Fielding - The Hidden Aspect

[umarakmalrocks]

People always say X team has better batting, Y has better bowling.
No one mentions fielding. Pakistan is the worst fielding team among all teams. This leads to them losing quite a number of matches.

Discuss.

[speed]

agree if we had held our catches we could have drawn the 2010 test series v england or even beaten them.

[Boi]

Theres nothing to discuss here. We all know fielding is an integral part of being successful LoI side and Pakistan are pretty sh!t at it.

[in_cutter]

This is old news..

[TNA]

we all know we so crap at it that there is nothing to discuss about it. we hired a fielding specialist and you can see the result yourself. we are still crap.

[Markhor]

Thing is with bad fielding is that we put ourselves at a 20 run (misfields) and at least a 2 wicket (drops/missed run outs) disadvantage.

The bowlers have to work doubly hard to get that wicket-taking opportunity again.

I don't think hiring coach after coach will solve this, it is all due to lazy mindset.

[Usman]

Funny thing is that since Pak have got a specialist fielding coach, the fielding has actually worsened. Things improved under Waqar but it's gone back to rubbish.

[TNA]

also one thing Waqar pointed out was the non regular or rested players do not train regularly, look at Sami coming back after 3 matches misfield. Rehman as a sub coming back in the field misfield. Something is horribly wrong here.

[PakPlayer]

Thing is with bad fielding is that we put ourselves at a 20 run (misfields) and at least a 2 wicket (drops/missed run outs) disadvantage.

The bowlers have to work doubly hard to get that wicket-taking opportunity again.

I don't think hiring coach after coach will solve this, it is all due to lazy mindset.

Sohail Tanveer gives 20 runs away on a good day never mind bad days and the rest!!!

[Markhor]

Sohail Tanveer gives 20 runs away on a good day never mind bad days and the rest!!!

Extras is also an issue. We waste so many runs in bad fielding and extras.

If you averaged all the runs conceded by Pakistan due to bad fielding and extras, that average would probably be equivalent to a batting legend :))

[MMHS]

Actually, Pakistan is not the poorest fielding side, but by miles away. To me, out of a score of 10, NZ 'll get probably 9.5, second worst India or BD at around 6 & PAK finishing last at 2~2.5. Others' fielding is poor, PAK fielding is horrible, vulgar. Just in this series, PAK failed to win the series, just for the fielding.

I put scores in different aspects of fielding - slip catching, in side circle catching, bat pads, skier catching, keeping, ground fielding - dead stopping hard hits, sliding & chasing, throwing from inside circle, throwing from boundary, direct hitting the timbers, gathering the ball in run out situation, situational intellectuality & how much the team is enjoying fielding (body language & someone cheering the brigade), I don't see PAK team scoring over 3.5 in any aspect.

Actually this shows the commitment level & respect to your profession & your personality. Fielding is the least talent oriented skills & by putting harder practice & commitment anyone can lift the fielding to an acceptable level. Unless, the importance of fielding is accepted by the players from heart, nothing is going to improve. There are fundamental errors in PAK teams fielding & players don't ever bother to rectify those. Unless, fielding KPI is put into selection considerations, this is not going to improve. I don't think PAK players have enough self respect to get rid of such street cricketer level embarrassment.

[avidlearner]

Fielding wise in LOI - South Africa, Australia, NZ will most often than not top the table, then comes Sri Lanka a very competent fielding unit(IMO, for more than a decade now they appear the top fielding side from Asia), England(pretty good these days with more younger, athletic players), then India (mainly Kohli, Jaddu, Raina, Rohit), West Indies, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh etc.

Pakistan fielding ATM is in real shambles (not trying to say they were great to begin with but still). Specialist fielding coach that Pakistan has hired got an herculean task ahead of him to make this unit somewhat decent in terms of out-fielding/catching/running between the wickets.

[mastermind_quad]

Most of your batsmen score almost same ......you can have one or two specialist fielder in your side

The ultimate scores will remain the same .....but those fielders may save lots of runs as well some awesome catchings and runouts ...:13:

likes of Fawad Alam,Nazir and Shoiab Malik ...I am talking about.

[Spiderguy252]

Actually, Pakistan is not the poorest fielding side, but by miles away. To me, out of a score of 10, NZ 'll get probably 9.5, second worst India or BD at around 6 & PAK finishing last at 2~2.5. Others' fielding is poor, PAK fielding is horrible, vulgar. Just in this series, PAK failed to win the series, just for the fielding.

Are you kidding, mate?

http://thebollywoodgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Suresh-Raina-At-World-Cup-Semifinal-Mohali-Stills-61-452x292.jpg

http://tamilmovies.skynyxonline.com/myimages/sports/cricket/rohit_sharma/rohit_sharma.jpg

[umarakmalrocks]

Are you kidding, mate?

http://thebollywoodgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Suresh-Raina-At-World-Cup-Semifinal-Mohali-Stills-61-452x292.jpg

http://tamilmovies.skynyxonline.com/myimages/sports/cricket/rohit_sharma/rohit_sharma.jpg

i'll give us 7.5

[Spiderguy252]

i'll give us 7.5

Nothing short of an 8 is what I'm thinking.

[speed]

guys like sehwag, ashwin and zak bring down indian fielding to 6

[kungfu90]

Horrific fielding unit.
Even in 90s India weren't this bad. Pakistan should identify position specialist fielders.

[kungfu90]

guys like sehwag, ashwin and zak bring down indian fielding to 6

Should see a few of his catches where he doesn't have to run.
Not athletic but good safe hands. Good fielder if you put him in the right position, slip cordon or Gully.

[MMHS]

i'll give us 7.5

Actually, India's ODI/T20 fielding is quite good, so is ours as well. But I considered 50% weightage for Test. With 2/3 heavy fast bowlers, 4 senior players & MS keeping, India's Test fielding is probably worst (still miles a head of PAK to be honest) among elites.

In smaller grounds, Indian LO fielding is just behind the top notch, but their arm is too weak for bigger boundaries. 7.5 is really high overall. 7.5/8 for ODI/T20 but not more than 5 in Test. It makes 6/6.5 overall.

[kungfu90]

Fair Analysis MMHS. spot on.

[speed]

ashwin is probably the worst fielder in the world him or sohail tanvir.

[truthseer]

ashwin is probably the worst fielder in the world him or sohail tanvir.

Or Farhat in the slips

[cricketpassion]

Tweet from Julien Fountain

@JulienFountain: You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink. Perhaps what we need is more "Thirsty Horses" ? #justsaying

[truthseer]

Tweet from Julien Fountain

@JulienFountain: You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink. Perhaps what we need is more "Thirsty Horses" ? #justsaying


Looks like he's getting frustrated too :jf

[Random Aussie]

Funny thing is that since Pak have got a specialist fielding coach, the fielding has actually worsened. Things improved under Waqar but it's gone back to rubbish.

You cant coach people who dont want to do the work.

Pakistan are the worst fielding side in the world, LOL at whoever tried to compare to India, India are light years ahead in the field.

[Usman]

You cant coach people who dont want to do the work.

Pakistan are the worst fielding side in the world, LOL at whoever tried to compare to India, India are light years ahead in the field.

I'm not sure about that. Guys like Sami and Azhar who didn't have the best day do usually throw everything at their fielding. So do guys like Umer and Asad. It's guys like Sohail Tanvir who should be ashamed of their lack of effort.

[LegCutter]

Tweet from Julien Fountain

@JulienFountain: You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink. Perhaps what we need is more "Thirsty Horses" ? #justsaying

He doesnt seem so happy with us :(

[Sledger]

Are you kidding, mate?

http://thebollywoodgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Suresh-Raina-At-World-Cup-Semifinal-Mohali-Stills-61-452x292.jpg

http://tamilmovies.skynyxonline.com/myimages/sports/cricket/rohit_sharma/rohit_sharma.jpg

With the presentation of such compelling evidence, I can only assume you must be a lawyer.

[Spiderguy252]

With the presentation of such compelling evidence, I can only assume you must be a lawyer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVInd1-KQAI

Watch this from 0:00 to 1:45. You'll get the gist.

[Space Cat]

There is more to it than just blaming the players or coaching. Fielding is something that is developed in youth cricket and lower grades as you move up. Coaching can help improve the basic skills but there is only so much you can do that isn't natural a reflex or ability.

There is natural born athleticism which Pakistan most certainly has. Then there is the desire, heart and enjoyment for fielding which you develop as a young cricketer willing to throw your body around the field to chase the ball. This is something that has traditionally lacked in sub-continent cricketers and it has so much to do with the playing surfaces you play as you develop in cricket. I think i can be correct in assuming most of the smaller club and youth grounds have very hard and abrasive playing surfaces? I know myself definitely do not enjoy fielding on hard grounds and enjoyment is a key factor in developing sporting skills.