Kenya's fielding coach Jonty Rhodes impressed by team's work ethic

Jonty Rhodes is the legendary South African who fastened 'the athlete' to the cricketer. His arrival in international cricket changed a cricketer's perception towards fielding and the significance of fitness levels in the sport.

Rhodes, who is Kenya's fielding coach for the ongoing World Cup, drew comparisons of his own humble beginnings with that of the African nation.

"I know what Kenya is going through, because I started playing cricket at the low end of the budget scale, the income was very low those days. However, my enthusiasm and passion for cricket was really high. That's how I started playing cricket, and that's what I see with this Kenyan team.

"The sort of work ethic I have seen in this team is phenomenal. Obviously, you get a lot of perks as a Test-playing nation, but Kenya shouldn't be taken lightly at this World Cup. I have spent a lot of time with them at the Global Cricket Academy in Dubai, and have seen what they are capable of," he said.u00a0

Rhodes said that Kenya is one of the best fielding outfits at the World Cup. "There are guys in this team who are capable of winning Olympic medals in the 800m.

Teaching them to catch is easy, they are outstanding athletes, and I am expecting them to put up a great show." Kenya's win over a power-packed West Indies side in 1996 which is forever etched in World Cup folklore was primarily a result of outstanding fielding from Maurice Odumbe's outfit.

"Another advantage for Kenya is they are used to this weather these conditions. We did really well in the warm-up games. Two of our batsmen scored tons, one in Colombo, and the other in Dubai. Kenya will cause an impact in this World Cup," he signed off.