by Hi
A Jonty Rhodes interview has just appeared in SA Sports Illustrated. Being a
national magazine most of you won't have access to it so I will paraphrase a
few points
a) On SA's chances and past WC's - Rhodes was not led here. This will be his
4th WC. Mentioned that their best chance was probably in 1996 when they were
playing so well. Does not say that they would have won. Trouble is they were
undone by Brian Lara. In 2003 - Says SA can win but is not drawn on
probability
b) Rhodes on Sledging
- Talks about how he and Warne always have a friendly go but all in good fun
and not really sledging
- Also says "A lot is made of sledging and at this level of cricket you've
got to have a sense of humour and laugh at yourself... I've always regarded
it as a compliment if people are trying to distract me. Graeme (Smith)
should take what happened to him as that. I spoke to Shane during last
year's one day series and said "you're giving our young boy a hard time?" He
(Shane) replied that they had given Smith a real working over to see if he
crumbled and he didn't...Augurs well for the future"
The 2 things that are apparent here. Rhodes reckons the sledging is not an
issue and he hints that Smith perhaps should rather take a positive out of
it and not make anything of it
c) Rhodes on retirement - After WC thats it for ODIs. Going to play a season
for Glouctershire and then thats probably it for 1st class cricket
d) Opinions of fielders
- Has high praise for Ponting and Gibbs. Then he specifically singles out
the way the sub-continent fielders have come through (esp. given that some
of the outfields of very hard underneath). Singles out Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj
Singh plus 1 or 2 Pakistani chaps
e) On SA's mental strength in the WC - Says SA can win given that the games
are one-off and not a series. Seems to concede that Aus are sharper on the
Psychological side. But SA have one a few games in recent years against Aus
(like the indoor series) and can do it. Definitely seems to concede the
mental edge to Aus
f) On Aus and their weaknesses - Here Rhodes concedes no weaknesses. Says
that Aus rely heaviliy their 6 batters and that they are all world class
guys. Says SA needs to nip out 2 or 3 cheaply early on. However he points
out Aus' tail. Basically he is saying that if the top order misfires then
maybe ...
g) A lot of other stuff including his relationship with Cronje. He says
nothing to condone any behaviour (not even betwen the lines) but they were
obviously friends and Rhodes forgave him pretty quickly (maybe due to
Christianity?) Cronje knew not to approach Rhodes with any funny business
Rhodes seems an extremely modest and decent chap. I suppose he has been
around the block often enough. Hopefully he, Klusner, Gibbs, Pollock, Ntini
etc all fire..
Oh well I can hope
Cheers
Dave