13. Fielding match

Fielding Strategies

Positions

Besides the wicket-keeper and the bowler, the 9 fielders can be positioned anywhere in the field. Some regions do not have fielders, such as directly behind the bowler. The captain is the person who sets the field in conjunction with the bowler. For every field position there is a unique name such as slip, square-leg etc. The way the batsman hits the ball to a specific area has distinctive names such as: sweep, drive, cut etc.

Optimisation

Captains put the fielders in positions which they feel is optimal. e.g. A fielder with a strong arm, who can throw the ball fast are usually placed near the boundary. Fielders with sharp reflexes are placed near the batsmen.

Defensiveness

The captain can ATTACK i.e. move fielders closer to the batsman (if a new batsman has just arrived to bat, or in defence of a small score) or DEFEND, where the fielders are more spread out and the batsman is attacking hitting 4's and 6's and also rotating the strike with ease. An attacking field is set, to pressurise the batsman in making a false shot and getting him out.

Setting the field

The field is set according to a right or left handed batsman. Usually, the field for a left hand batsman is the mirror image to that set for a right handed one. The field changes if the bowler is bowling 'Over the wicket' OR 'Around the wicket'. If, a right-hand bowler is bowling from 'over the wicket', (to the umpire's left) to a left-handed batsman; the ball will angle across him, but bowling 'around the wicket', the ball will be straighter.

The field is also set to the batsman's favourite scoring areas, so that the regions where the batsman likes to hit the ball is well patrolled.

---

How to field

Good fielding compliments the bowling. When the batsman hits the ball along the ground, the fielders chase it. They try to collect the ball before it crosses the boundary (to prevent a 4 from being scored). Simultaneously, the batsmen are running between the wickets (exchanging ends). After obtaining the ball, the fielders throw it to any fielder at either the wicketkeeper or the bowler's end of the pitch. This maximizes the chances of a run-out and prevents additional runs from being scored. 

Once they pass it to these players, and the batsman has not made it home (crossed the crease), the batsman is Run-out. Fielders who stand near batsmen are expected to take reflex catches. In Cricket there is a saying "Catches Win Matches".

Diving to prevent the ball get past you, is one fielding technique. Another fielding skill is to throw the ball to the stumps as soon as you've got the ball in your hands, to increase the chances of run-outs. An excellent fielder is one who can knock the bails off the stumps with an accurate throw, to run-out a batsman.

If the fielder fumbles the ball, or doesn't collect the ball cleanly, the batsmen may run an additional run. The term used if the fielder doesn't field the ball properly is 'MIS-FIELD'.

---

Overthrows

Overthrows are taken if the following sequence takes place:

• Fielder throws the ball to either of the ends of the pitch.

• The throw is wide of the fielder near the stumps OR

• No player is backing up to collect the ball, and it misses the stumps OR

• The ball hits the stumps, (the batsman is home) and ricochets off in another direction.

Then, if the ball has travelled a considerable distance, the batsman can run  additional runs. The extra runs scored are credited to his personal score.

---