Rhodes heads home to coach own side

Durban: South Africa have appointed fielding superstar Jonty Rhodes as ODI specialist coach to help in their preparations for the 2007 World Cup.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola said Rhodes' inclusion in the team management was part of a larger strategic plan targetting the quadrennial event in the West Indies in March-April next year.

"The strategic plan is aimed at leaving no stone unturned in order to give the Proteas the very best preparation available," Majola said.

"We will be using all the expertise at our disposal in this plan. For instance, we have added Rhodes to the Proteas management team as an ODI specialist from now until after the World Cup."

Rhodes will work in tandem with Convenor of Selectors Haroon Lorgat, national coach Micky Arthur, captain Graeme Smith, Professional Cricket General Manager Vince can der Bijl and Majola.

The announcement means Rhodes, who has been associated with Pakistan in a limited way recently, will return to his home country for a long term association.

Majola also annoucned a 25-man training squad and a 16-man squad for the Emerging Players' tournament in Australia.

Rhodes, 36, hit the headlines with his stunning run out dismissal of Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq in the 1992 World Cup.

In an 11-year international career, the Natal-born player scored 2532 runs in Tests and 5935 in One-Dayers.

But he was known better for his energetic fielding which transformed the limited overs game in the 90s.

In 52 Tests, he grabbed 34 catches and plucked 105 of them in 245 ODIs.

Of course, he effected numerous run outs.

Rhodes, however, saw his ODI career end in irony. A fielding injury cut short his participation in the 2003 World Cup in his home soil.