Cricket: Rhodes to play in Israel as part of 60th celebrations

Rhodes will be in the country for five days and will play in three one-dayers in Tel Aviv and Ashdod from July 13-16.

By JENNA STARK
cricket 88 (photo credit: )
cricket 88
(photo credit: )
Former South Africa international Jonty Rhodes will play in Israel for the first time this summer when he competes as part of the Israel 60th Anniversary XI to take on India A. Rhodes will be in the country for five days and will play in three one-dayers in Tel Aviv and Ashdod from July 13-16. The anniversary squad will be made up of some of the best Jewish cricketers from around the world aside from Rhodes. Participants will include Australian Adam Bacher and Israeli left arm spinner Solomon Varsulkar, as well as others from Ireland and India. It is also planned that Rhodes will coach Israeli youth with Israeli coach Roland Lefebvre while he is in the country and speak to groups including the "youth, senior cricketers, people who are involved in cricket and hopefully to the minister of sport who will be at the 60th anniversary dinner," Stanley Perlman, chairman of the Israel Cricket Association said. Rhodes, 38, retired five years ago due to injury. He was voted one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1999, according to Cricinfo.com. Perlman said he is planning to use Rhodes's visit to promote cricket in Israel and will be busing some 500 children to each game. "Jonty Rhodes's appeal is that he is an outstanding athlete," Perlman said. "He has this name of being a miraculous fielder. His participation will have immediate impact on the Israeli cricket community This is a chance for the public to see why cricket is such a special game and the most exciting game in the world. We've had stars come across before, but never one team with so many exceptional people."