Book review: Jonty in Pictures

This is, as the title suggests, Jonty Rhodes in pictures. Jonty with his shirt on, Jonty with his shirt off, Jonty batting, Jonty fielding and, a rare one this, Jonty fielding.

In essence it's a book for members of the Jonty Rhodes Fan Club (those people who like to wave banners which read "Water covers seven-eighths of the earth's surface, Jonty covers the rest"). It's not particularly heavyweight, incisive or revealing, but then again, it's not meant to be.

The idea, said Rhodes, is to have it around the house, pick it up every now and again and put it down again.

By and large it's a handsome production which includes the odd, obligatory mistake. Andy Capostagno, who provided the text, claims that these have been included to keep readers on their toes. Fair enough, but I wouldn't think that Steve Palframan, who kept wicket for South Africa at the 1996 World Cup and is at one point identified as "unknown" would necessarily agree with this.

Jonty in Pictures (with text by Andy Capostagno) is published by Viking at R149,95. On-line orders at www.jonty.co.za