So, today we’re going to talk about fielding.

The way fielding has evolved in the game of cricket has mainly been due to the introduction of new formats which include one day cricket and more recently, Twenty20 cricket.

I have a feeling that fielding used to be seen as a very laid back aspect of the game, but now fielding has become an extremely crucial component.

Even the amount of diving and sliding seen in the modern game was rarely witnessed in previous generations. Especially in limited over formats, every single run counts. Fielding has been transformed and players and teams around the world have realised how important it is to limit runs and really build pressure on the opposition.

The way to achieve this pressure is to bring a certain level of intensity to the field, to be willing to throw yourself at the ball and ultimately prevent easy scoring.

The fielding revolution has changed the game of cricket drastically, with fielding ability being taken into consideration in all formats, and now to even be considered for selection, your fielding ability and commitment must be amongst the best.

There a number of different techniques and strategies involved in fielding and we will be discussing them in detail but for now, we can establish a few ground rules that can help you understand why some players are classified as great fielders:

• They keep low
• They move quickly
• They have strong arms
• They are able to hold onto catches
• They are expecting the ball to come to them
• They understand how attacking in the field can build pressure and cause errors

You should make note of these key areas that I’ve just mentioned and then try to identify your strengths and weaknesses within these.

Have a think about what you already do well from this list and also consider where some of your weaknesses lie. Doing this, it will give you a good idea of what you need to remember to do when you are out fielding for your team.