The run out which brought fielding onto the map - Opinion
Fielding for the most part of mid 19th century was considered to be a secondary venture and less important as compared to the other departments of batting and bowling. The Indians for example, considered fielding to be conducted by the lower class
in their rigid social hierarchy. Even before partition, the Maharajas were expected to bat and bowl without any fear of catching the ball or saving the runs. Perhaps that tradition is still reflected in the state of fielding that is witnessed in the Indian
cricket team today. For their neighbors Pakistan, the harsh grounds with little grass covering meant that making an effort to stop the ball and diving to save runs bordered on the preposterous.
For South Africa however, fielding was their strength back then and continues to be. Since their readmission, no side barring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045, had come close to rivaling their tumbling saves and stunning catches. Their 1992
Cricket World Cup success, where they booked a semi final slot, was largely a product of their tight bowling and quality fielding in the inner ring and on the boundary. Yet the moment which rewrote the manner in which fielding was perceived and helped players
such as Jonty Rhodes become household names.
It was the fifth game in the tournament for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 which was against Pakistan at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. In a tight game, Pakistan was on course to overhauling a relatively modest total of 211 posted in fifty overs by the Proteas, in a rain delayed
encounter. Then came the turning point when the penny dropped. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brian-Mervin-McMillan-c48571 struck his pads. In normal circumstances that would have been an easy run, as a deflection off the pads slows
the pace of the ball as it reaches the fielder. Yet the then 22 year old Jonty Rhodes, who was known for his fielding antics before, went a step further by collecting the ball, rocketing himself towards the wicket and breaking the stumps to leave Inzamam short
of his ground. The result was utter shock for Inzamam and Pakistan as his side eventually fell short by 20 runs according to the Duckworth Lewis Method. Not many had witnessed such a dismissal before, yet it strangled Pakistan to the point of losing the game
convincingly in the end. The victim who was on 48 prior to being dismissed was expected to guide his side home, but fell agonizingly short of achieving his objective.
That run out was one of the highlights of the tournament and brought http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jonathan-Neil-Rhodes-c69150 into the lime light. Since the 1999 Cricket World Cup, Rhodes had affected the ninth highest number of run outs in the one day format for any fieldsman. Fielding drastically
improved from that tournament onwards as successive World Cups witnessed tumbling catches and breath taking saves. Rhodes' relics were reignited by fielders such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bermuda-c2853, whose tumbling catch of
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 began to believe that without fielding properly, games could easily be won or lost. To be honest, that is precisely how it should be.
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