Here’s to the Jonty and Ricky show

There are bumpy roads ahead for South African cricket. There is also Jonty Rhodes ahead for South African cricket – now that’s something to smile about.

I wonder how much of a difference ‘Jo’ would have made to the morale of the side in Australia. My guess is plenty. Over the next couple of weeks, when the white ball scramble gets under way, we will be able to sit back and assess how valuable he would have been.

By the way, the viewing times are much more sociable so you won’t be stumbling around the office like a zombie following your first ball wake up call from Ritchie Benaud.

SuperSport are going to add something a bit different to your cricket watching during this coming series – we will answer the often hotly debated question – who is the best fielder in the world.

There are obviously only two contenders for this crown, Jonty Rhodes or Ricky Ponting. Rhodes has continually stunned us over the years with his superhuman exploits and Ponting has, I’m sure, taken you breath away of late. Speak to an Aussie (me excluded) and they will shout till they’re blue in the face that Ricky is king yet any South African will quickly jump down your throat and proclaim Rhodes has no peer.

Well the gauntlet has been thrown down and the answer is nigh.

Here is how it will work.

During all one-day games between South Africa and Australia, both home and away over the next few months, these two enthralling fielders will go ‘head to head’.

SuperSport’s studio guest during the transmission will be responsible for objectively allotting points for various feats of fielding. For example, both will be rated on general ground fielding on a scale of 1 to 3. Meaning that every time they are in the game they will be allocated points as to their brilliance. A sensational stop will attract 3 points and a simple stop 1. Should the unthinkable happen and they misfield or grass a chance, points will be taken away. The same rule of thumb will apply to catching and run-outs but this time the incentive is more attractive. The working scale will be from 1 to 5.

Some points to remember are:

1. This ‘head to head’ only applies to games where both are playing in the same fixture.

2. This contest is over one-dayers in Australia and also the return fixtures in South Africa.

3. You will be regularly updated as to the ‘leaderboard’ during SuperSport’s coverage so why not get you pen and paper out and score the action as well.

4. All decisions by the studio guests are final.

5. This contest focuses only on their fielding exploits and does not reflect on their batting.

Here’s to the Jonty and Ricky show - you’ve got to watch it to believe it.