Fielding is a fine art in cricket

Except for England, this time of year is the best time for cricket in all the other playing nations. As the game gets more and more popular, efforts to develop players keep on developing. Academies and High Performance Centers keep getting established around the world. Many past players take on the role of coaches, to give back to the game and also earn a living.

Through all of this there is no evidence that the levels of batting and bowling has improved to higher standards. At all levels of the game, much more is being played. This gives the opportunity to go past milestones and records. It also gives the opportunity to collect more runs and wickets. The game for those beyond the boundary, is watching quality players in action.

With all the coaching and expertise available there are hardly any top class all-rounders in the game at present. There is much limited over games being played and naturally the expectancy is to see more all rounders emerge. There are many batsmen who can bowl and bowlers who can fill-in as batsmen, but few who can genuinely fit into the all rounder category.

There was an era when Ian Botham, Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev were excelling for their teams. They played both roles and fielded with excellence. They were technically outstanding in all departments. The conclusion is that players now specialize in one department of the game and take on the second only to add some extra value to their existence in the team.
Still more it is due to the fact that they have to spend much more time on fielding and improving their fielding and athleticism. Plenty of physical training is being done now for players to become strong and agile.

No doubt about it, outstanding fielding thrills the spectator as much as excellent feats with bat and ball, be it close to the wicket or in the deep. Also, fielding is an area that can be developed faster than batting or bowling. The techniques are straight forward and constant practice becomes the key to success.

It has become necessary in the shorter and longer versions of the game for every individual to play his part on the field. It is the one area that the whole team must make their contribution. With the improvement of fielding overall, a weak fielder gets shown up quite easily.

The wicket keeper leads the way on the field. He receives the most number of catching deliveries in a day, be it a fast bowler or a spin bowler. He is a specialist and as it is believed that keepers are born, hardly ever developed forcibly.

To be in the slips also takes some specializing. More still those who hover around the bat on the off side and leg side to snap up the bat – pad catches that are offered. One essential requirement to field in those positions is to be fearless. Should you be there for awhile receiving body blows becomes a part of the package. There are many who shun away from standing close to the batsman.Their preference is to be in the outfield. They fall into two categories. Those close enough to stop a single and those in the deep, close to the boundary. The fielders in that ring saving one run have to be athletic. Feats of the likes of Andrew Symonds, T.M. Dilshan, Yuvraj Singh, Herschell Gibbs, to name a few, are a delight to watch. In addition to being athletic they must have the ability to throw down the stumps. However it is a matter of hours of practice -- a skill which was mastered by the South African Jonty Rhodes.

In the deep it is about catching the high balls, running round the boundary to field and sending in long accurate throws. There is no question that the art of fielding will continue to improve steadily. From a young age coaches drill those who are in their charge.

It is now a must for all those who play. Enjoy practice, in fact hours of it and the results will follow naturally.