“I’ve always had great respect for the Sri Lankan team’s fielding.” Jonty Rhodes who is on a ten day coaching stint on fielding opened the press conference at the R.Premadasa Stadium today.
“What sets them apart from India is there (India) it is most of the time forwards and backwards. Only one sport that most of the guys play, that is cricket. Here there is talk about rugby, football. So here most of the guys are athletes” he talked about the versatility of the Sri Lankan players.
Sri Lanka Cricket acquired the services of the legendary cricketer after what many thought was a dismal fielding performance in the recently concluded World Cup.
“I was surprised to have gotten the call to come here and work with Sri Lanka,” he said leaving those present wondering why.
“I am training here under match intensity. I haven’t seen that lack of consistency in the fielding (In World Cup),” Rhodes added saying that his main focus is match intensity training which would hugely improve the standards of fielding.
Rhodes also mentioned that it is mostly up to the player mentality and fitness which makes the approach to fielding easier.
“In a team there are above average fielders and there are not so keen players but I show them their full potential, what they are capable of if they are willing. If they can get to the ball I can teach them to catch it. If the guys can’t get there it is not my job, it is the fitness coach or somebody else’s job.”
The South African legend talked about the situations during matches where coaches have little or no control over to rectify and that it is all up to the player to make it right.
“The most difficult thing for a fielding coach is once the players step over the boundary there is nothing you can really do, so the work is in the buildup to the tournament or series.” No matter how much a coach tells there won’t be any difference “unless the player wants to do.”
“You can be a great motivator but it is difficult if the player isn’t interested. Ricky Ponting who has won World Cups all over the place couldn’t get consistency from us (Mumbai Indians). No matter who the coaching staff is, the player needs to deliver that.
“You can tell them in the nicest way or the hardest way. Each player is different. Man management is key. Once the game has started, I know there is nothing I can do as a coach. That is where match intensity practice is important.”
Rhodes put emphasis on fielding technique with regard to stopping, throwing and catching. It is not just for ODI or T20, Test cricket is just as important. He further added that correct fielding like batting and bowling should be taught at a younger age.
“Cricket is a habit whether it is batting bowling or fielding. U19 players adapt quickly compared to the seniors because they haven’t gotten into a habit of doing things for long periods of time.”
Rhodes was impressed with the facilities the Sri Lankan players are having and had no doubt they can be one of the best fielding teams in the world.
“From what I have seen, has reinforced the impression that I’ve always had about Sri Lankan fielding; that they are a bunch of players who certainly are athletes and with a little bit of tweaking of technique from a catching and throwing point of view there is no reason why they can’t be one of the best fielding teams in the world.”
