Jonty Rhodes is a South African professional cricket coach, commentator and former Test and One Day International cricketer. Jonty Rhodes was born on 27 July 1969 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province, South Africa.
Jonty Rhodes was especially noted for his defensive fielding, particularly catching, ground fielding, and throwing from his most common position of backward point. A report prepared by Cricinfo in late 2005 showed that since the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he had effected the ninth-highest number of run outs in ODI cricket of any fieldsman, with the third-highest success rate.
Jonty Rhodes made his Test debut against India in the first Test of the “Friendship Tour” at his home ground in Kingsmead, Durban on 13 November 1992, scoring 41 in the first innings and 26 not out in the second.
He also represented South Africa at hockey, and was chosen as part of the 1992 Olympic Games squad to go to Barcelona; however, the squad did not qualify to go to the tournament. He was also called up for trials to play in the 1996 Olympics but was ruled out by a hamstring injury. Currently Jonty Rhodes is working as a fielding coach in the South African national cricket team and ,he is currently the fielding coach for Kings XI Punjab at 13th season of Indian Premier League.
He is also a Popular Motivational Speaker who inspires audiences by sharing some of the valuable principles he has used and learnt to apply throughout his career as one of the world’s best cricketers. Through his motivational Talks Jonty Rhodes inspires audiences to cultivate a mindset of success, and remaining Fit not only in body but mind.
Jonty Rhodes was voted 29th in the “Top 100 Great South Africans”, and he was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1999.