These gravity-defying acts, showcasing anticipation, reflexes and athleticism, make for spectacular viewing. Those magnificent flying men soar, much like birds in flight.
While it is debatable whether the standards of batting and bowling have improved in the last decade — flat-track bullies thrive while game-changing pacemen and spinners are harder to find — fielding has witnessed a revolution.
Some might, however, argue, not without merit, that the quality of close-in catching, in bat-pad positions like silly point or short-leg, or in the slips, has actually declined in the last few years. One of the reasons could be that all-round fielders, and not specialist close catchers, are in demand now.
But then, these positions, except the slip, rarely come into play in the shortest form of the game. In this territory, the men in the ‘circle’ and those guarding the fence assume great importance.
In the ICC World T20, remarkably fit and agile men such as A.B. de Villiers, David Warner, Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo could alter the course of matches. Swooping down on the speeding ball, saving precious runs or sending batsmen back to the dug-out, they will be in the thick of things.
The men in the ring have also been helped by a rule change that prevents the non-striker from setting off for a run as soon as the bowler’s backfoot lands. According to the present laws, the non-striker cannot legally take off till the release of the ball.
The crucial milliseconds gained have led to some sensational run-outs. Devastating ‘direct hits’, often with just half-a-stump to aim at, have left scrambling batsmen stranded with versatile fielders stopping and releasing the sphere in a single fluid motion.
The technique of fielding has taken cues from games like baseball. The throws have got flatter, harder and stronger. The less time the ball spends in the air, the quicker it reaches the target.
Who could have imagined a few years back that fielders close to the boundary ropes would actually keep the overhead ball in play, release the sphere before crossing the line and then jump back in to hold incredible catches.
Coordinated fielding — one player making the sliding stop and the other getting the throw in — and the ‘relay catching’ have taken the art to a different level.
Of course, the fielding positions have to be in sync with the bowling strategies. For instance, if the plan is to send down yorkers, long-on and long-off have to be a lot straighter because that is where the ball is most likely to go if the batsman manages to dig it out.
With the batsmen reverse-sweeping ever so often, a deepish slip or a short third-man have become critical positions.
Exceptional fielders watch a lot of subtle things such as the grip of the batsman — whether he is top or bottom-handed — to anticipate where the ball might travel.
Fielding continues to evolve.
