Is Jonty Rhodes the best fielder International Cricket has seen ?

[OverratedSanity]

Thinking about this further, I think the fielding is what sets ODI's apart from the other two formats. For mine there was nothing better than watching Australia in the field in the late 90's-early 00's in home ODI's with Ponting, Bevan, Symonds, Clarke, MWaugh etc fielding, particularly when they fielded second as the light was fading.

Yeah, they really were outstanding. Starsports was showing highlights of Tendulkar's hundred in the cb series final of 2008, and even more impressive than Tendulkar's knock was Australia's all round fielding that day. They saved atleast 40-50 runs. No joke.

Oh yeah and inb4tendulkarhighjacksallthreads

 

[NickDB]

Yes I'd rate Jonty as one of the best.

I rate 10 to 30 runs saved per match via ground fielding more important than safe hands.

 

[smash84]

I actually remember mahanama dropping a few simple ones.

For me, the top 5 of the generation are Ponting, Jonty, Symonds, Harper and maybe de Villiers

The occasional drops will always be there by even the very best fielders. I remember Mark Waugh dropping some chances and Jonty as well but the vast majority of times these guys would be friggin outstanding.

 

[OverratedSanity]

The occasional drops will always be there by even the very best fielders. I remember Mark Waugh dropping some chances and Jonty as well but the vast majority of times these guys would be friggin outstanding.

Didn't Waugh drop three in a match once?
That was surreal

 

[Prince EWS]

Probably fair to say Rhodes is up there as the greatest fielder in ODIs, although as pointed out the likes of Symonds and Gibbs were pretty worth challengers.

In Tests though it's all about catching IMO, and slips fielders obviously have the best chance of contributing in that area. Mark Waugh probably the best I've seen, but I was relatively young and not an obsessive cricket fan during his career (particularly his prime) so I may just be a victim of the old rose coloured glasses there.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Easily in the top 10 and probably in the top 5. Don't think anyone can say categorically who the best is/was as different people have different opinions about what made them great. How can you compare a great slip fielder with a backward point etc...

All you can say is that Jonty was brilliant at what he did and made fielding fun to watch.

 

[Daemon]

Why are batsmen in general better fielders than bowlers? Is there more to it than the greater need for a faster reaction time and hand eye coordination for batsmen?

 

[smash84]

Probably because batsmen can afford to throw themselves around in the field more than bowlers

 

[MW1304]

There will be lots of factors that add up to the whole, i'd imagine, with that being one of the main ones. There's also the fact that the physical exertion of fast bowling doesn't exactly lend itself to jumping and diving around the field. It would be interesting to know why many of those who bowl at the highest level don't fit the perception of someone 'athletic' in the most basic visual sense.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Probably because batsmen can afford to throw themselves around in the field more than bowlers

Yeah not many bowlers are great in the field, Anderson is an exception to that but can't think of many other fast bowlers who were. Been a few spinners who are very good in the slip cordon I guess.

 

[DingDong]

Yes I'd rate Jonty as one of the best.

I rate 10 to 30 runs saved per match via ground fielding more important than safe hands.

when u say jonty had poor hands do u mean he dropped a lot of catches compared to ponting? his versatality as a fielder is the thing ponting has in his favor so far from what i've read in this thread

 

[centurymaker]

Ponting > Jonty IMO.

He'd hit the stumps down every game.

 

[robelinda]

Ponting for me is the best ever, Jonty just was no match for Punter in terms of hitting the stumps. Jonty was amazing at stopping balls, but Punter would get you more wickets with run outs and freakish catches in ANY position, in any format of the game.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

It's pretty close, I've normally gone with Symonds, but Ponting was good anywhere in the field. Jonty was good fun to watch too though, amazing athleticism.
All in all though you can only field in one spot at any time so I'll give it to short square leg specialist with short square legs, Boony.

 

[Riggins]

Ponting.

 

[NickDB]

when u say jonty had poor hands do u mean he dropped a lot of catches compared to ponting? his versatality as a fielder is the thing ponting has in his favor so far from what i've read in this thread

Didn't say Jonty had poor hands, just think that Ponting, M Waugh and others had safer. I just rate consistently saving 10 to 30 runs and catching 90% of your chances is better than saving less runs but taking higher % of catches.

Ground fielding is more important than catching in a career IMO.

 

[Riggins]

I hold the exact opposite view.

 

[Riggins]

I would also like to point out how I feel like there is an enormous difference between guys who take chances vs. the guys who create chances out of nothing. That's what really separates the geniuses in the field.


Edit: An no Jonty isn't in the latter category.

 

[smash84]

What? You are saying Jonty didn't create chances out of nothing?

 

[Riggins]

not at the level of a ponting or devilliers.