Jonty fitness query (9 May 1999)

9 May 1999

Jonty fitness query

Trevor Chesterfield

CANTERBURY (England) - There are growing doubts whether to Jonty Rhodes show will be seen in action in South Africa's opening World Cup match against India at Hove on Saturday.

Naturally South Africa's management are not saying too much apart from confirming the injury to the right forearm is "a cause for concern" and that he has already seen a specialist. As for the rest, the 29-year-old Natal was taking a rest on the South African balcony yesterday and enjoying the batting fireworks which saw them plunder a tidy 320 for six off Kent bowling attack in serious need of a direction finder.

Rhodes, rated one of the star fielding turns in the tournament, has drawn praise from all quarters for his fielding, with Steve Waugh acknowledging what a "special lift" it gives to a side.

He has been ruled out of South Africa's final warm up game, against Middlesex at Southgate tomorrow, and the fear is that if the muscles he strained at Newlands 12 days ago, have not recovered sufficiently then he will be racing to get fit for South Africa's opening match in Group A.

His non-appearance disappointed a couple of Indian journalists who turned up in the garden of England yesterday as they had been hoping to see him in action.

What they saw instead was a replica in the disguise of Herschelle Gibbs at backward point.

"Surely that's Rhodes?" one suggested confidently.

When finally convinced it was Gibbs, he shook his head and had to rewrite his story.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield