Bairstow miss sums up steep decline in fielding standards
Hwayward run-out attempts and dropped catches hint at crucial third discipline being neglected at Test-match level
If war is long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror, Test match fielding is its sporting equivalent. Only, the initial terror might be accompanied by fanciful acts of heroism, dreams of cracking catches and unlikely run-outs.
Back in the real world, however, it is not the marvels that tend to win games, but the setting of standards and persistent concentration.
England’s fielding has been inconsistent. Even that, perhaps, is a generous description.
There were periods when nothing went awry. On day one, this was mostly the case. Come day two, and a renewed vigour accompanied England’s entrance to the field as they started well; the odds were against the home side and batting anytime soon was far from their minds. They displayed an energy and a focus, and took three smart, low catches. Two of these came in the first two overs.
Then something curious happened. The further through India’s innings England got, and the closer the prospect of batting became, the worse the fielding became. You could almost see the cloud enveloping their fielders as the state of play slowly dawned on them. Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah loomed under sombre skies. England’s fielding turned ragged and then, through the course of nine overs, almost fell apart altogether.
Amid the two dropped catches and three (or was it four?) missed run-outs, one moment stood out. Jonny Bairstow, a capable keeper but now prowling at short midwicket, is as fit and fiery in the outfield as any other. Play to him at your peril. Ravindra Jadeja duly did, and Ishant called him through for a nonexistent single. Bairstow collected, had time to consider, three stumps to aim at, all of five yards away, and missed. Easily. The Yorkshireman stood there for a moment, hands on hips, staring at the stumps like an ethereal vision returning to haunt him for misdeeds done in a life before this.
It is fashionable to assert that an undue focus on limited-overs cricket is a major cause of England’s red-ball demise. This might well apply to England’s slip catching, which is largely a Test-specific art. In the first Test at Trent Bridge, England’s slip cordon was woeful.
However, in a team’s out-fielding, white-ball cricket has had a largely positive impact. With so much more value placed on each ball by virtue of their relative scarcity, limited-overs fielding is a discipline meriting selection in itself. The athleticism and awareness has rubbed off.
India are evidence of this; a team not always known for their impact in the outfield are now stocked with some of the world’s best fielders. In part this is down to Virat Kohli’s own standards, imposed similarly on his team, but it is also a beneficiary of the Indian Premier League.
While players may be desperate to enter England’s white-ball sides, this is not something which afflicts their red-ball one. Has a lack of urgency in attending to the third discipline ensued? Surely there comes a distraction with this as well. In Thursday’s men’s Hundred game, the fielding was some of the worst of the tournament. The beleaguered Manchester Originals faced a heaving, parochial crowd at Headingley, jeering and cheering to such an extent that the fielders could not help but be distracted. Especially after a year of no crowds.
Perhaps England’s red-ball fielding, like their batting and bowling, is just an accurate reflection of where the Test team lie: not bad, hoping for the best, but nothing near what the format deserves.