Fielding in slips

[Jathu]

I normally field in slips during a match. The problem is I normally drop a catch which is edged towards me. What should I do to improve my fielding in slips?

[siddle2franklin]

watch the cricket show and hopefully they'll have another segment on slip fielding

[Mousey]

I think that's done for the year. Is it? Do they have it during the ODer's? I don't filed in the slips much but the idea is to concentrate and watch the ball. Watch it all the way into your hands and you shouldn't have any difficulty.

[mas cambios]

Originally Posted by Jathu

I normally field in slips during a match. The problem is I normally drop a catch which is edged towards me. What should I do to improve my fielding in slips?

You know what I'm going to say and that is practice!

Simulate what happens in match, so get behind some stumps and have someone either throw the ball at you (for this it helps to have a batsman in front of the stumps, just playing and missing at the ball) or someone deflecting it to you.

Other aids (a bowling machine can be ideal for slip work) can be useful but if you haven't got access to them then don't worry, just improvise a little.

Use a tennis ball for the majority of the session, as it facilitates learning to give with the ball and reduce 'bounce outs' (and save any undue stress on the hands from repeatedly taking a hard ball). Remember to do some work with a hard ball at every session though, as this will help to condition the hands.

To help improve reactions you can do things like starting with your back to the thrower and then turning around on his call, or have them rebound the ball from a wall (over your shoulder) so you have to react pretty much from the bounce.

A great drill is the 'penalty shoot-out'. The fielder stands in a marked out goal (5 metres wide), whilst the coach hits a tennis ball (with a tennis racquet) from about 10-15 metres away. Coaches aim is to score, fielders aim is to catch it.

Try to have sessions that are pressurised as well; this will help you massively in a game, mainly as you'll be used to the situation. I would rather see people make mistakes in practice, so don't be afraid to make things tough for yourself. You'll probably end up surprising yourself by taking a blinding catch in a match, all due to making it difficult in practice.

Also, make sure that when catching that you're using good technique. Stable base, keeping low and eyes level. Get the fingers pointing down, head over the hands and give with the ball.

[eddiesmith]

Originally Posted by mas cambios

To help improve reactions you can do things like starting with your back to the thrower and then turning around on his call,

I really enjoyed that drill when we did it this year

My main issue in slips is reaction time, I had 6 balls fly either side of me on the weekend, I never reacted in time to dive, at the least I could have saved runs. I have no issue with spin bowlers, i love fielding slip to em, but the pace bowlers I dont react, I watch it and concentrate but the feet stay planted to the ground. The penalty shoot out one sounds like a great idea, problem for me is most of our catching drills we do are either outfield practice or the stationary drills where players line up like a slips cordon and theres no diving there as there is someone next to you

I love fielding in slips, but keep getting kicked out after a while

[mas cambios]

Originally Posted by eddiesmith

The penalty shoot out one sounds like a great idea, problem for me is most of our catching drills we do are either outfield practice or the stationary drills where players line up like a slips cordon and theres no diving there as there is someone next to you

It's a great drill for taking pressure off the coach. Just split the group up into pairs or groups of 3, give them some space and let them get on with it. One fields, one hits and one retrieves. 10 catches each and then rotate.

The static drills you mention are great but you do need to practice diving, as you say, you may not catch it but you could stop 4 runs.

If indoor, use crash mats.

[Jonesy]

We use the Katchet thingo. They're pretty good, you get some good speed off them and it's not like it goes straight at you, the bumps in it make it really shoot off in different directions at times.



We also just hit tennis balls at each other to get the soft hands working.

The penalty shootout sounds good.

[mas cambios]

I've head mixed reviews about the katchet.

[swifty_147]

Originally Posted by mas cambios

You know what I'm going to say and that is practice!

Simulate what happens in match, so get behind some stumps and have someone either throw the ball at you (for this it helps to have a batsman in front of the stumps, just playing and missing at the ball) or someone deflecting it to you.

Other aids (a bowling machine can be ideal for slip work) can be useful but if you haven't got access to them then don't worry, just improvise a little.

Use a tennis ball for the majority of the session, as it facilitates learning to give with the ball and reduce 'bounce outs' (and save any undue stress on the hands from repeatedly taking a hard ball). Remember to do some work with a hard ball at every session though, as this will help to condition the hands.

To help improve reactions you can do things like starting with your back to the thrower and then turning around on his call, or have them rebound the ball from a wall (over your shoulder) so you have to react pretty much from the bounce.

A great drill is the 'penalty shoot-out'. The fielder stands in a marked out goal (5 metres wide), whilst the coach hits a tennis ball (with a tennis racquet) from about 10-15 metres away. Coaches aim is to score, fielders aim is to catch it.

Try to have sessions that are pressurised as well; this will help you massively in a game, mainly as you'll be used to the situation. I would rather see people make mistakes in practice, so don't be afraid to make things tough for yourself. You'll probably end up surprising yourself by taking a blinding catch in a match, all due to making it difficult in practice.

Also, make sure that when catching that you're using good technique. Stable base, keeping low and eyes level. Get the fingers pointing down, head over the hands and give with the ball.

thats all right
practice makes perfect
the katchet is useful as it helps your reaction time

the main thing in slips is to get in a good ready position as the bowler lets go of the ball
also when its coming to you make sure you let your hands give way
use soft hands and you should be alright

[grapedo]

Make sure your technique is correct.

That your shoulders are in line with your feet and that you are crouched down and ready to come up as soon as the batter hits it because it is a lot easier to catch it on the rise.

Also have you tried one of the practice catching balls that have the velcrow straps that you attach to your wrist and you get the ball to come flying at you to simulate a slip catch with a flick off the wrist perhaps try that.