Fielding

Positions

Besides the wicket-keeper and bowler, the 9 fielders can be positioned anywhere in the field. Some regions do not have fielders, such as directly behind the bowler. The captain is the person who sets the field in conjunction with the bowler. For every field position there is a unique name such as slip, square-leg etc. The way the batsman hits the ball to a specific area has unique names such as sweep, drive, cut etc.

Optimisation

Captains put the fielders in positions which they feel is optimal. e.g. A fielder with a strong arm, who can throw the ball fast are usually put near the boundary. Fielders with sharp reflexes are placed near the batsmen.

Defensiveness

The captain can ATTACK i.e. move fielders closer to the batsman (if a new batsman has just arrived to bat, or in defence of a small score) or DEFEND, where the fielders are more spread out and the batsman is attacking with 4's and 6's and rotating the strike without any problems. An attacking field is to pressurise the batsman in making a false shot and getting him out.

Setting the field

The field is set according to the batsman, if he is right or left handed. Usually, the field for a left hand batsman is the mirror image to that set to a right handed one. The field changes if the bowler is bowling Over the wicket OR Around the wicket. If a right hand bowler is coming over the wicket (to the umpire's left), to a left handed batsman, the ball will angle across him, but around the wicket, the ball will be straighter.

The field is also set to the batsman's favourite scoring areas, so that the regions where the batsman likes to hit the ball is well patrolled.

How to field

Good Fielding compliments bowling. When the batsman hits the ball, the fielders chase it. They try to collect the ball before it crosses the boundary. The batsmen are running between the wickets, while the fielders chase the ball. After obtaining the ball, the fielders throw it to the wicketkeeper or bowler's end of the stumps to whoever is out there to maximize chances of a run out and prevent more runs from being scored. 

Once they pass it to these players, and the batsman has not made it home (crossed the crease), the batsman is Run-out. Fielders who stand near batsmen are expected to take reflex catches. All fielders are expected to take catches. In Cricket there is a saying " Catches Win Matches ."

Diving to prevent the ball get past you, is a fielding technique. Another fielding technique is to throw he ball to the stumps as soon as you've got the ball in your hands to increase the chances of run outs. A good fielder is one who can knock the bails off the stumps with an accurate throw, to run-out a batsman.

If the fielder fumbles the ball, or doesn't collect the ball cleanly, the batsmen may run an additional run. The term used if the fielder doesn't field the ball properly is MIS-FIELD.

Overthrows

Overthrows are taken if the following sequence takes place:

• Fielder throws the ball to either of the ends of the pitch.

• The throw is wide of the fielder there OR

• No player is there, and it misses the stumps OR

• Hits the stumps, batsman is home, ricochets off in another direction.

Then, if the ball has travelled a considerable distance, the batsman can run an additional run/runs. The extra runs scored are credited to his score.

The Captain

The role of the captain is very crucial in Cricket. Unlike other sports where the captain does not have many tasks to do or whose strategy cannot influence the game much, in Cricket this is not the case. The captain is aided by the Vice Captain.

 Like other sports, the captain is usually an experienced player with good communication skills and whose place is guaranteed in the squad.

Captain's Role

Toss

The captain calls the toss, and if he wins the toss he may bat or bowl. We have already seen the reasons why he may choose to bat or bowl first. He may also bat 2 nd to achieve a higher Net Run Rate ( NRR ) [NRR - Discussed later].

Setting The Field

The captain sets the field in consultation with the bowler and other senior players. He decides to place attacking or defensive field placements.  The nature of bowling decides the field positioning. eg. A leg spinner demands more fielders on the offside as the ball is turning towards the offside. Fast bowlers have a spread out field as the ball travels faster to the boundary. The captain's shrewdness in the field is crucial.

Juggling the Bowlers

The captain decides when a bowler bowls ,and how many overs at a stretch he bowls. If a batsman is 'hammering' the bowler for runs, he changes the bowler. If the bowler is bowling restrictively, he keeps him till his 10 overs are up. He can employ non regular bowlers to unsettle a batsman.

He also juggles his bowlers around so that a batsman cannot get used to one bowler. He has to make certain when each bowler has to bowl and keep some overs of his best bowlers to the end (as maximum runs are scored then). He can ask his bowler to 'flight' the ball (toss it up) i.e. the ball travels in a parabolic path, so it is difficult to score of.

Batting Order

In batting the captain decides the batting order. If quick runs are needed, a batsman with the capability to ' hit over the top ' (6's and 4's) is promoted up the order. A player ' in form ' is promoted up the order (bats at a higher number).

Misc.

The captain also uses his discretion to allow the use of a runner to an injured batsman. In Test cricket, the captain also has the power to declare his team innings, to take a new ball or impose " Follow On " (see Test Cricket).

A Runner

A Runner is a team player who runs between the wickets for an injured batsman.   This happens, if the batsman suddenly get cramps or gets injured. The runner is a team member who has already been dismissed in the innings (or if the case is not so, a batsman who bats very low down the order). The runner can only run but not bat. A runner can only be used if the batsman gets injured DURING the game and not if he is already injured before the game. The umpires must agree to a runner, before he can be used in the game.

Here the batsman hits a shot and remains rooted inside the bating crease, while the runner runs between the wickets for him, collecting the 1's and 2's. When the batsman at the other end comes to the striking end (opposite to the bowler), the injured batsman must stay close to Square Leg Umpire (Ump #2). While the runner is at the non-striker's end.

Other terms

All Rounder

A all-rounder, is you may have guessed, is a player who can bat well and pick up wickets as a bowler. All rounders have the ability score as well as a good batsman, as well as pick up wickets regularly. The wicketkeeper can also be classified as an all-rounder if he is a good batsman. All-rounders are an asset to the team.

An all round bowler or mixed bag, is a bowler is one who bowls off-spin, leg-spin and medium pace interchangeably in an over.

One Short

A run is scored if the batsmen exchanges ends. Now if either batsman in hurry, and does not cross the opposite crease, either with his bat or body, that run is not taken into account. It is called One Short. This is usually happens due to the batsman's carelessness.

Hat Tricks

When a bowler gets 3 consecutive wickets in 3 consecutive balls, it is called a Hat Trick. The word "Hat Trick" originated in cricket, and it is used in daily life as well. The wickets can fall in the same over or the next over he bowls, but must be consecutive balls he bowls. Hat-Tricks are very rare in the game, and more so in test cricket.

Ducks

A duck is term used to describe a batsman if he is out for zero runs. If he is out to the first ball that he faces, it is called a ' Golden Duck '.
In Test cricket if he is out for zero runs in both innings, it is called "a pair" meaning a Pair of Ducks. If out in both innings in a test, it is called a "Pair of Golden Ducks" or " King's Pair ."

Taking Guard

When the batsman goes to bat he takes guard. This means that he aligns his bat according to the stumps behind him. He can take the following guards: Off-stump, Middle and Off, Middle Stump, Middle and Leg and Leg Stump. Usually the first two guards are taken. Guards are used to play the type of line or spin being bowled.
eg. If an off-spinner is bowling, an off-stump guard will be taken. If a leg-spinner is bowling from around the wicket, a leg stump guard is taken to negate the effect of the spin.

Bump Ball

A bump ball is a ball that bounces very close to the batsman's foot, after he has played a shot, such that it appears to have come directly from the bat without ground contact.

Class

A batsman is categorised as a good player by the shots he plays. His shot selection, and placement for the particular ball bowled is very important. If the batsman seems to play a shot with minimum effort and his body movements free flowing & fluid, he is said to have class.

A player is considered experienced if he has played in 70 or more games. He is considered an all rounder if he has made 1,000 runs and taken 100 wickets. Career Statistics of such players are higher than average. such as the number of 50's and 100's he has scored in his career. If a batsman has got out, or remains not out, on a score between 50-99, a 50 is recorded in his career statistics. If he crosses 100 runs, a 100 is added to his statistics. The batting average of such players (runs scored before getting out) is above 40.

Similarly if a bowler takes 5+ wickets in a match, it is an achievement and is equated with a century a batsman hits. A wicketkeeper effecting 4 or more dismissals is also a great feat.

Age

In cricket there is no minimum or maximum age. Most players are selected for the national team when they are 19 and above. Players who are 16 years also have been selected. Most players continue playing till they reach their mid 30's.

Averages

Cricket is the perfect job for a statistician. How many runs in 15 overs? How many maiden overs in a world cup? Break down of the modes on how the batsman has got dismissed. Highest run score on batting first on a particular stadium etc. are some of the trivia viewers get to know.

Bowler's average, Over Rate, Batsman's strike rate are some of the mathematics involved in the game.