WHY FIELDERS ARE FUMBLING
COACHES HAVE SIMPLY DROPPED THE BALL
IN A world where support and coaching staff often outweigh the number of players, the standard of fielding throughout the Big Bash — in particular the catching — has been downright embarrassing.
Some of the catches that have been grassed — both high balls and straightforward chances — have been unexplainable.
Most teams across the world, even at T20 franchise level, employ specialist fielding coaches.
Excuses are easy to find, but at the elite level we must have answers. Cricketers these days are professionals, paid handsomely and should be able to execute the basics skills of the game. Completing regulation catches should be a matter of course.
Dropping regulation catches is akin to AFL players missing set shots from 30m out directly in front with no breeze.
Two things generally contribute to poor skill execution: it’s either poor technique or, more likely, mental weakness.
Tony Lockett and Jason Dunstall, two of the greatest goal-kickers of all time, were rock-solid in technique, with beautiful, repeatable actions. More importantly, they were mentally tough, with a belief they could kick them from anywhere, anytime.
No doubt they honed all aspects hour after hour in practice, so that game day became an extension of what they had perfected away from the spotlight.
Goal-kicking is certainly more of a closed-chain skill where all but the ball drop is very much controllable — as opposed to catching, which has more open-skill chains and much more variability to its correct execution.
Fielding is the skill we do most of in a game but practise the least. Much of fielding practise is done poorly. This is a fact at local club level, state level and sadly, on occasions, at international level.
Not many players really train their fielding skills under pressure at high intensity. Sure, they do plenty of catching practise, a variety of drills and take some high balls to tick the boxes, but is that really preparing them mentally for the game?
Fielding sessions need to be done with purpose and in pressure situations to better replicate game intensity.
Twenty minutes of quality is far better than most club training sessions of boring, monotonous fielding. It requires leaders to take the lead and ensure all drills put players under the pump to test not only their physical skill but their mental capacity to execute under pressure. Fielding is a statement of intent and tells us plenty about a player’s character. It requires lengthy periods of concentration and tests mental resilience. The ability to mentally switch on and off in between balls is vital to maintain precise focus at the appropriate times. Maximum concentration is only required for brief periods but needs to be repeated over and over again. It’s a routine many struggle to grasp and is often the result of mistakes in the field. The standard of fielding this Big Bash summer has been well below anything elite. I’ve heard all the excuses the commentators have made. “The lights got in their eyes” — what a load of crap. Do they practise under lights enough? If not, why not. Find a way. Turn your body, shield your eyes but, please, stop with the excuses. Fielders out of position on the boundary when skied balls are hit is inexcusable. Too many balls have fallen between the fieldsmen and the rope. Game awareness, and understanding where to move and when to move, are qualities in the best players but lacking in the majority. With the World Cup just around the corner, the standard of fielding in our country must improve. Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is charged with that responsibility and has a big job on his hands.