There are many things that Indian cricketers have to live up to when compared with the earlier generation. Runs and wickets obviously top the list. But there is also the fine-print of ‘fielding and catches’.
Incidentally, it is an area in which Virat Kohli and fellow-members of his youth brigade, have an advantage. They are recipients of modern training methods, are supremely fit and the enormous amount of limited overs cricket they play has added rapidity to their movements.
But fielding in the slips, is an art that melds reflex-action with introspection, marries soft hands with precise movement and fuses alert-senses (when the bowler runs in) with a relaxed state between deliveries. The current generation is yet to fully master this skill. It is not a huge blemish because this young outfit can only get better.
ExperimentationEver since, Rahul Dravid (a world record 210 catches) and V.V.S. Laxman (135) bowed out in 2012, M.S. Dhoni has experimented with his roll-call at slips. His choices have been influenced by the exit of seniors and changes in the present team.
Last year, R. Ashwin used to be in the slips but with Ravindra Jadeja becoming the skipper’s preferred spinner, overseas, and Rohit Sharma too warming the benches, others have turned up.
In the second Test at Lord’s, Shikhar Dhawan (first slip), Ajinkya Rahane (second) and Ravindra Jadeja (third) formed a troika while the fast bowlers operated. When spin was employed, Dhawan moved to the outfield and Rahane occupied first slip. In the close-in circle, fielders usually settle down at a fixed spot, fine-tune their ability and settle into their on-field rhythms.
Perhaps Dhoni or Dhawan had other ideas and during a tea-break, Sunil Gavaskar asked: “Why has Virat moved out of slips?”
At Lord’s, there was an uncertain moment between Dhawan and Dhoni. Gary Ballance was drawn forward, the edge bisected Dhoni and Dhawan, who was standing a bit deep, and Stuart Binny missed his maiden Test wicket. Both Dhoni and Dhawan presumed that the catch was the other’s! A few sharp chances eluded the others manning the slips.
Dhawan, meanwhile, caught one that swirled high and went past slips, he ran, yelled ‘mine’ and pouched it. Truly, when the ball inches towards the outfield, this Indian fielding unit is far superior than previous squads.
Still, the uncertainty at slips remains a mild worry while the series is at its mid-point with India holding the reins. On air, Nasser Hussain spoke about the ‘inexperience in the slips’ while Gavaskar pointed out that ‘Dhawan was perhaps a touch stiff at slips.’
A few years ago, Dravid told the media: “There are no easy catches in the slips. But as long as you have practised well and put in enough time, you are fine.” He also made it clear that slips aren’t a dungeon of drudgery. Between deliveries, he chatted with Laxman “about kids, house construction and plumbers.”
Dravid also said: “You cannot keep talking cricket the whole day, you have to switch off, but as soon as the bowler starts running in, you switch on.” There are enough clues in his words for the present bunch to adhere to and the man himself is here till the end of the third Test. The last time India played a bilateral series in England (2011), fielding coach Trevor Penney said: “The day is not far away when we would be known as one of the best fielding sides in the world. However, in Tests we have to work a bit.”
With young legs at his disposal now, Penney has an easier bunch to supervise, just that the jig-saw puzzle in the slips needs to be solved.
The remaining Tests in England and the others scheduled this year, should help Dhoni finalise his colleagues at slips.
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