The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Era of specialist fielding positions over: Robin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Era of specialist fielding positions over: Robin

S. Dinakar

— File photo

Robin Singh.

Chennai: India’s fielding coach Robin Singh has an incisive cricketing mind.

“It has become easier for the batsmen to steal a single these days,” he pointed out. “Now the batsman can set off for a single as soon as the bowler’s back foot lands. The non-striker gains two to three yards.”

In other words, the non-striker does not have to wait till the point of release. Simply put, the job of the fielder in the circle has become harder.

Focus is the key

Robin told The Hindu on Tuesday, “The batsmen have an advantage and they are taking you on more and more. A fielder needs to be quick on the ball and throw. Focus is important. Anticipation is crucial.”

A brilliant fielder during his playing days, Robin shed light on anticipation. “You need to read the pitch, the nature of the bowler operating, the situation, the type of batsman at the crease, his grip, his footwork.”

Robin elaborated, “For instance, if the surface has bounce, the ball tends to travel more square off the pitch since the batsmen play the horizontal shots more. If the batsman has a top-hand grip, then you would expect him to drive fluently in front of the pitch.”

The 45-year-old former India all-rounder has done a commendable job with the Indian team. Accomplished former Sri Lankan opener Sidath Wettimuny called Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men the “best fielding side he has seen from India.”

“I have stressed good quality in practice. We train under pressure. We simulate match situations during our sessions. The players attack the ball with a lot of intensity and throw down stumps from various angles. The emphasis has been on balance. If your balance is fine then good technique will follow,” said Robin.

Changes in positions

As the game evolved, conventional field positions were changing. “The batsmen, particularly in the shorter forms of the game, are tending to go straight over the top. They are no longer playing as many strokes through covers and mid-wicket. So, your mid-off and mid-on may have to be deeper and straighter.”

Robin recognised that the campaign in New Zealand was a challenging one. “The conditions could be cold. Even minor injuries, particularly to the fingers, could feel a lot worse because of the weather. The clothes will be heavier so that could affect movement. But there are no excuses. The cricketers will need to do little things like keeping their fingers in the pocket to keep them warm.”

Slip catching will be a vital area and Robin feels India has a bunch of good slip fielders. “Judging and adapting to the bounce will be extremely important. We practise with new ball and old ball, they travel to the fielders at different speeds. I am also happy with close catching to the spinners. It’s all about reflexes and anticipation. Guys like Gambhir and Vijay have been very good.”

Robin was pleased with the improvement shown by the Indian bowlers, the pacemen in particular. “Bowlers make up more than one-third of the eleven. Pace bowlers tend to relax after sending down an over and we, in practice, made them field a lot of balls after bowling eight to ten balls. This has helped.”

Positive signs

And the signs have been positive. “Munaf Patel had a mental block when it came to throwing earlier. Now he has among the best throws in the Indian team. Ishant Sharma has come on a lot and he wants to improve further,” said Robin.

He felt the era of the specialist fielding positions was over. “In the age of Twenty20 cricket, there is no choice, no preferred place. In practice we take the guys out of their comfort zone to more uncomfortable places on the cricket field. And you cannot hide a poor fielder in Twenty20. He is bound to get exposed. One error could prove the difference.”

Robin said there were no short cuts. “Concentrate hard, follow your instinct and field with aggression.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport