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[edge]

Start counting the number of times they tap their bat and then discuss it with the slips, can work wonders on occasion!

On a more general note, I tend to keep 15-20 overs of constant rubbish chat going, directed at whoever seems like a good idea at the time (@thecord can probably testify to this). Keeps your team going at the least, unfortunately often it's only me and I usually run out of ideas after then.

[thecord]

On a more general note, I tend to keep 15-20 overs of constant rubbish chat going, directed at whoever seems like a good idea at the time (@thecord can probably testify to this). Keeps your team going at the least, unfortunately often it's only me and I usually run out of ideas after then.

 @edge Was concentrating too hard on getting the ball off the square to take note! Weather was so bad I probably wouldn't have heard anything anyway

[SOULMAN1012]

Personally I love a bit of chirp, I have always found just looking at them and laughing or smirking works well. Also I between overs I look in there direction when talking to my batting partner but 9/10 I am not actually talking about it. The aim is to try and get the bowler to get worked up and bowl me more crap.

As a keeper I do give it but only ever to those who gave it to me, I can stand up to most bowlers so can work really well. Never start it though.

[HallamKeeper]

Had a good one on Saturday. Our number 6 came in and hit a few square of the wicket for 6. Their keeper and a few others started up with 'that's all he can do, he can't hit straight' and so on. They obviously hadn't ever played against him as he is a very good straight and the next over went for 20-odd all over mid off. It seemed all the fielding team did was motivate him to score more aggressively. 

[iand123]

Our oppo on saturday had one of the most annoying keepers ive ever witnessed. He said one thing and one thing only "come on lads its all persil innit" (persil being like ariel). Its all he said, literally every other ball for 40 overs (even when something went on the floor).

[Timbo]

I've found that being in full agreement with the comments seems to make them drop off.

Completely agree, it's shut many a person up before. Never know quite how to come back at you then

[Timbo]

Had a brilliant one last season. I was batting middle order and the chase had gone, lost too many wickets early doors and I was 'having a net' in the middle with my mate. I got a barrage of abuse about why I wasn't teeing off to win and I said only one thing in reply "Sorry to disappoint you; I'm not good enough" Their faces were a complete picture, priceless

[richthekeeper]

i don't say much directly to batsmen beyond the odd random comment about their season or something about how their partner is batting. just getting a conversation going is usually a way to distract them.

when my bowlers are beating the edge or tying a batsman up then big encouragement all round. also when a fielder is chasing something down then again, big encouragement. sometimes just shouting "bowler's end" is enough to stop them running a two even if the ball isn't yet in hand!

i never get personal or abusive because that really winds me up when I'm batting. love the breath in/breath out comment though!

[Akewstick]

It depends who it's coming from as well. I hate to say I got really succesfully distracted last weekend just by being stared at. A fielder came in to short cover and stared right into my eyes, I made eye contact, held it, he didn't blink, reeally mean look on his face. Obviously I've had this before but usually of some big tough looking guy and I'd think, screw him, let him stare. But this guy was about 5'4", can't have weighed more than 10 stone, and had beautiful long curly hair, it was unsettling, I kept looking back at him after every ball to see if he was still staring and thinking - how is he so confident to do that? Stared back at him a little too long and got bowled through the gate.

[WalkingWicket37]

It depends who it's coming from as well. I hate to say I got really succesfully distracted last weekend just by being stared at. A fielder came in to short cover and stared right into my eyes, I made eye contact, held it, he didn't blink, reeally mean look on his face. Obviously I've had this before but usually of some big tough looking guy and I'd think, screw him, let him stare. But this guy was about 5'4", can't have weighed more than 10 stone, and had beautiful long curly hair, it was unsettling, I kept looking back at him after every ball to see if he was still staring and thinking - how is he so confident to do that? Stared back at him a little too long and got bowled through the gate.

Staring right into each others eyes between deliveries? I bet the sexual tension was unbearable! 

[mike1989]

My method is simple: if you don't know the person, keep it light hearted; if you know the person and have a friendship with them (eg old team mates, or players you've played against for years), then some funny sledging and banter can be enjoyable. But as a keeper I generally I mainly support the bowler, fielders, or the odd quip/general chit chat with the batsman between balls. When I bat I normally keep to myself, or exchange some chit chat with the keeper.

The one thing I dislike from any fielder, team mate or opposition, is when their comments begin to get personal and abusive. This can really take the enjoyment out of the game with some of the things they come out with, and I find it sad that some team's players have to resort to such tactics to get under an opponent's skin. 

[WalkingWicket37]

I was a bit vocal on Saturday, mainly encouraging team mates (with a fair bit of piss taking too!) I made a few remarks about the opener wearing black socks but that is a cardinal sin on the cricket pitch (and it wasn't malicious).

It was all so friendly I gave him a hug between deliveries at one stage after he'd said to me "I didn't really deserve a 50 there, I've been dropped 5 times" (while my teammates were retrieving the ball, his partner hit me literally out the ground!)

I'll have a chat with the batsmen between deliveries, and usually have a conversation with the bloke at the non-strikers end when I'm bowling. I am known to make the odd comment about village behaviour but it's never offensive (not intentionally anyway, it's not wise to upset a bloke with a bat in his hand).
At the end of the day we're playing as a hobby, there's no point being a knob towards someone who, like you, is playing for fun and paying for the privilege.

[MD2812]

also when a fielder is chasing something down then again, big encouragement. sometimes just shouting "bowler's end" is enough to stop them running a two even if the ball isn't yet in hand!

Big fan of this one, shouting something like "good pickup, great arm, take the bails off!!"  when the batsman is running blind tends to cause hesitation and save a run. Love a batsman saying no, turning to look and seeing the fielder is picking the ball up and he's been duped.

[WalkingWicket37]

Big fan of this one, shouting something like "good pickup, great arm, take the bails off!!"  when the batsman is running blind tends to cause hesitation and save a run. Love a batsman saying no, turning to look and seeing the fielder is picking the ball up and he's been duped.

Love a shout of "great throw, take 'em" before it's been picked up.
Sadly we've got a class A f***wit in the team who will then shout "how do you know, he hasn't picked it up yet" 

[TangoWhiskey]

Anyone else indulge in a silent over? We do it quite often, where no one is allowed to make any noise. Got an LBW in it too once where everyone was jumping and waving their arms around but no noise, even after the finger went up!