Rhodes show halted (7 May 1999)

7 May 1999

Rhodes show halted

Trevor Chesterfield

HOVE (England) - A glum Hansie Cronje headed for the warmth and comfort of the team's hotel in the wake of a rain-ruined World Cup warm-up match at soggy Saffrons yesterday and concern about Jonty Rhodes' arm injury.

As a disappointed South African captain settled in to watch England's first warm-up against Kent at Canterbury, the worry about long-term forecast and further rain has drawn a blank from knowledgeable locals who are quite used to such weather blemishes.

After five days of fair to average weather the clouds rolled in and rain arrived on the wrong day, hanging around like a wet, miserable blanket until the match was called off mid-afternoon. It was, Cronje agreed, the sort of interruption to their pre-World Cup programme they could do without.

"I would have rather a day's practice being hit than this match," he admitted, and it did not need a genius to see how the rained-off game can hinder South Africa's preparations. Today they head for Canterbury where they play Kent tomorrow and then move to Southgate on Tuesday for the game against Middlesex.

"Time is getting a bit tight," Cronje agreed and hoped the thick layers of rain clouds would not follow his side along the south if England.

But with the outing against Sussex rained off a week before the World Cup favourites play India in their opening match at the same venue a week today, time is something South Africa do not have.

"It's a pity and there's not much you can do about it. We have to put this disruption aside and focus on the next two games," he admitted.

As for the Rhodes show the possibilities are he will get a chance to flex his throwing arm and show off his exciting talent at Southgate against Middlesex, although even that is not a simple matter of passing a fitness test. He has had a cortisone injection and the forearm has been placed in a splint.

He has a problem when throwing the ball and when batting, playing strokes square of the crease. He expressed the desire to play tomorrow but the team management has rejected this.

"The thing about Jonty is that you get so used to him being around you don't really miss him until he is not fielding," said Cronje, giving one of his crooked smiles. "Then you suddenly know there is something wrong in the field and you start looking for him."

Just the sort of pat on the back one of the World Cup's class acts needs as he nurses a bruised right forearm, the legacy of a practice session at Newlands.

As for the other walking wounded, Steve Elworthy is still nursing a bruised right calf, the result of all idiotic team fitness sessions "touch rugby". Derek Crookes seems to be over his injured finger as he was to have been 12th man for the match yesterday while Dale Benkenstein has a broken tooth, also the result of some warm up session.

Rhodes apart South Africa would have played their strongest side against Sussex yesterday, now they have to rethink their strategy with Benkenstein the obvious fill in until the jack in a box is fit again.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News