Rhodes denies joining England as fielding coach

Jonty Rhodes is expected to stay on as South Africa's fielding coach for the Twenty20 World Championship in September © AFP Enlarge

Jonty Rhodes, the former South African player and currently their fielding coach, has denied rumours that he is set to join England's coaching staff.

"I can honestly say I have never received any offers from England," Rhodes told News24.com. "Some time ago there was a rumour I was going to coach Sri Lanka, but I was never approached by them either." Sri Lanka were keen on Rhodes as assistant coach to Trevor Bayliss. Before joining South Africa's coaching staff, Rhodes worked as a fielding coach with the Pakistan team. His former team-mate Allan Donald is currently England's bowling coach.

"Jonty has confirmed he's staying with us," said Mickey Arthur, the South African coach. Rhodes is expected to stay as South Africa's fielding coach for the Twenty20 World Championship in September subject to confirmation by Cricket South Africa.

"He [Rhodes] is an integral member of our team and he is committed to staying with the Proteas," Arthur said. "I don't know where all these rumours start, but Jonty's definitely with us. I hope we can squash all these rumours."

Since Trevor Penney, appointed fielding coach for the Ashes in 2005, left to assist Tom Moody in Sri Lanka in 2005, England have been without a permanent fielding coach and Peter Moores, the national coach, hopes to fill the position before the seven-match one-day series against India in August.