Cricket Fielding Positions
Just like any other game, cricket has positions that are essential for a successful match. Everyone that’s actively involved in the game must take their positions very seriously. Beginners have to familiarize themselves with everything that goes on, so they don’t get lost.
This timely article is all set to shed light on matters of positions in the field of cricket. Read carefully to ascertain that you get all the critical points.
Importance Of Fielding
First off, it’s expedient that you understand what fielding means. You’ve probably wondered what happens to the cricket ball once it’s been hit by the batsman. Wonder no more.
To answer your question, this is where fielding becomes relevant. It involves catching and returning a cricket ball once it’s been hit by a batsman. So, why is it important?
Victories and losses depend on it. When a fielder is not keen on alertness, the game is as good as dead.
Is that even possible? Of course! Fielding is not always pomp and flawless affair in the game of cricket. On the contrary, there are plenty of downs as far as fielding is concerned.
What causes the fielders to miss their target?
- Lack of alertness. Fielders are required to always be mindful of everything that happens on the pitch. This means no distractions should catch their attention.
- Poor techniques. This is where practice becomes a valid option. As a fielder, you won’t realize the importance of viable techniques until it’s time to put them into good use. Sharpen your techniques, and you’re assured of a top-notch fielding prowess.
- Loss of composure. This happens mostly among those who are new to the game of cricket. A bowler delivers a ball toward their direction, and they begin to panic immediately.
The worst part is that they immediately forget what their duties are.
- Not much effort. A lazy fielder is likely to throw the entire game under the bus simply by not giving it their best shot. Maybe the fielders in question are just not in the mood for a game.
This is another critical question to which every upcoming cricketer should dig up the answer. There are 11 players in the field, and every one of them has a role to play.
However, there is a 12th person who doesn’t play as one of the team members. They play the role of a substitute in case one of the team members suffers an injury and can’t go on with the game.
As soon as the injured player is good to go, they are free to assume their original position in the game. Note that there are two teams that play against each other and make up 11 members each.
Who are umpires? You may have heard it before but weren’t as keen to follow up on the meaning. Umpires are often overlooked but play key roles in cricket. One of them is to ensure that the rules of the game are followed to the letter.
Theirs is a tough job that requires them to be alert throughout the game. They are a major part of the decision-making process in the game. Once they are done, the umpires make their decisions known to the scorers.
A third umpire is in the picture as well but calls the shots when it comes to video decisions. Supposing the original umpires are stuck between a rock and a hard place, they involve the third umpire.
This is where the video is played in slow motion for them to review and draw a final conclusion.
Field Placement in Cricket
This basically refers to the positions that each player assumes in the field during a match. It’s easy to get confused, especially when you watch it for the first time. As you immerse yourself into this sport, you learn each of the positions by heart as well as their roles.
Be warned that you have to know where you lie in terms of right or left-handedness. Here are some of the positions in cricket that you have to master;
- Captain. A game cannot run smoothly without a responsible and knowledgeable captain. After careful observation of every player’s tactics of the game, they get to decide who is on and off the team.
They make other sensitive decisions, such as which positions the fielders must occupy.
- Wicketkeeper. This is a crucial position in every game and must be taken very seriously. Basically, a wicketkeeper catches the ball every time it is bowled towards their direction.
- Bowler. Their job is to keep easy runs out of the reach of batsmen by bowling consistently. However, they should be careful not to bowl aimlessly as these will not be counted.
They should have six turns to bowl before they hand over to the other bowler from the opposite end of the pitch.
- Batsmen/women. As the name suggests, these players never let go of their bats as the game goes on. Their specialty is to score runs and step up to the bowlers at every opportunity.
A qualified batsman can’t afford to put their guard down even for a second. They know the runs are in their hands and should never downplay it at any time.
Watch the Game
As an avid fan of cricket, you’ve been reading about it and maybe hearing all about it from friends. Why not watch the game to see for yourself how it all works? Besides, this is the easiest way to get it right on the field positions.
The roles played by each team member will also be clearer when you see them in action. It will all come alive and will be worth every minute of your time.
Mobilize a group of your like-minded friends and have a cricket match of your own. Set the pitch and mark the positions to be occupied by each one of them. What better and fun way to climb up the rungs of this ladder called cricket?
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