PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters)
Pressure is mounting on South Africa batsman Jonty Rhodes to end his retirement from Test cricket ahead of his country's world championship showdown against Australia at the end of the year.

"We are trying to convert him back to Test cricket," national selector Graeme Pollock said in a news conference at St George's Park. "His experience could be invaluable to us," said Pollock. "He plays the quick bowlers well and he plays Warne really well which is going to be important, once again."

Rhodes played his last Test 15 months ago, and then retired to concentrate his efforts on the one-day game and South Africa's bid to win the World Cup in 2003, which they are hosting. Rhodes, regarded as the best fielder in the world, has never made a secret of his desire to spend more time with his wife and two-year-old daughter, and has so far refused to change his mind.

Former team-mate turned commentator Pat Symcox wrote an open letter to Rhodes in the national daily newspaper The Citizen on Tuesday in which he implored him to reconsider his decision. "All I ask is that you give us some of your valuable time - just one more time," Symcox wrote after explaining how important the player would be in helping South Africa beat Australia to become world Test champions.

"We must do whatever we can to get him to change his mind, whether it means talking to his wife, Kate, or whoever," said Pollock. "It would be reassuring to have him back for the tour."

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