A South African newspaper once wrote, �Water covers 67% of the earth�s surface, Jonty covers the rest!� Yeah, that�s how good Jonty was as a fielder for South Africa, the country he represented and which is home to him. �Flying Machine� and �Rubber Man� are other terms used to describe Jonathan Neil Rhodes. Sure thing, for Jonty did defy gravity and was a cricketer par excellence. Here, over a glass of wine, he fields a few fast ones from Farzana Contractor.

Are you a foodie?
I love my food, so does that qualify me? I am afraid that my expertise is restricted to anything cricket related, so while I appreciate good food, I am not able to add much to the preparation process, other than chopping; and then cleaning up of course!

You said you like Indian food, how come?
My wife�s family always had an Indian chef, so when I first met Kate, and would visit her parents for dinner, I would need to keep a big glass of milk and a packet of tissues handy at the table! I was not accustomed to the spicy flavours.

What is the secret of such a trim foodie? I believe you surf?
Everything in moderation! I love to sample different tastes, but that does not mean that I order second helpings every meal! Since I retired from cricket, I discovered that I am fairly lazy, and do not spend much time running or in the gym, so I took up a past-time that is physically very demanding. Surfing, or the way that I surf anyway, is a bit like swimming against a current for two hours, so you can imagine how good it is for the waistline!

What diet do you recommend to sportsmen?
I believe that knowledge is very important, and you have to know what your body requires to cope with your particular physical requirements. I do not believe that you can get all the necessary vitamins and nutrients from your diet while you are competing at an international level, as you spend a great deal of time on the road, eating on aeroplanes and in hotels. I take protein supplements in the forms of shakes and bars, that are easy to consume while on the move, and thus ensure that my body gets everything it needs from my diet to stay healthy.

Can you cook? Do you enjoy cooking?
I enjoy cooking, but I am afraid that I don�t get to cook to often � hotel chefs will not allow unqualified cricketer chefs near their utensils! My wife and I have a cook here at home and she is wonderful at preparing all kinds of meals, so I don�t spend as much time cooking as when I first got married.

What is South African cuisine like? Any favourites?
We have many different cultures within South Africa, much like in India, so it depends on who�s home you are visiting, as to what the meal will taste, and look like. We enjoy eating meat, and so many of the dishes will be non-veg, but we are also fairly health conscious, so it will be accompanied by many fresh and tasty vegetables. A favourite of mine is lamb shank.

What about wines?
I love South African wines, and my wife and I regularly share a glass of Sauvignon Blanc watching the sun set, as our two children play in the garden.

Do you miss cricket?
I don�t miss the game or competitive side of cricket, but I do miss the friends that I made through the sport. Eleven years of travelling, and the team becomes a part of your family!

What brings you to India this time?
I am here to bring South African wine and health products to India, with my business partners, I am pretty excited.

Will we see more of you in India?
Most definitely, I will be here quite frequently in the future, I am not sure in what capacity, but I will be around!

JONTY RHODES INTERVIEWED BY FARZANA CONTRACTOR & PHOTOGRAPHED BY BIPIN KOKATE AT SHIRO LOUNGE & BAR, BOMBAY.