Fielding has always been a priority: ``first in last out'' is the mission statement and his knowledge of how to throw, various exercises to strengthen the arm and how to prevent injury are part and parcel of why he is the best. He has now brought that to his batting and is reaping the rewards as was certainly shown by yesterday's knock.

In his early days he proved to be talented at two sports, cricket and hockey, which gave him plenty of opportunities. Hockey, while providing winter fitness did have its drawbacks, particularly in the use of wrists on the hockey stick. The lower hand controls the stick, but on a cricket bat it can be very dangerous. A dominating bottom hand tends to shovel the ball across the line of flight causing a multitude of problems. Jonty had these problems for many years and one-day cricket only exacerbated the problem because improvisation required the unorthodox especially during the late overs.

For too long in Test and first-class cricket he played too extravagantly square of the wicket intermittently spiced with the ``paddle'' shot off the spinners, but a new-found maturity with an orthodox front elbow and more precise footwork makes him an altogether different proposition. His shot selection is now spot on because he is waiting for the ball and no longer gets drawn to a wide one like a moth to the light.

Video analysis, asking respected people and working hard is something even experienced players do and Rhodes has sat down and decided he really wants to cement the No 6 spot in the batting line-up.

His plan is to combine a higher left elbow, more precise footwork and the mental strength to leave balls formerly his undoing to ensure his Test career.

Hansie Cronje has not had much to smile about during this Test match but the success of his new ``all-rounder'' will be some significant compensation.