Former South Africa batsman Jonty Rhodes declined an offer by India's National Cricket Academy at Bangalore to be its fielding consultant, citing personal reasons.
Durban-based Rhodes, regarded as one of the greatest exponents of fielding, had been sounded by the NCA to take up a two-week coaching assignment to pass on fielding tips to the trainees but the cricketer has conveyed his unwillingness.
NCA sources quoted Rhodes, who last played his international match in February 2003, as saying that he had just started working for a bank in South Africa and was not in a position to spend a fortnight at a stretch in India.
NCA had pinned hopes on Rhodes availability and expressed that his interactions on fielding aspects would immensely benefit the trainees.
Sources said that Rhodes had also informed NCA that he was taking a break from cricket, and had no plans to coach at the Academy level anywhere and wants to learn the ropes in the corporate world.
But, the sources said, he hastened to add that cricket had always been his love and possibly he might get into coaching in future.
The 35-year-old, who took 139 catches including 34 in Tests, said his family was a priority and spending time with his two young children was important.
