Staying focused in the field.
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strang

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Staying focused in the field.
« on: June 18, 2019, 12:52:54 PM »
I have been thinking about how hard it can be to take a sharp catch after being in the field for some time.
With cricket, let's face it, nothing can happen for long periods of time. Even more than that, once a ball is bowled there is a no play/down period. The percentage of time that the ball is actually active is only probably 1/6 of the time you are in the field.
How do you keep yourself alert over such long periods, and on and off again after a ball is bowled?
I unfortunately do find myself drifting off a bit. This has led me to be not quite as "there" as I could have been when a sharp catch comes.
What do you guys do?
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jjelricksmith

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Re: Staying focused in the field.
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2019, 01:43:07 PM »
I have 2/3 people in the side where every over we talk about things not cricket related. Works well.
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richthekeeper

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Re: Staying focused in the field.
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2019, 02:51:10 PM »
i'm the opposite. i'm a former wicketkeeper and now one of the better fielders in the team, because i expect (want!) every ball to come to me. anything hit hard at me, you bet i'm stopping it.

top edge a little dolly of a catch in my direction though, and i go to pieces. i've dropped my last two (after holding all of my previous attempts), both running round behind the keeper from slip/gully area to take a top edge. i got to both of them and they both went through my hands... just don't know what i did wrong!
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InternalTraining

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Re: Staying focused in the field.
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2019, 03:02:37 PM »
Quote from: strang on June 18, 2019, 12:52:54 PM

What do you guys do?

Practice focusing on the game but also un-focusing as well. This becomes critical if you are a batsman and like to bat long.

As a fielder, I just focus on the ball during play -- release from the bowler's hand, connection with bat etc, and let the body/muscle memory do the rest.
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Buzz

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  • Clear your mind, stay still and watch the ball
Re: Staying focused in the field.
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2019, 05:05:52 PM »
Fall asleep/get my son to field for me in an ideal world
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"Bradman didn't used to have any trigger movements or anything like that. He turned batting into a subconscious act" Tony Shillinglaw.

Seniorplayer

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Re: Staying focused in the field.
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2019, 07:47:57 PM »
Watch every ball off the bat and think every ball is coming to me then switch off when it doesn't and wait for the next ball.
Also find its easier to concentrate the closer you are to the bat.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2019, 07:51:00 PM by Seniorplayer »
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Tailendfielder

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Re: Staying focused in the field.
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2019, 09:55:53 PM »
Before i took up keeping full time, i was a really good fielder. Good under a high balls well as diving. Like Richthekeeper i wanted / expected the ball to come to me. Other than when skippering, i switch off between balls, usually by taking the piss out of team mates.

I have always found uncommitted fielders the most infuriating thing going. Everyone drops a catch or makes an error but giving less than 100% drives me mad and ill tell that player in the hope it stops them ‘wondering’ next time.

In short i think its mindset.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2019, 09:57:36 PM by Tailendfielder »
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Hoover

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Re: Staying focused in the field.
« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2019, 01:09:44 AM »
Quote from: strang on June 18, 2019, 12:52:54 PM
I have been thinking about how hard it can be to take a sharp catch after being in the field for some time.
With cricket, let's face it, nothing can happen for long periods of time. Even more than that, once a ball is bowled there is a no play/down period. The percentage of time that the ball is actually active is only probably 1/6 of the time you are in the field.
How do you keep yourself alert over such long periods, and on and off again after a ball is bowled?
I unfortunately do find myself drifting off a bit. This has led me to be not quite as "there" as I could have been when a sharp catch comes.
What do you guys do?
I treated fielding as if I was playing my winter sport. If you play football, hockey, aussie rules generally you want the ball and anticipate where it will go. I found this fun and kept me enjoying fielding for up to 100 overs at a time.
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