First Donald, Now Jonty?

Following fresh from the news that South African fast bowling legend, Alan Donald, was to be appointed as England's bowling consultant, comes the news that England are to approach another South African cricket legend, Jonty Rhodes, to be their fielding coach.

Donald is to join England on a 5 week consultancy basis, during the remainder of the West Indies series, and will then have his situation reassessed, and could be given the job full time. It now seems that new England coach, Peter Moores, is to move quickly in offering Jonty Rhodes the post as fielding coach. This would see Rhodes join the new coaching team of Moore's, former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower as his number 2, and Alan Donald as the bowling coach. Showing that Moore's wants the best men for the job and not necessarily the best English man.

The first man approached for the job as fielding coach was Trever Penney, who had worked with England in the past, but he turned the job down and took up a position with Western Australia. Rhodes, who had been working with the South African team, was only contracted up until the World Cup, and as he has not been offered, or asked for, a new contract from South Africa, Moores has identified him as the man for England.

Unless South Africa take these reports as a warning and tie down their man to a new contract, they could again lose one of their best assets to another international team. Although always seen as one of the best fielding teams in the world, Rhodes has been credited with lifting the bar again as South Africa have enjoyed fantastic fielding performances during the duration of his work with them.