Jonty Rhodes talked about outpouring of condolences for Wadekar

Former South Africa cricketer

Jonty Rhodes said today that the spontaneous outpouring of

condolence messages for former Test captain Ajit Wadekar, who

died here yesterday, was unique to Indian cricket.

"Ajit Wadekar was a game changer in the way he led India

to Test victories overseas. This incredible outpouring of

condolences (on his death) is unique to Indian cricket which

is a tight knit community. It does not happen elsewhere," said

Rhodes after he was announced here as the brand ambassador for

ISUZU pick-up vehicles in the country.

Wadekar, who died aged 77, had led the country to its

first-ever Test series triumphs away from home against the

West Indies and England in 1971 to make the year a landmark

one for Indian cricket.

Rhodes, who has been the fielding coach for three-time

IPL-winning outfit Mumbai Indians, felt that India have missed

the services of their fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and

Jasprit Bumrah who did so well in his own native country in

the Test series held there late last season.

"India came so close to a victory in South Africa but

they have been missing two key bowlers who did well in that

series - Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah (due to injuries) in England,"

said the 49-year-old Natal born former cricketer who had

represented his country in 52 Tests and 245 ODIs between 1992

and 2003.

India are 0-2 down in the five-Test series in England

and have also dropped a few catches in the slip cordon over

the last few years in overseas conditions.

Rhodes, considered to be among the best-ever fielders

ever seen in the game with his tiger-like coverage of the

cover-point area, said there was a basic difference between

taking slip catches in India and in countries like South

Africa and England.

"In India the catches come at or below knee level and

the fingers have to be pointed towards the ground while taking

them. In England, Australia and South Africa it's the reverse

(fingers should be pointing up as the ball comes well above

the knee). You can't change old habits in six weeks," was his

explanation.

However, he also felt that the Indian fielding standards

have improved due to the IPL.

"Fielding of Indian players has improved because of IPL.

You can see this by the fact that initially out of the top ten

catches in the league eight used to be by overseas players.

Now a lot of Indians are in this list of top catchers."

He also advised the South African cricket authorities

not to seek a like-for-like replacement for their recently

retired top-notch player, A B de Villiers.

"A lot of players come and go away. You should not try

to replace de Villiers. South Africa need to play to their

core strength," he remarked.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)