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The Jonty Rhodes Chat

Amit : It is quite difficult to play India in India as most of the pitches help the spin bowlers. However Allan Donald has shown that a fast bowler canm also be effective on these wickets. I think the test series is going to be a hard played one, but we have not come here to lose the TITAN Cup and the test series. So we will be desperate to win the Tests.

Ms Piggy : Sorry I missed you question. Please repeat it.

Someone asked you this before: What goes through your mind before you leap into the stratosphere or dive towards the turf. How come your reflexes are so darned good?

I hear you are a born again Christian. What career do you see for yourself after cricket? Is it going to be coaching or have you something more devout planned?

Prem>>I have a question for you. Should Robin Singh be included in the test matches vs the South Africans. Jonty>>How do you rate Robin Singh's fielding?

Jonty, a while back you talked of Bob Woolmer's data base. I was just wondering, do you have mental notes yourself on opposing batsmen? I ask, because you seem to pick the right batsman to attack, sometimes I notice you have a choice of ends and you throw to the one to which the poorer runner is going. Is that on field assessment, or do you prepare for each game by thinking of the batsmen you are going to be fielding against?

Why are you so hungry for victory? This kind of hunger, I have not seen in any cricket team for some time now. The hunger is almost palpable.

The Panther : We never have any divisions in our team along language lines. We are all South Africans!!.

yatin : the only time I got hurt was when I took a dive into the wickets during the 1992 World Cup!

Amit>> Five years ago - okay, even four years ago, I would have said yes. Now? I am not sure. Robin's good utility value in the all rounder slot and lifts the fielding by a couple of notches, but his best years are behind him, so I don't know if it makes sense picking him when India is trying to build a young side.

Jonty, you are a fast runner between the wickets. So how do you coordinate the running with the slower members of the team?

Do you think you would have made the team if was not for your fielding? Are you not there for that alone? How come your batting has been uninspired in recent years?

Jonty>>I am very sure that your side is gonna give India a run for its money as they say. Your team is a thorough professional side and it is a pleasure to play against such fighters and lovers of the game:) I hope India rises to the challenge and gives you guys a good series.

Prem Panicker: That's a real good question!

Jonty: Who do you think is the toughest side to beat in one day and test cricket?

Jonty: I am curious to know that, do you play hockey??? We have heard that you were in the training camp for hockey team. At what position you play????

Jonty: when you say the team (SA) is "dedicated and disciplined", can you spell out a little more what you mean? Do you have rigorous training plans, strict curfew timings, stuff like that? I ask because the Indian team has had a couple of guys of late who have been disciplined for being undisciplined (how do you like that?), and some of us wonder when the team will be as dedicated as SA is.

Jonty, I asked you to give us an objective comparison colin bland and yourself. you havnt responded yet.

what happened today?how come you lost.!!?? isnt this the same thing that happened to you guys in the world cup.?! By God ,no one can beat you in the feild ,Jonty.

Jonty, fielding was earliar supposed to be a boring task. where do you get the inspiration for your amazing fielding. You have shown that even watching excellent fielders can also be a fun!!

Jonty so in ur case we should say it quite aptly "fortune favors the brave" !

He's never...: Yes I am a Christian. Right now I am still too busy playing the game. So I will have to make a decision in the 2-3 years about what to do when my playing days are over.

Prem : Yes we do have a gameplan for opposing batsmen. We usually try and run out the slower batsmen by throwing to his end. But sometimes on the field you just have to let your instincts take over. That is why we put in lots of hours in fielding practice.

Hello Jonty, do you think the loss y'day was partly because of the turning pitch? Or was it more good bowling from India? If so, who would you single out as India's best bowler? Prasad or Kumble?

Sekhar: just a thought, how is Jonty supposed to give us an "objective" comparison between Bland and himself?

Prem>>Ok fair answer. I forgot the other day you told me he is 32 or 34.. Why the hell did the selectors not pick him earlier.. Do you think he should have been picked earlier. Jonty>>Boje and Symcox are fine bowlers and the pitch should help them.. plus are you thinking of getting one more spinner from South Africa.. Iread that somewhere..what is his name?

hey jonty wass up hope you are fine down in India..how do you find this channel..

Jonty, what do you do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

Mr Rhodes, since we share a surname, could you please answer my question about growing up in the apartheid era. What was it like? And how did you get over your prejudices?

hey jonty...i guess your RSA team are too unlucky right..dont you think..

what happened today?how come you lost.!!?? isnt this the same thing that happened to you guys in the world cup.?! By God ,no one can beat you in the feild ,Jonty.

To repeat my question: What were the apartheid years like for you? Was adjustment to a nation ruled by the ANC difficult for you? As someone who grew up in the apartheid era, it must have been difficult to get over your prejudices?

Krishna, Modesty can cloud objectivity. jonty must have watched Bland on film and can compare himself with Bland point by point if he wants.

Have you ever met Nelson M? Is he as enthusiastic about cricket as he is about rugby. You know something, the first thing he did when he met former Aussie PM Malcom Fraser in 1986 was to ask how the Don was!

guys give Jonty a chance to answer

you people play 100% well in all the sectors of the match but finally mess up in the semis or like waht happened yesterday night against India.

@Amit: The selectors did not pick Robin earlier because we had Kapil, we had others who they wanbted to try, he had failed in WI, and above all, they make some truly peculiar selections anyway. So it is that Robin finally gets a real chance only at 33.

Amit>> Yeah, I thought it was a bit much that he was picked to debut against the outstanding Windies team in the Carribbean. He failed, and has never even been mentioned after that. But then, even senior, established players failed on that tour. I would have thought he deserved another chance to come good. He's now 33, amazingly fit and fast yes but how much top flight cricket does he have in him now? As it is, he is much slower in pace than when I saw him in the TN league at his best.

Sekhar : We are different kinds of fielders because I play in a different era and the nature of the game has changed. Colin Bland never used to dive around but apparently he was very quick and his throw was extremely accurate. So I am honoured to be compared to Colin Bland.

Don : I think that any team playing in their home grounds are a difficult team to beat. Sri Lanka are the World champions and have changed the approach to one day cricket. Especially the batting in the first 15 overs. We never take any game lightly no matter who the opposition are because there are no easy games anymore. Test Cricket is seen as a war of attrition. The West Indies use a four man pace attack whereas the Indians and Sri Lankans will wear you down with their good spin bowlers.

Sorry Krishna,previous message intended for 3D.

Jonty: Which is the best ground in the world where you would love to field very often!!!

Mathew: We just take one game at a time and treat every game as a final. One day cricket is very unpredictable and it just depends who plays better on the day. We have already two trophies this year in one day tournaments (Sharjah & Kenya). So I don't think that you can say that we fail in all semi finals or finals!!.

War of attrition Jonty? Who are the most civilised teams you have played against? The guys who don't sledge, who don't cheat? Is there a lot of foul play in international cricket these days?

Jonty>> Do you field mostly at point and squareleg/mid wicket because that is where you like to be, or because the captain wants you there?

Jonty, Surely Pat Symcox is not as fast as you. so how do you plan your running between the wickets with a slower runner?

Probably he is taking a break... Jonty>>tell me are you still tired after yesterday's match? Is a one day match very mentally and physically draining? How much so? I am sure it is

when are you gonna marry or are you already married to CRICKET

JONTY seeing that you're so superfit could you give us a few tips on fitness? I'm sure you must have noticed the men in India desperately need your advice, nothing too taxing mind you, just a few simple techniques for staying slim and athletic.

Who has been the inspiration for your cricket career? Nurtured it through its formative years...

Jonty, Surely Pat Symcox is not as fast as you. so how do you plan your running between the wickets with a slower runner?

Cecil R : I was brought up by very open minded parents who are both teachers. My mother has taught at a private school for many years which has a mixed race. So we were brought up to treat everyone as e euals.

Krishna : India used the conditions very well and although Kumble took 4 wickets with some really good bowling Prasad was very difficult to score runs off.

Hello, Jonty. This is Binny John from B'lore. I have seen and heard much about you. You are admired all over the world for your outstanding fielding which helps S.Africa immensely. God has blessed you with this talent. All glory to him. I am very happy that you witness to his Son Jesus. Keep it up as you are faithful to the command of Jesus - "You Shall be my witnesses .... all over the world".

PREM pls make Jonty answer my question.

Hi Jonty! What do you think of Indian women?? Would you you ever consider having a black girlfriend? Or is that still not a done thing in S Africa??

Jonty, Answer this question if you want to. I read somewhere that you suffer from bouts of epilepsy. Is it true?

Ms Piggy>> I'd love to see someone 'make' Jonty do something! *grin* Hey, relax, there's so much coming at him all at once - in the field, he only has to concentrate on one ball at a time, remember? This is like, 50 people chucking 50 balls in 50 directions and expecting him to stop them all!

Jonty: since you mentioned Prasad was very difficult to score off, what do you think has happened to Srinath? He got just one wkt in the whole tournament. Was he unlucky, is he having a bad patch or is he fading?

when are you gonna marry or are you already married to CRICKET

Ms Piggy : Very funny!! Our side is very professional in it's approcah to the game. And we have a fitness specialist who keeps us on our toes. We all realise that Cricket is more than just a game these days. It is a career and if you want to get ahead of the rest you have to be prepared to put in extra effort. Not just in your cricketing skills but also in your fitness. We dont follow a set programme, we just train whenever we get the opportunity in between matches.

Cover point : I field there mainly because it is a very busy area. I like to be involved in the action and would get very bored anywhere else.

Malik : I have been married for the last 2 and a half years to my wife and in the last 4 and a half years to cricket!!. My wife is very patient and understanding and comes on tours whenever she gets the chance.

Thanks Jonty For answering my question I am mathew, now am in a different login name bcos i had to shut down my system for some time.. Jonty that is teh reason why cricket is one of the loveliest games one day the game will be one way the other day it will be entirely different dont you think so..

Jonty, sporting of you to say that:) What's the story with Brett Schultz by the way? Still injured? You guys seem to have an endless supply of fast bowlers:)

Jonty: We have heard that you also play hockey, At what position do you play?

What do you think of Indian women??

PREM I asked Jonty's advice for Indian men! He's talking about something else.

when are you gonna marry or are you already married to CRICKET

Is the chat still on? Hi Jonty!! How r ya?

Jonty, What do you yhink of the practice of the home teams preparing pitches to match their strengths? do you think it is fair?

When one sees you on the field, one instantly knows-- don't ask me how! -- that you were brought up well. What is life like for a cricketer in SA? Are you treated like the superstar you are? Do you know you are a superstar? How do you cope with fame? Can you cope with life when the glory fades?

Photograph: Jewella Miranda