JONTY RHODES BIOGRAPHY
| FULL NAME | Jonathan Neil Rhodes |
| NICKNAME | the Maritzburg mamba |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province (now KwaZulu-Natal), South Africa |
| BORN | July 27, 1969 |
| HEIGHT | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| EYE COLOUR | Blue |
| JERSEY NO. | 18 |
| BATTING STYLE | Right-Hand Bat |
| BOWLING STYLE | Right arm Medium |
| TEAM | South Africa |
| IPL | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) |
| ROLE | Batsman |
| DAUGHTER | Daniella Rhodes |
| FATHER | Digby Rhodes |
| MOTHER | Tish Rhodes |
| BROTHER | Clinton Rhodes |
| WIFE | Melanie Wolf |
| CHILDREN | India Jeanne Jonty Rhodes (born April 23, 2015) , Nathan John Rhodes (born May 21, 2017) |
| ZODIAC SIGN | Leo |
| HOBBIES | Workout, Travelling, Singing, Dancing |
| SCHOOL | Golf , Travel , Swimming in the, river Ganga Performing cultural rituals |
| JONTY RHODES’S INSTAGRAM | @jontyrhodes8 |
| JONTY RHODES’S FACEBOOK | @Jonty Rhodes |
| JONTY RHODES’S TWITTER | @JontyRhodes8 |
JONTY RHODES’S NEWS
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JONTY RHODES BIO
Jonty Rhodes is a highly regarded former South African cricketer, celebrated for his revolutionary fielding skills. He was a right-handed middle-order batsman who played for the South African national team from 1992 to 2003. Rhodes was particularly known for his exceptional catching, ground fielding, and throwing from the backward point position, earning him the reputation as one of the greatest fielders of all time.
He was the first South African cricketer to take 100 ODI catches. Beyond his playing career, he has transitioned into a successful coaching and commentary role, notably serving as a fielding coach for various T20 franchises and national teams. He also represented South Africa at hockey and was selected for the 1992 Olympic Games squad, though the team did not qualify.
MELANIE & JONTY RHODES
He married Kate McCarthy, a niece of former South African Test cricketer Cuan McCarthy, on 16 April 1994 in Pietermaritzburg. The couple have two children: a daughter, Daniella, and a son, Ross. The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2013, after Rhodes left his wife for photographer Caroline McClelland in 2009. He and McClelland were then engaged until he broke the engagement to marry architect Melanie Wolf in October 2014.
In April 2015, Rhodes’ second wife, Melanie (now a yoga teacher) gave birth in Mumbai to their daughter named India. The inspiration for her name came from India’s rich mix of culture, heritage, and tradition. Rhodes has forged a bond with the country, leading to a spiritual awakening. Rhodes has described his special affiliation with the river Ganga and shared his experience of swimming in the river on social media. In 2017, Jonty performed a puja for his daughter at Pejawar Mutt in Mumbai. A regular visitor to India, Jonty and Melanie’s second child, Nathan, was born in India in 2017.
JONTY RHODES DEBUT IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
- ODI – February 12, 2003, South Africa vs Kenya at Potchefstroom
- Test – August 06 – 10, 2000, Sri Lanka vs South Africa at Colombo (SSC)
JONTY RHODES CRICKET & MORE
- Domestic/IPL Franchise – Lucknow Super Giants
JONTY RHODES RECORDS
- First South African to take 100 ODI catches
- World record for most dismissals by a fielder (non-wicketkeeper) in a single match: 5 catches vs. West Indies, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, November 14, 1993
- Ninth-highest number of run-outs in ODI cricket since the 1999 World Cup, with the third-highest success rate
- 139 international catches (105 ODI, 34 Test)
JONTY RHODES AWARDS
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year, 1999
- Voted 29th in the Top 100 Great South Africans, SABC3’s Great South Africans series, 2004
- 15 Player of the Match awards in ODIs
JONTY RHODES CONTROVERSIES
- Injury and Retirement: Dropped a catch during the 2003 World Cup against Kenya, resulting in a broken hand, which led to his withdrawal from the tournament and eventual ODI retirement
- Personal Life: Divorce from Kate McCarthy in 2013 after leaving her for Caroline McClelland in 2009; later married Melanie Wolf in 2014
JONTY RHODES’S VIDEO
JONTY RHODES PHOTOS GALLERY
FAQs about VIRAT KOHLI.
He named his daughter India Jeanne Rhodes to honor India’s rich culture, heritage, and diversity, reflecting his deep connection to the country.
His diving run-out of Inzamam-ul-Haq during the 1992 World Cup against Pakistan at Brisbane, considered a defining moment in his career.
Yes, he was selected for South Africa’s hockey squad for the 1992 Olympics (did not qualify) and was called for trials for the 1996 Olympics but was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.