Jonty Rhodes Admires Modern Fielding Skills

NEW DELHI, May 1 (Reuters) – Jonty Rhodes, known for making fielding popular in cricket, admits he feels like an older figure now. Today’s players have taken fielding to new heights with their amazing agility and boundary work.

Once famous for his own acrobatic catches, Rhodes now watches in awe as modern players perform gravity-defying throws and dives. He especially admires the current Indian Premier League (IPL) where fielding has reached a peak.

Rhodes humorously shares that he used to feel like the “godfather of fielding,” but now he feels more like the “grandfather.” He praises the level of athleticism in today’s game, calling it “incredible.”

He credits players like West Indian Kieron Pollard for pioneering techniques such as relay catches. These involve deep fielders tossing balls mid-air and teammates catching them over the boundary rope.

Rhodes, who has coached IPL teams, says he focused on perfecting these skills through practice drills. He believes modern cricket’s shorter format (T20) makes elite fielding even more crucial, as every run saved can decide matches.

Among today’s stars, Rhodes is impressed by New Zealander Glenn Phillips, comparing him to South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs for his spectacular catches and saves.

Rhodes acknowledges that while he was once a standout fielder, today’s players have raised the bar even higher.