Jonty Rhodes in race for India’s fielding coach

It’s a season for employment in Indian cricket as top coaching positions of the country’s national side are up for the grabs. The support staff members have come under the scanner following the Men in Blue’s shock exit from the cricket World Cup in England recently and a number of past cricketers have applied for the coaching posts. Former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, a fielding legend in his own right during his playing days, has applied for the position of the team’s fielding coach.

Jonty Rhodes, who will turn 50 in a few days’ time, played 52 Tests and 245 ODIs for his country between 1992 and 2003 and scored over 8,000 runs. However, more than his batting, Rhodes was known for his predator-like fielding in the gully and point areas and was touted as an all-rounder for his run-saving capacity.

He once had won the Man of the Match award because of fielding and also served as the fielding coach of South Africa and the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He also had a coaching stint with Kenya. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, Rhodes has expressed interest to become India’s fielding coach. He is believed to have applied for the fielding coach’s position.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited applications for the head coach; batting, bowling and fielding coaches; physiotherapist; strength and conditioning coach as well as administrative manager. The deadline for sending in applications is July 30.

R Sridhar has done a decent job

R Sridhar is India’s current fielding coach. He has been credited for improving India’s fitness standards. He has developed a method of judging a player on the ball-to-ball basis and is a strong contender to retain the job. As the BCCI is receiving the applications, the current coaching team will visit the West Indies with the national side for a month-long tour since it has been given a 45-day extension till the replacements are put in place.

India, however, have not done too badly under the current coaching staff members. They won their maiden ODI series in South Africa; T20I series in England and Test series in Australia in the past one and a half year. They also beat New Zealand in an ODI series besides winning the Asia Cup.