For decades, Jonty Rhodes has been synonymous with jaw-dropping fielding brilliance. The former South African cricketer revolutionised the art of fielding in the 90s, setting sky-high standards with his breathtaking agility and acrobatics. But now, even the fielding maestro himself is ready to tip his hat to a new contender — New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips.
With his sensational catches in the Champions Trophy, Phillips has sent cricket fans into a frenzy. His gravity-defying leaps dismissed top batters like Mohammad Rizwan, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, each catch more spectacular than the last. The social media world wasted no time in hailing him as the best fielder of the modern generation. But what about the OG fielding king?
One fan, perhaps feeling a little guilty, took to Twitter to apologise to Jonty Rhodes for declaring Phillips the new fielding great. What followed was a response no one expected — pure sportsmanship at its finest.
“Sorry Jonty Rhodes, we believe in Philips being the best fielder of this generation,” the user tweeted. The cricketer replied, “Don’t be sorry, I agree.”
The 55-year-old’s response won the hearts of the cricketing world. While Rhodes may have passed the baton, his famous flying run-out of Inzamam-ul-Haq in the 1992 World Cup remains etched in history. And now, it seems Glenn Phillips is the latest fielder to carry forward the legacy of breathtaking brilliance.