The 2003 Cricket World Cup, hosted in South Africa, was filled with excitement, upsets, and unfortunately, controversies. Amidst thrilling victories and stunning individual performances, off-field incidents often overshadowed the cricket itself. One such incident involved Jonty Rhodes during the South Africa versus Kenya match.
Jonty Rhodes, known for his exceptional fielding skills, faced an unfortunate incident during the 2003 World Cup.
The Drop Catch
During South Africa's match against Kenya at Potchefstroom, Jonty Rhodes dropped a catch, and in the process broke his right hand. While South Africa mauled Kenya by 10 wickets, Rhodes's World Cup was over. Despite the low score by Kenya, South Africa let some catches go down in the field with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and captain Shaun Pollock dropping two each, and Jonty Rhodes dropping a really tough one.
It was a disappointing innings by Kenya, after captain Steve Tikolo won the toss and elected to bat on a very hard and barren pitch.
The Aftermath and Impact
When the television cameras lingered on the broken hand that forced him out of the tournament, they caught sight of his religious bracelet - the one that states What Jesus Wants on one side and offers a memorium to Cronje's death on the other.
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Quite how Rhodes' Christian philosophy squares with celebrating the memory of a corrupt figure in cricket's match-rigging scandal has never been explained, but it is fair to assume that there will be an awful lot of talk about the forgiveness of sins.
Dedicating the World Cup to Hansie Cronje was a particularly grubby start to South Africa's campaign, so it is with a certain amount of glee that it must be observed that two of Cronje's most loyal supporters have had a particularly rough time of it. Jonty Rhodes was the first.
At South Africa's World Cup training camp in the Drackensburg mountains, Rhodes confided: "For me this World Cup is going to be extra special and there's an extra special person I'd like to dedicate it to." Asked if that person was Cronje, Rhodes and Donald both nodded.
Other Controversies and Events During the 2003 World Cup
The 2003 World Cup was riddled with other controversies and significant events:
- Shane Warne's Suspension: Australia would be allowed to replace Shane Warne, even if his B sample tests positive for diuretics as well.
- England's Withdrawal from Zimbabwe: England officially pulled out of their game with Zimbabwe on safety grounds.
- Flower and Olonga's Protest: The ICC found Andy Flower and Henry Olonga not guilty of bringing the game into disrepute for wearing black armbands against Namibia to mourn the "death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe".
- ICC vs. Indian Players: The ICC threatened India with severe action over ambush-marketing after seven of their players were involved in adverts for Samsung, a rival of LG Electronics, one of the World Cup's official sponsors.
These events, along with Jonty Rhodes' injury, contributed to a World Cup filled with drama both on and off the field.
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South Africa maul Kenya by 10 wickets at Potchefstroom ... But Jonty Rhodes's World Cup is over after he breaks his right hand while dropping a catch.
The Spin once witnessed a prominent former England player drop his trousers to the horror of the assembled dinner guests, and wishes it had been in Paarl to see Sonn do the same.
One unfortunate by-product of South Africa's superb jamboree of politics and scandal is that the cricket keeps rearing its ugly head.
The Week in Cricket
Andrew Symonds blasts 143* as Australia hammer Pakistan by 82 runs at Johannesburg ... The Pakistan wicketkeeper, Rasid Latif, is reported to the ICC for an alleged racist remark to Adam Gilchrist towards the end of the game, but is later cleared ... He briefly threatens to sue the entire Australian team, but peace is eventually made ... Canada surprise Bangladesh with a 20-run victory at Durban ... England officially pull out of their game with Zimbabwe on safety grounds ... Holland bowl India out for 204 but lose their Group A game at Paarl by 68 runs ... South Africa maul Kenya by 10 wickets at Potchefstroom ... But Jonty Rhodes's World Cup is over after he breaks his right hand while dropping a catch ... ICC rule that England's new evidence about the dangers of playing in Zimbabwe is not enough to justify moving the game ... Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the Indian cricket board, suggests England should be docked four points, but ICC later confine their initial punishment to awarding the points to Zimbabwe ... New Zealand keep their hopes alive with a 20-run win over West Indies at Port Elizabeth ... ICC find Andy Flower and Henry Olonga not guilty of bringing the game into disrepute for wearing black armbands against Namibia to mourn the "death of democracy in our beloved Zimbabwe" ... Chaminda Vaas takes a hat-trick with the first three balls of the match against Bangladesh and finishes with 6 for 25 to set up a 10-wicket win for Sri Lanka ... ICC threaten India with severe action over ambush-marketing after seven of their players were involved in adverts for Samsung, a rival of LG Electronics, one of the World Cup's official sponsors ... Tim Lamb reportedly apologises to Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, for aggressive comments said to have been made by Nasser Hussain during a meeting to discuss the security risks of playing in Harare ... Hussain later admits he will consider his future as England captain after the World Cup ... Australia dismiss India for 125 at Centurion en route to an easy nine-wicket win ... Irate fans back in India later throw oil and black paint at the middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif's house in Allahabad ... Kenya beat Canada by four wickets at Cape Town ... The ICC consider a detailed request from the New Zealand cricket board to have their game in Nairobi on February 21 against Kenya moved for security reasons ... England finally get under way with a six-wicket win over Holland at East London after four wickets for James Anderson ... Wasim Akram takes five wickets as Namibia crash to 42 for 9 on their way to a 171-run defeat against Pakistan at Kimberley ... Stephen Fleming's 134* stuns South Africa as New Zealand win a rain-affected game at Johannesburg ... Australia will be allowed to replace Shane Warne, even if his B sample tests positive for diuretics as well ... England's women bowl Australia out for 78, but still lose the first Test at Brisbane by five wickets ... The English umpires Peter Willey and Neil Mallender have decided not to stand in their games in Zimbabwe.
Here's how the second week of the World Cup shapes up ... Today: West Indies v Bangladesh, Benoni (8am GMT) ... Wednesday: Zimbabwe v India, Harare (7.30am) ... England v Namibia, Port Elizabeth (8am) ... Sri Lanka v Canada, Paarl (8am) ... Thursday: Australia v Holland, Potchefstroom (8am) ... Saturday: South Africa v Bangladesh, Bloemfontein (8am) ... England v Pakistan, Cape Town (12.30pm) ... Sunday: India v Namibia, Pietermaritzburg (8am) ... West Indies v Canada, Centurion (8am) ... Monday: Sri Lanka v Kenya, Nairobi (6.30am).
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In the first eight days of competition alone, we have seen two thrilling defeats for the home nation; several innings to warm the cockles (Brian Lara, Andrew Symonds, Sanath Jayasuriya, Herschelle Gibbs, Stephen Fleming, even Daan van Bunge); a theoretical act of giant-killing (Canada's win over Bangladesh); a hat-trick with the first three balls of a match; and - not to be sniffed at, this - an England victory.
But the on-field sideshow has been persistently eclipsed by events off it: Mrs Warne's pills, Jonty Rhodes's metacarpal, Nasser Hussain's turmoil, Percy Sonn's bingeing, Waqar Younis's beamers, Rashid Latif's threats, Charles Colvile's smugness.
Watch carefully, though, and something strange is happening. Because just as the intrigue begins to settle down, leaving centre-stage to the cricket, the fixture-list enters its least glamorous phase of the tournament.
Between now and February 26 - when England meet India - we can look forward to 15 games in which the result is in doubt in only two: Zimbabwe v India, and England v Pakistan. And even that's being charitable.
This World Cup has another problem: the utter dominance of Australia. While they have hammered Pakistan and India, their most credible challengers, South Africa, find themselves reliant on other results to avoid an early exit. Ten days in, and the result feels like a foregone conclusion.
The pecking order has been established far too early. Australia occupy the highest rung of the ladder. Next come New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan. Then South Africa, England and India. Then Zimbabwe. Then the rest.
What this competition needs is a serious upset. Over the next eight days there will be plenty of chances to get one.
JONTY RHODES ●TOP 5 ● IMPOSSIBLE CATCHES (Best Fielding Skills In Cricket [EVER]) (HD)
Herschelle Gibbs and the Cronje Controversy
Herschelle Gibbs, another South African cricketer, was also embroiled in controversies, particularly concerning his involvement with Hansie Cronje. Gibbs, who was banned for six months for his match-fixing involvement, made another damaging contribution while launching his autobiography in Johannesburg last week.
"Hansie's leadership skills made him the icon he was - we miss him," Gibbs said. "Shaun Pollock is quite new to being a captain and he obviously has a lot to learn."
This forced the South African board to address the canker in their midst. Gerald Majola, the board's chief executive, complained: "Some South Africa players should stop comparing the captaincy styles of Shaun Pollock and the late Hansie Cronje, and get on with winning World Cup matches."
Cronje's memory is revered by Afrikaners for his discipline and work ethic, his Christian faith and his resistance, when captain, to the imposition of a quota system intended to quicken the progress of blacks into the South African side.
Other judges are more damning. on Wednesday. Gibbs scored an unbeaten 87, including 12 fours and four sixes, as the South Africans reached their target in the 22nd over. Gary Kirsten was a touch more sedate, but he, too, scored a half-century, reaching 52 off 63 balls with nine fours.
It was pretty much over as a contest after Lance Klusener ripped out the heart of the Kenyan lower order as South Africa dismissed Kenya for 140 in 38 overs.
Gibbs and Kirsten were then dismissive in chasing down the very small victory target.
Gibbs was particularly severe on the Kenyan attack, which seemed unable to find a consistent line or length.
He took just 66 balls to reach his 83, and played shots all around the wicket. There were some edgy strokes in his innings, but he never looked in any danger of being dismissed.
Klusener, whose big hitting 57 against the West Indies took South Africa to within four runs of victory on the opening day, has struck form just at the right time, and he took four wickets for just 16 runs in eight tight overs.
But he signalled his intention to make a mark in the match earlier with a brilliant pick up and throw-in to run out KenyaÂs batting hero Ravindu Shah for 60.
ShahÂs innings was a gem as his teammates fell regularly around him. He reached his 50 off just 70 balls in a bright display of positive batting, and he had hit six fours at that point.
When he was out, he had faced 87 balls, and had added another boundary to his tally before he was sent back by Maurice Odumbe after hitting a sweet shot backward of square off Nicky Boje.
At least one pro-Cronje banner was waved at Goodyear Park. In these parts they still proclaim vehemently that Cronje was banned for life because the cricket authorities needed a scapegoat. He was forced to admit to a government inquiry, after initial evasion, that he took $130,000 (£81,000) in bribes from illegal bookmakers. He coerced other players, Gibbs among them, into rigging cricket matches. The fact that he never threw a game, just fiddled the details, is immaterial. A born-again Christian, he blamed it on Satan.
Cricketing friendships run deep, so when the South Africans wore black armbands in memory of Cronje in Morocco last year, there was an understandable sense of personal loss overpowering professional judgment. But the mood lingered.
Gibbs was involved in the match fixing affair with former captain Hansie Cronje, who offered him $15,000 to score "less than 20" in the 5th One-Day International of a series.[when?] He tearfully claimed to the King Commission of inquiry into corruption in South African cricket that he did not follow through on his side of the bargain, scoring 74 runs. As a result, he was banned for only six months. He repeatedly refused to tour India fearing arrest and refused to even speak to Indian Police over the matter.
On 15 January 2007, it was announced that Gibbs would face a disciplinary panel after making racist comments during the 1st Test against Pakistan. His words had been picked up on the stump microphone saying remarks such as "go back to the zoo" and swearing to the Pakistani players and as a result heard across the world. The comments were said to have been directed at the members of the crowd after teammate Paul Harris had been abused by them whilst fielding. The Pakistani management made an official complaint to referee Chris Broad and Gibbs was banned for two Tests.[26] He appealed against the ban but this was rejected by the ICC's code of conduct commissioner, Richie Benaud. The ban was, however, changed to one Test, one Twenty20 game and one ODI match â all against Pakistan.
Herschelle Herman Gibbs (born 23 February 1974) is a South African cricket coach and former cricketer, who played all formats of the game for fourteen years.
Gibbs was schooled at St Joseph's Marist College and then Diocesan College in Rondebosch. At Diocesan College Gibbs played for their First Rugby XV in the same team alongside Robbie Fleck, Selborne Boome and Dave von Hoesslin who would all go on to become Springboks.
Gibbs has scored two double centuries in his Test career, both contrasting innings. His first was an innings of 211 not out against New Zealand at Jade Stadium in 1999. His innings took 468 balls while his second double century, 228 against Pakistan came off just 240 balls. In that innings in Newlands, he reached a national record partnership of 368 with Graeme Smith.
Gibbs famously dropped a catch in a World Cup game against Australia in 1999, when he attempted to throw the ball up into the air in celebration before he had full control of it. The player that he dropped, Steve Waugh, went on to make a century and win the game for Australia, a victory which also gave the Australian side the momentum they required to go on and win the tournament. It was claimed at the time that, immediately after the dropped catch, Waugh had "sledged" Gibbs with the statement, "You've just dropped the World Cup", but, in his autobiography Out of My Comfort Zone, Waugh denies this.
Gibbs is one of only ten batsmen in ODI history to score hundreds in three consecutive innings, the others being Zaheer Abbas, Saeed Anwar, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, Ross Taylor, Kumar Sangakkara, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. Sangakkara became the only player to hit four consecutive ODI hundreds, during 2015 cricket world cup.[8] On 6 October 2002, in Potchefstroom, in a match against Bangladeshis, Gibbs had a chance to become the first ever batsman to score four hundreds in a row. South Africa was set the target of 155 for victory, and Gibbs fell just three runs short, finishing unbeaten on 97.
On 12 March 2006, Gibbs played a monumental innings in the 5th ODI against Australia, scoring 175 off just 111 balls leading South Africa to victory.[10] He was batting with Graeme Smith after Boeta Dippenaar was out on 1(3) bowled by Nathan Bracken. This was the highest scoring One Day International match in history and his innings broke several batting records. It was the highest ever score made in an ODI against Australia, beating Robin Smith's effort in 1993. By bringing up his hundred off just 79 balls, he also brought up what was at the time the fastest ever ODI century against Australia. More importantly however, it was the fastest ever hundred by a South African batsman against any opposition, although the record would be broken later in the year by Mark Boucher.[11] It was also the highest ever score by a batsman in South Africa.
In the match against the Netherlands in the group stage of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Gibbs hit six sixes in an over off the bowling of Daan van Bunge becoming the first player in One Day International history to do so.[13][14] Ravi Shastri and Sir Garfield Sobers had previously achieved this feat in first-class cricket but to date no player has achieved this in Test Cricket.
In the past two series against England and the West Indies he was brought down the order from the opening batsman to the middle order due to lack of form. On 22 April 2006, Gibbs paid the price for his recent run-drought, and was dropped for the second and third Tests against the New Zealand cricket team. He has been short of confidence in Test cricket of late, and scored only 6 and 2 in the First Test at Centurion Park. He came back into the side in the middle order but continued to struggle for runs. On the conclusion of the 1st Test against Pakistan in January 2007 he had gone over 2 years without scoring a century.
In April 2009, his sixteen One Day International innings since the March 2008 one-day series in Bangladesh having yielded just three fifties, even Stuart Hess, his most ardent media supporter, was moved to cast doubt over his future. After being dropped from the side Gibbs stated that he wanted to perform well in the domestic cup and that he was feeling well about it.
In the 2011/12 season the Perth Scorchers signed Gibbs for their campaign in the Australian Big Bash League. Gibbs did a brilliant job for the team so much so that they made it to the final. He was the third highest run scorer. He scored 302 runs in 7 matches with an average of 43.14.
In April 2008, Herschelle Gibbs joined the Deccan Chargers of the Indian Premier League. His mediocre performance in 2008 season made the Chargers' management put him on sale. However, he came up with splendid knocks in the second season helping the Deccan Chargers ahead with four continuous wins in their first four matches. Of all the openers, Adam Gilchrist and Gibbs have been the most explosive pair. He also played a crucial role in the finals by scoring an unbeaten 53 (48 balls) in the final when Adam Gilchrist went out for a duck. His top score is 69* (56) v Chennai Super Kings.
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