5 new fielding techniques that have developed in the recent past

Around two decades ago, there were just a handful of cricketers who could be identified based just on their fielding prowess. With the emergence of a number of talented and committed fielders, and the kind of impact that fielding makes in limited overs, it has been given a whole lot of importance by captains and coaches alike. As the game has condensed into more a swifter and slicker version, it is imperative for each player to slide, dive and jump to save runs, and convert half chances into dismissals.

Over the previous two decades, a number of improvisations have been made to existing methods of fielding to cut down on time and make the efforts more efficient. Here are five of them:

Slide and Throw

Before ropes were pulled in to make the shorter formats more interesting, boundaries used to extend till the stands, with little margin for a fielder to arrest his momentum if he puts in a dive.

Nowadays, a fielder can slide in to parry the ball back into play, with enough gap between the ropes and the stands for a fielder to safely tumble and stop, without the danger of sustaining a serious injury.

There are generally two methods of sliding on the boundary side: those running in from the infield generally make the dive feet first, sliding along the field to tap the ball back. When running along the ropes to cut off a shot, the fielder throws his upper body first, using his hand to push the ball in the field.

Relay fielding

The relay fielding has become very popular at the highest level of the game.

Fielders have taken partnerships to a whole new level with combined efforts in the deep, whereby more than one fielder gives the ball chase on its way towards the boundary. The role of one of the fielders is to put in the dive and stop the ball before it reaches the ropes, while the secondary player stays a little behind.

When the primary fielder scoops the ball back towards the other fielder, the secondary one collects it and throws it back towards the stumps, thereby saving the time of standing up and throwing the ball back.

Boundary Catching

Kieron Pollard is an excellent fielder at the ropes.

Small boundaries and broad bats have made even mis-hits travel all the way over the fence. With even small margins playing a crucial part in T20s, those stationed at the boundaries have become more alert to save anything and everything that comes their way.

This has resulted in a new form of catching, where the fielder first jumps and lobs the ball up, goes past the ropes, and comes back in play, just in time to retrieve the ball and complete the catch.

Shane Watson and David Wiese combined to take a brilliant catch in the IPL this year.

Combination efforts are becoming more popular these days, with fielders now extending the idea to implement relay catching on the ropes. When an aerial shot is on the verge of crossing the boundary, one of the fielders times his jump to hold the ball and parry it back, while in mid-air, towards the secondary fielder, who backs up and completes the catch while being inside the ropes.

Preemptive movements by close catchers

The close-in fielders have to be on their toes at all times

With the swift nature of the game, it is imperative for close catchers to be on their toes at all times. Part of it involves anticipating the kind of shots a batsman will play, and being a step ahead.

Certain shots, such as the paddle sweep or the ramp shot, require shaping up to play the shot, which gives the fielders an indication as to where the ball might go. We are now seeing close in fielders, such as first slip and short leg, follow the batsman’s shot and move in a more vantage position to take a catch.

A video grab of Smith running towards the vacant leg slip position to complete a catch.

Steven Smith took a catch of Fawad Alam by running from first slip towards the leg slip position to gobble up the former’s sweep shot, in an ODI against Pakistan in 2014.

Masking the sun with one hand

The Australian style of fielding has been improvised to assist the fielders in the sun.

One of the variations of the Australian style of catching, this technique is helpful on a sunny day, with the sun shining right in the eyes. Sometimes, a bright day makes it difficult to sight an aerial shot.

The Australian team, and Michael Clarke in particular, use this technique to take high catches. It involves extending one of the arms to block the sun and sight the ball. When the ball is about to reach the fielder, and the trajectory of the ball has been gauged, the hand is retracted back to catch the ball.