Fielding practice.14

This match fielding practice can at times be most valuable combined with training batsman in good running between the wickets.

Above  all, the coach  must throughout the practice  encourage and commend:  of course  he must criticize when things  are  down  wrongly,  but when  a good  catch  is made, there  is a  fine  stop, or a  fast  and  accurate  return, let  him  make  everyone feel that he is almost as delighted as the fielder himself: indeed he ought to be.

Fielding practice.13

His sermon over, the coach will set to work as he might in a match, except that  he will sometimes deliberately give chances and often call for what would  be  unjustifiably short runs. He may sometimes actually run the short single himself, for this can increase the fun. A come two or come three as he pierces the field should produce a desperate chase in reply. The fielders will, of course, let fly whenever the call seems to offer a  chance  of a run out , and  for this  reason  it may be as well to have  a  second wicket keeper doing  duty at the  bowler’s  end  to  save the  latter’s  hands.

Fielding practice.12

Before he starts he will hammer home the following points

(a)    As the ball is bowled, all except the close fields should be just on the move towards the batsman with their weight balanced evenly and slightly forward. This movement will be accelerated to meet a slow moving ball, but checked if the ball is hit hard.

(b)   That  every  fielder, except first  slip and  leg slip, must be watching  the  bat and that  intelligent  vigilance will often  succeed  in anticipating the  line of a  stroke.

(c)    That they must stop early and watch the ball into the hands before looking up.

(d)   That where possible returns should be full pitch to the wicket keeper and to affect this, the aim should be a foot or so above the stumps.

(e)   That  every  throw - in –must  be  properly backed up, and that, if he is to  sight  the ball  properly  and  be  able  to  cover  a  reasonable  arc, the  backer-up must be at  least 10 yds away  from  the wicket.

(f)     That  in chasing  the ball, fielders must  run at absolutely top pace and  must  overtake  the ball before  they  stoop to pick it  up.

(g)    That in a  match  every  fielder must  keep an eye on both captain and bowler all the  time to catch  an unobtrusive signal  for an adjustment  in their  normal place. Once they  are clear  as to  exactly  where  their  captain  and  bowler want them to be they  must  stick  to  that  place  and not  wander  about.

(h)   That  it is  criminal  to make the bowler stoop: unless there  is a  chance  of a run- out, the ball  should  be returned to him, if necessary by a  relay system, a  gentle  catch at a comfortable  height.

Fielding practice.11

In a confined area excellent close catching practice can be given by the thrower standing behind two fielders facing a wall, and the latter having  to sight and catch a solid rubber or tennis ball as it rebounds. This is of high value in quickening the fielder’s reactions and can be made enjoyably competitive.

As soon as the coach is satisfied that his team has grasped the main principles of fielding technique, he will move on to the vital superstructure of “match practice”.

It will be carried  out in the  middle; the coach will bat himself and, with someone bowling “to order”, will play strokes, as he would in a  match, to a  team stationed in their normal places, though , unless he and  his bowler  are pretty  skilful, he may well dispense with slips and  fine leg.

Fielding practice.10

The best slip fielding practice is provided by one of the fielders in rotation throwing the ball fast from a range of from 8 to 10 yds, and full pitch so that the coach can slice it off the bat to slips and gully. This needs accurate throwing and considerable skill on the part of the coach, but it is far nearer the real thing than practice off the cradle and can stimulate the fielders into excitedenjoyment and competition.

Fielding practice.9

The slip fielders will practice at the slip cradle if there is one, and may have a light curtain stretched 3 ft above the middle of the cradle to make it more difficult. With beginners it is most economical and effective if the coach or one fielder in rotation stands near the cradle and throws all the catches. The new plastic “spring –board” also provides good practice.

Fielding practice.8

The close fields the short legs, silly- mid- ones, and silly-points must be given special practice; for them far the best plan is for the coach to get someone to bowl to him from 12 yds or so away and play the ball at them as he might in a match. Here, of course, there will be no calling of names; it will be catch- as –catch- can