On March 8, 1992, Jonty Rhodes — gathering the ball at backward point — sprinted four metres and dived horizontally into the stumps with the ball still in his hand to run out Inzamam-ul-Haq for 48. The image redefined cricket fielding for a generation.
Rhodes, a 22-year-old Natal-born hockey international, had been picked partly for his athleticism. South Africa's tournament — their first ICC event in 22 years — had begun the previous month with a stunning win over Australia in Sydney.
Pakistan needed 194 in 36 overs. They were 135/2 in the 30th over with Inzamam (48) batting fluently and Imran Khan settled. South Africa's bowlers looked toothless against the partnership.
South Africa, freshly readmitted to international cricket, made 211 batting first; Pakistan's chase was reduced to 36 overs by rain (target 194). With Pakistan 135 for 2, Inzamam-ul-Haq (48) and Imran Khan looking set, Imran tapped a Brian McMillan delivery to backward point and called Inzamam through. Inzamam set off, was sent back, and turned. The ball had rolled gently to Rhodes at backward point. Rhodes picked it up, looked up, calculated that throwing was risky and instead launched himself horizontally — Superman-style — at the stumps with the ball clutched in his right hand. He hit the stumps full pelt with all three uprooted; Inzamam was a metre short. South Africa went on to win by 20 runs. The photograph by Jim Fenwick of Rhodes mid-air, ball in hand, became one of cricket's iconic images.
Imran taps McMillan to backward point and calls
Inzamam half-turns; the ball rolls gently to Rhodes
Rhodes calculates: throw or run?
He sprints four metres and dives full-length, ball in hand, into the stumps
All three uprooted; Inzamam a metre short — out
South Africa win by 20 runs
March 8, 1992
South Africa 211/7 in 50 overs at Brisbane.
Pakistan chase
135/2 in 30th over; Inzamam 48*, Imran set.
The run-out
Rhodes dives ball-in-hand into the stumps; Inzamam out.
Final result
South Africa win by 20 runs.
“There was a 50% chance I'd hit the stumps if I threw, and a 100% chance with ball in hand. I chose the percentages.”
“I had grass and blood all over. But it was worth it.”
Rhodes was Player of the Match. The ICC poll in the 2010s named the run-out the greatest moment in World Cup history. Rhodes himself later said the choice between throwing and diving was made 'in a fraction of a second — diving felt safer'. His broken nose later in his career, the 'Jonty Rhodes diving school' camps, and the AB de Villiers tribute (de Villiers cited Rhodes as his fielding inspiration) all flowed from that moment.
Cricket fielding before and after Jonty Rhodes are different sports. The Brisbane run-out reframed what an athletic point fielder could do.
Saved-runs and run-outs have been a permanent feature of analytical cricket since. Every elite white-ball point fielder of the 21st century — Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Ravindra Jadeja — has been tagged as 'the new Jonty'. The Brisbane image hung in the South African team dressing room for two decades.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.