FIELDING CLINIC: Improve your agility with the Club Cricket Guide

Leicestershire coach Dips Patel is an ECB Level 4 master coach with over 25 years of experience in cricket. He shares his top tips and drills for improving your fielding technique…

1 - Fielding in the slips

Slip fielding is personal. I’ve watched them all… Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Alastair Cook and they’re all different. 

I’d recommend a wide base to create a powerful position to move left, right, up or down, with your hands ready to take the catch. Watch the ball from the bowler’s hand to maintain your focus and help you anticipate an edge. 

Drill: Set up your slip cordon with a feeder and a batter. The feeder throws the ball in to the batter (overarm or underarm) who snicks the ball towards the slip cordon to take the catch. 

2 - Under the high ball

The key here is to have your hands high. Whether you point your fingers or reverse cup, having your hands above shoulder height means if you fumble the ball, you have time to re-adjust for the second attempt. 

If you have to run towards the ball, get underneath it with slightly bent knees to provide a robust base and watch the balls into your hands. 

Drill: Set up four player stations in around a central cone. The feeder hits a high ball towards the cone and a player runs in to take the catch - focussing on getting underneath the ball - before throwing it back to the feeder. Rotate players around the stations to work on different angles. 

3 - The perfect runout

Anticipation is key. Good fielders watch the ball onto the bat and develop that judgement of where the ball is going to be hit. When you field the ball, sometimes it pays to get rid of it quickly to stop the batsmen going for the run. 

However, if you have time, pick up the ball, point your foot towards the stumps as it lines up your hip and shoulder with the target, and aim at the base of the stumps. 

Drill: Set up six fielders around the pitch with the stumps at one end and the feeder at the other. Hit the ball out to a fielder and shout “stumps” for a throw aimed at the base of the stumps or “keepers” for a throw back to the feeder. Remember to have players backing up the throws and use different angles, heights and pace of delivery to keep the field alert. 

4 - Fielding near the boundary

Don’t run around the boundary; attack the ball and cut off the angle. This will make the difference between batsmen running ones or twos. Keep your eyes on the ball with your hands out in front and stay low on the pick-up. Footwork is key for a 60-plus yard throw. You want a wide base and again, point your foot towards your target to improve your aim. 

Drill: Put a line of cones in a V-shape in front of the boundary with the fielders standing at the point of the V and the coach and a feeder standing 60-plus yards away. The coach hits the ball into the V for the fielder to attack and stop passing through the cones. Once the ball is picked up, throw it back to the feeder.