PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa - 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 today during South Africa's second Test against India.

"His experience could be invaluable to us. He plays the quick bowlers well and he plays [leg spinner Shane] Warne really well which is going to be important, once again," Pollock said.

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 it is hosting.

The cricketer, 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 today 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 champion.

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

-- AAP

© 2001 AAP