Rhodes for introducing new fielding culture in Pakistan
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: One of the finest fielders of all times, Jonty Rhodes aims to introduce a new fielding culture in Pakistan cricket while preparing the team ahead of a challenging tour of England.

“Pakistan team needs improvement in fielding and I will be endeavouring to make amends in the individual problems of players related to this department”, he told APP after starting his two-week long assignment with the Pak team here at Gadaffi stadium on Tuesday.

The South African test cricketer who is ratted as a world’s best fielder in modern cricket engaged the players in various fielding drills specially in diving moves to get hold of the ball. Pakistan team is preparing at a camp for the tour of England which begins from June 25.

“I want to introduce and develop a new fielding concept and culture among Pakistani players and I am fully confident that I will be able to bring a lot of improvement in the fielding of players”, said the test cricketer who has played 52 test and 245 one day international.

He praised the talent of players and said if they improve their fielding then Pakistan team can emerge as a dangerous side difficult to beat in the present day international cricket.

The veteran fielder dispelled an impression that during his short assignment the team will be perfect in fielding.

“Fielding cannot be improved overnight, it is a slow process and what is important is to create a new concept and culture of fielding among players by generating interest in it and it all depends on players how much interest they develop for improvement”, he added.

Jonty Rhodes said the players of the Pakistan team have improved their fitness a lot under the coaching and guidance of Bob Woolmer and that is why the team is showing consistency which is vital these days in cricket for maintaining supremacy.

“What I have told the players to dive and to make acrobatic moves in fielding and I am emphasising that they should enjoy the fielding and by that way they can create extra interest and show rapid learning “,he said.

“Fielding is a visible difference when two teams of equal strength are playing and if one team shows lapses in fielding obviously their opposition will benefit from their weakness”, he maintained.

The 37-year old South African former test cricketer said what he has observed from his long standing experience that players of sub-continent avoid to make diving moves while fielding because of hard surface of grounds. “But even though if they do extra efforts and they are physcailly tough, they can do better on hard grounds”.

He said it is better to concentrate on improving the fielding of players at an early age when they start playing cricket.

“Fielding is a trend which is created, coaches can teach players about it and if it is done at an early stage then players adapt to it that is why the teams which are showing good results are working on the fielding of their players scientifically at early level”, he said.

Answering a question, he tipped Pakistan team favourite to beat England. “England is doing good at the moment at home against Sri Lanka but I feel Pakistan team have better chances against them (England)”, he said.

Rhodes will be paid US $ 1000 a day by the Pakistan Cricket Board which wants to train the team in all cricketing aspects in a tough tour of England.●