High flying Jonty Rhodes is 51 summers old now!

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

It had always been a spectacle to watch Jonty Rhodes in action. His acrobatic fielding and athletic sprinting made him one of the most sought after cricketers from South Africa after their readmission in international cricket in 1991. 

Indeed time has flown, as the high-flying Rhodes tweeted on his 51st birthday on July 27, as he received congratulatory messages from his friends and well-wishers living in different parts of the planet. 

"You not only redefined fielding in cricket but set standards that are hard to match even today. Happy birthday.my dear friend,” one of his illustrious contemporaries, Sachin Tendulkar of India, posted. 

“Hard to believe another year has flown by! Seems my days of flying are not done,” Rhodes responded while thanking the Indian batting great. 

Rhodes was also showered with such fascinating messages as ‘you are the only human being to have ever been found flying on the cricket field’ and ‘you are the inventor of Fielding in modern cricket.” 

Born on July 27, 1969, Rhodes has been regarded as one of the greatest fielders of all time and he was the first South African to take 100 catches in One-day Internationals. He is also remembered fondly for his reverse sweep shot which had brought him six delightful runs.