”My cricketing statistics as a player were very average when I was selected”: Jonty Rhodes

Former South Africa player Jonty Rhodes said that the nation needs a proper racial quota system in sports in South Africa as the legacy of apartheid is there still.

“We in South Africa have a legacy of apartheid. How many generations does it take to address that? You still have disadvantaged communities based on race. So they might have political freedom but they don’t have economic freedom,” Jonty Rhodes said at the Global Sports Injury Conclave in Bengaluru.

“I certainly benefited from the fact that I wasn’t really competing with 50% of the population. I literally was competing only with the white players. You talk about white privilege and it raises a lot of heat and debate on social media but it is the case,” he added.

“I’m very aware of that. My cricketing statistics as a player were very average when I was selected. If I was competing with the rest of the country then possibly I wouldn’t have been picked. And I would not have been diving around the field,” he shared.

However, the issue of racial representation in South Africa’s cricket team has come in the limelight during the series against England, where they failed to keep their transformation targets for both the first and second Test matches. As per the transformation targets, South Africa must field at least six players of colour among whom two are black Africans.

Moreover, Jonty Rhodes said that the situation is not easy but also gave an example of how the World Cup-winning rugby team has managed to ensure all those things wonderfully.

“Now you have a scenario where (Kagiso) Rabada is suspended (for the fourth Test). If (Lungi) Ngidi is injured and can’t play, that will mean Bavuma has to play. You’re dropping a fast bowler but you’re bringing in a batsman. From that perspective, it really is tough,” said the former player.

“The biggest question for me is why in over 20 years have we not produced opportunities for young players in disadvantaged communities? It’s not about racism. It’s about equal opportunity and that’s not happening. What rugby has done well is in building their structures, working in disadvantaged areas. Cricket has a lot to learn,” he concluded.