The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Fate of teams hangs on fielding thread

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
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Fate of teams hangs on fielding thread

Fielding has begun to have a great deal of say in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as it heads into its business end.

Kolkata Knightriders have been made to look way below par by its butter-fingered fielders. Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has publicly chastised his tardy fielders. Mumbai, despite having the services of fielding guru Jonty Rhodes, has wilted at critical stages.

As matches are being decided on the final balls and the margin of runs is no more than a run or two, fate of teams is critically hanging by the fielding thread. The margin of error in this IPL has been very little. Just imagine if Rohit Sharma, the other night, hadn’t got out in the final over, the task of 4 runs from 4 balls should have been a cake walk against Kings Eleven Punjab.

Or Mumbai Indians’ tail finding ways to get run out in the final over against Rajathan Royals to lose by two runs. Or that final over of Mushrafe Murtaza when a margin of 21 runs couldn’t be defended.

Known fact

The thing to remember in this format is you need to have strong, critical and safe hands in the outfield. Somebody who could sprint and hold on to a hot chance or spear in a throw to catch batsmen short of crease. Outfielders are more important than those in inner circle, if for nothing than for the fours and sixes which could slip out of your grasp. More catches happen in the outfield in Twenty20 and that’s a known fact.

A look at the top catchers of this IPL bears out the fact. AB de Villiers is tops with 12 catches; Herschelle Gibbs is in second spot with eight scalps.

They more often than not patrol the outfield. De Villiers has plucked out some sensational catches and similarly noticeable has been the nonchalance with which Gibbs grabs his chances.

Rohit, Raina sizzle

Among the Indians, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina have been outstanding.

It’s easy to recall the full-blooded Gautam Gambhir shot which Raina intercepted at short covers. Or the return chance which Sharma picked off a boomer-of-a-drive from Dhoni. Catches such as these have turned matches on its head.

So while we name and rejoice at the proud owners of orange and purple caps for batting and bowling, the efforts in the field will deserve similar recognition. It has made a telling difference to the fates of IPL teams.

TCM

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