It isn’t every day you get to meet your hero, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have met and interviewed mine today. Throughout my childhood, Jonty Rhodes was my inspiration, not just as a cricketer but as a role model. He was never really selected as a batsman or bowler [although later on in his career his batting improved dramatically]. He was selected as a fielder, whose prowess became legendary, and who could turn matches with his field work. I was never a good batsman or bowler, and nobody in my family had ever played cricket before. Rhodes’ example showed me that through fielding I could be part of a team, and cricket gave me so much growing up.

Anyway, here is an exclusive interview with Jonty Rhodes:

For those not familiar with South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, the Cricinfo cricket website biography of the legendary sportsman is a good place to start:

“Rhodes worked harder than anyone else in a team of hard workers, frequently delaying the team bus at the end of practice for one more round of reflex catches hit from ten meters or less. Nobody has ever fielded better in the key one-day position of backward point, where he leapt like a salmon, threw opponents off balance, and stopped singles by reputation alone.”

The 38-year old Rhodes played for the South African national team from 1992 to 2003 until he was forced to retire due to injuries. He was voted one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1999, and is considered the best fielder the game has ever known. A gritty team player, Rhodes was repeatedly selected for the national side for his outstanding fielding, taking the place of batsmen and bowlers. His fielding saved his side many runs, it won games, and won Rhodes legions of followers worldwide. Continue reading →