learned and adapted because the game has changed. We've moved with the times and sometimes we've actually instigated the changes.

"In the 1996 World Cup, Sri Lanka were ahead of everyone with their aggressive approach in the first 15 overs, and they caught us all by surprise. (Then South Africa coach) Bob (Woolmer) was really good at innovating and keeping us one step ahead.

"We used to have a basic plan for every game, but now the guys believe in their ability and we are backed to use our initiative in the middle.

"We have some very talented players in the team and you can't restrict them with a single game plan. Now everyone is encouraged to play to their strengths but keep the team goals in mind."

Any notion that the 31-year-old was losing some of his sharpness in the field was quickly dispelled in the West Indies after a series of breathtaking catches and run outs. Twice Rhodes dismissed key batsman Brian Lara with match-winning moments of magic.

"People ask me how I take catches like that; well, I practise them. My hips are shot, my elbows are sore and my knees are grazed - but that's what we do.

"It's nice to take those catches but we're not surprised because that's what we practise. It's like batting - the more you think, the more mistakes you're going to make - just let your instincts take over."

Mail Cricket Editor