Fielding

Positions

Besides the wicket-keeper and 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 unique 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 put 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 with 4's and 6's and rotating the strike without any problems. An attacking field is to pressurise the batsman in making a false shot and getting him out.

Setting the field

The field is set according to the batsman, if he is right or left handed. Usually, the field for a left hand batsman is the mirror image to that set to 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 coming over the wicket (to the umpire's left), to a left handed batsman, the ball will angle across him, but 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 bowling. When the batsman hits the ball, the fielders chase it. They try to collect the ball before it crosses the boundary. The batsmen are running between the wickets, while the fielders chase the ball. After obtaining the ball, the fielders throw it to the wicketkeeper or bowler's end of the stumps to whoever is out there to maximize chances of a run out and prevent more 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. All fielders are expected to take catches. In Cricket there is a saying " Catches Win Matches."

Diving to prevent the ball get past you, is a fielding technique. Another fielding technique is to throw he ball to the stumps as soon as you've got the ball in your hands to increase the chances of run outs. A good 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 there OR

• No player is there, and it misses the stumps OR

• Hits the stumps, batsman is home, ricochets off in another direction.

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