Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, who is regarded as one of the best fielders to have graced the cricket field, on Saturday broke his silence to what the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) and selection committee, which was headed by MSK Prasad at that time, told him after he applied for the role of fielding coach of the Indian cricket team in 2019. Rhodes while answering to a question by a fan on social media platform Twitter revealed what was said to him by the Prasad-led selection committee after his application didn’t even make the cut.
“@JontyRhodes8 Why you haven’t become the Fielding coach for @BCCI Indian cricket team ?????” the fan asked Rhodes. Reacting to the question, the former South African cricketer wrote: “They said “no thanks”.
While the straightforward response by Rhodes comes as a surprise to many as he is regarded as one of the finest fielders of all-time and a superb coach, the reply by the selection committee did upset a few fans as they supported Rhodes by commenting on his post.
Earlier, MSK Prasad had said that Rhodes application was more for India A and National Cricket Academy level. “We don’t see Jonty (Rhodes) fitting in there (choice Nos 2 and 3) because those roles are more for India A level and NCA,” Prasad had said.
Rhodes had earlier said that Sridhar got the advantage as he has worked with the current crop of players while lauding the efforts made by the Indian fielders in recent times. “I am sure my interview was not as good as the one with the incumbent coach because he has been there for the last couple of years. Players have definitely worked with a plan. And you can see the progress as it just doesn’t happen. I am expecting that from an interview point of view – he kicked my butt,” Jonty had said in an event in Chennai.
