In an interview with TOI, the fielding coach of Lucknow Tremendous Giants, South African nice Rhodes spoke on methods to be a great fielder, the position of coaches and the way forward for one-day cricket.
Excerpts:
What are the primary components of an ideal fielder?
We all know fielding is essential and studying good approach is a matter of self-discipline. One in every of them is the flexibility to run laterally and sideways as cricket is a really straight line recreation. Whether or not you might be batting or bowling, everyone seems to be strolling in a straight line. To be a great fielder, you want to be fast to vary course. Second, you want good anticipation which doesn’t imply quick reflexes. Good anticipation signifies that you anticipate every bowl to come back to you. It isn’t one thing you may practice. The second factor is that you need to watch not solely the ball approaching the bat but in addition the batsman’s physique language. To area properly, you need to take pleasure in it.
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In line with you, who’re the highest three fielders in world cricket immediately?
Now there is just one – Ravindra Jadeja.
There was a time when being a great fielder was a private factor, however now it’s a collective exercise. Is proscribed overs cricket the primary purpose behind this?
That is particularly T20 cricket, not simply restricted overs. It was solely after the IPL began that folks began specializing in fielding. Not each crew had a fielding coach. There was a whole lot of time in 50-over matches. You had 3-4 good fielders and 6-7 guys did not do properly. However as quickly as IPL began, we noticed development in fielding. Round 12-13 years since 2008 have been superb. Earlier folks used to speak about fielding however there have been solely three-four good folks. However now, as a crew, we’ve seen the fielding improvement undergo the roof.
In immediately’s cricket, not solely catches and run outs are necessary, however saving runs is equally necessary. How tough is it to be a top quality fielder when there’s a lot concentrate on batting and bowling expertise?
Specializing in fielding is just not tough as it’s a self-discipline. Now we have fielding coaches and their job is to work. It is part of every day follow identical to batting and bowling. As a fielding coach, I’m not making requests to the gamers, I’m inculcating them within the fielding guidelines. Fielding is now an necessary a part of cricket.
How do you see the Lucknow crew performing this season, particularly when it’s performed each at residence and away. Travelling, taking part in matches and coaching at totally different facilities may be pricey. How can gamers keep contemporary in such a busy event?
It is tough. Firstly, we’re again with IPL outdoors Maharashtra. Now we have to make Ekana Stadium our residence floor and our fort. When folks come to Lucknow, they discover that they’ve robust video games not due to the matches however due to the journey. Flying throughout India makes for a protracted day, possibly 6-7 hours. So we’ve to take care of psychological fatigue throughout IPL. So, as coaches, we talk about with the administration, health trainers, physiotherapists and counselors on how we will take most time for the gamers to relaxation. If we do not get it proper, we could have mentally drained gamers.
Now we have seen a whole lot of distinction within the high quality of fielding in home and worldwide cricket. What must be achieved to scale back that hole?
I believe extra coaches are wanted. If I am going to any academy and any state, I can encourage the gamers for 3-4 days within the camp. They’re going to be excited and follow however in two weeks’ time, they’re going to neglect all about it or not work on the identical depth. Cricket is a recreation of behavior and the way you follow is necessary. Individuals assume that follow makes an ideal participant however for perfection you want the best follow. The hot button is to upskill the coaches on the home stage and make sure that extra kids come ahead as they’ll simply inculcate good fielding habits on the preliminary stage. We must always concentrate on the coaches. If I practice gamers, it impacts 10-12 gamers, but when I can practice 5-6 coaches, it impacts 100 gamers.
Due to T20 cricket, 50-over matches typically get boring. What do you assume would be the way forward for ODI?
ODI is like three totally different occasions inside 50 overs – there are energy play, center and demise overs, the place batsmen attempt to rating most runs and bowlers are beneath strain. However take a look at England, they play during. They do not fear concerning the starting, the center or the tip, they only go on working laborious. South Africa performs courageous cricket, Australia does it a bit otherwise. So, 50 over cricket stays the identical, what can change would be the angle of the groups in the direction of it and it will likely be entertaining for the folks.
