Share your infield tactics

[KashifJ]

Every Captain / Player / Team has some tactics which they apply in the game either to crawl back into the game, induce mistakes by the opposition batsman/bowler/fielder etc. … Lets share what tactics you apply and how does it pay off etc.

I’ll start with mine:

1. Dedicated Ball Shiner:

I am the office ball shiner in the team; after every ball (if possible) or after every over, ball is thrown to me for shining. It comes natural to me that I can shine the ball like no one else in the team; my palms are always dry (just like Alastair Cook) so it helps a lot … and ball swings much better in the air

2. Keeping the Volume Up:

Our keeper is the centre point of making sure that all guys are making their presence felt; by appreciating, clapping and eventually fielding at full throttle. We make sure that batsman is able to hear what we want to say so his concentration gets distracted
3. Deep Deception: In case of miss fielding in the mid/deep area, the fielder who missed the ball does his best to trick the batsman; he knows that backing up fielder is now on to the ball but he still keeps his acting as he still got the ball and pretends that he got the ball and is throwing back … this is very confusing for the batsmen running between the wickets, they often miss the extra run by getting into the pretending trap … in best cases, run out is also achieved

4. I Want That Ball:

This is keeper & spinner’s act which is done according to situation’s requirement… somewhere in middle of the over may be keeper would shout to the bowler e.g. do cheesy ball or some other name; but in reality there is no code word for any ball; spinner would just ball his normal deliveries (as he wants), but the batsman becomes confused and can make a mistake … Warny & Healy used to do this trick


5. Take The Battle to Keeper:

Being a batsman I often get to hear the keeper’s talk … If keeper starts the conversation I often go step ahead; I’ll start talking to him more than he would to me, anything outside the cricket world, your favorite meal to TV serial or movie etc. … Keepers don’t expect this from batsman normally, so take the offensive back to them, this normally shuts them up and they can forget to keep the moral up

Your turn

 

[Hasnain_786]

the 5th one im going to have a go at next season

 

[ammo]

lol once started talking to the keeper about mobile phones, quite a convo we has while fielding i try to premeditate te place the btsman will hit it by looking at the line and legnth of balls this has resulted in many run outs and catches.
Bowling every now and then you will get a batsman that has got his eye in and is trying to club everything out of the park and is not getting out the best thing is to bowl a slower ball

 

[Cover Drive]

Not sure if I would call them as tactics but here is what I do;

I'm very very vocal in the field, nearly after every ball etc I would clap or say ''Com'on boys etc etc and usually afterwards my throat gets dry

When I do leg umpiring I usually talk to fielding team players .

After over when crossing the pitch I stop there and check out batsman bat before moving to my position .

Again not sure if these are tactics but I do these things in the field.

 

[Cover Drive]

Every Captain / Player / Team has some tactics which they apply in the game either to crawl back into the game, induce mistakes by the opposition batsman/bowler/fielder etc. … Lets share what tactics you apply and how does it pay off etc.

I’ll start with mine:

1. Dedicated Ball Shiner:

I am the office ball shiner in the team; after every ball (if possible) or after every over, ball is thrown to me for shining. It comes natural to me that I can shine the ball like no one else in the team; my palms are always dry (just like Alastair Cook) so it helps a lot … and ball swings much better in the air

Interesting, I never knew dry hands were good to shine the ball

My hands are always dry lol

 

[ammo]

^its good so that the rough side stays dry to help it swing

 

[KashifJ]

^its good so that the rough side stays dry to help it swing

Yep ... and sometimes (especially when ball is not really old) some fielders can make mistake and accidently shine the wrong side, so dedicated shiner is big help !

I don't have a very good throwing arm from the boundary; but I am very very quick on my feet, so my natural position is within the circle; this gives me lot more opportunities to shine the ball even between the deliveries ... and moreover, I get to talk to the bawler a lot while bowling ... I have no idea why but this has been tested many times, when I shine the ball swing is much better (vs when I am not playing in the team) ... so much so that I get jokes about it that I can talk to the ball and tell it to swing

 

[Cover Drive]

I believe I have quite strong arm so usually I'm on boundary

Another reason why Kashif bhai should always be in team (first one being Screaming Cat )

 

[KashifJ]

I believe I have quite strong arm so usually I'm on boundary

Another reason why Kashif bhai should always be in team (first one being Screaming Cat )

LOL ... good one Uzair ... or may be coz he has the mallet that's why

 

[Cover Drive]

LOL ... good one Uzair ... or may be coz he has the mallet that's why

Oops I forgot about mallet

That is automatic selection )

 

[Ryw]

Not sure if I would call them as tactics but here is what I do;

I'm very very vocal in the field, nearly after every ball etc I would clap or say ''Com'on boys etc etc and usually afterwards my throat gets dry

When I do leg umpiring I usually talk to fielding team players .

After over when crossing the pitch I stop there and check out batsman bat before moving to my position .

Again not sure if these are tactics but I do these things in the field.

Why not take ur ipad with u in the field while checking bats , n than uploading the pics on PP on da spot

 

[ammo]

^yeah good idea just need a shock proof case but worth it i think

 

[PakPrince]

keep a third man and one other fielder behind the keeper.

ask the fast bowlers to let it loose

 

[Hasnain_786]

^ typical in club cricket the WK are so lame

 

[ExtraCoverDrive]

Tactic 1: When fielding, Have a nickname for every batsman coming in. For example: you were glasses? you're four eyes. You're too pale? Your snow white, You're too fat? You're inzy, You're too old? Your'e my uncle. Tip: When sledging, always have a calm voice. No need to be loud or obnoxious. The batsmen don't care about those sledges. But if you are slightly over the line in your insults and you're calm about it, Nothing irritates the batsman more. The last thing you want is 2 set batsmen who arent being distracted.


Tactic 2: As a captain or even a senior player in the team, Always note which side the batsman favors. There are very few players out in the club level where the batter is good all around the ground. If he favors the onside, I prefer to only have catching positions on the onside. I am talking aggresive catching positions. Ive noticed good batsmen getting out to their favorite shots when the fielding is aggressive. NOticed this even with my batting. Unless the batsmen is fully set, try having no defensive fielders out in the boundary.

Tactic 3: We see this all the time, but if your regular bowlers aren't doing the job for you, let a lesser known bowler in the team bowl some. You'd be surprised how many batsmen take these part time bowlers lightly and throw their wicket away.

Tactic 4: If you have 2 set batsmen, choke any runs in the V. Let them get a little adventurous and play some cross batted shots. Half the time, it leads to their downfall. Even if they're set batsmen.


Tactic 5: If you got a batsmen who likes to nudge, Absolutely pack the 30 yards with all your fielders. Even if he's set, bring them all in. NO god damn singles. Let him go over the top.

 

[pakistanalltheway]

Tactic 1: When fielding, Have a nickname for every batsman coming in. For example: you were glasses? you're four eyes. You're too pale? Your snow white, You're too fat? You're inzy, You're too old? Your'e my uncle. Tip: When sledging, always have a calm voice. No need to be loud or obnoxious. The batsmen don't care about those sledges. But if you are slightly over the line in your insults and you're calm about it, Nothing irritates the batsman more. The last thing you want is 2 set batsmen who arent being distracted.


Tactic 2: As a captain or even a senior player in the team, Always note which side the batsman favors. There are very few players out in the club level where the batter is good all around the ground. If he favors the onside, I prefer to only have catching positions on the onside. I am talking aggresive catching positions. Ive noticed good batsmen getting out to their favorite shots when the fielding is aggressive. NOticed this even with my batting. Unless the batsmen is fully set, try having no defensive fielders out in the boundary.

Tactic 3: We see this all the time, but if your regular bowlers aren't doing the job for you, let a lesser known bowler in the team bowl some. You'd be surprised how many batsmen take these part time bowlers lightly and throw their wicket away.

Tactic 4: If you have 2 set batsmen, choke any runs in the V. Let them get a little adventurous and play some cross batted shots. Half the time, it leads to their downfall. Even if they're set batsmen.


Tactic 5: If you got a batsmen who likes to nudge, Absolutely pack the 30 yards with all your fielders. Even if he's set, bring them all in. NO god damn singles. Let him go over the top.

You would make a good captain .
Thanks for sharing some good advice .

 

[dadvoc]

yeah I have read the 'official ball shiner' thing in one of Harsha Bhogle's interview (I think it was with Cook)