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[HallamKeeper]

I have had a few mishaps when run outs are on and the ball is coming from the deep. I try to keep an eye on which end is the best opportunity but obviously from a long throw your eyes are focussed on the ball so you can't really see what the batsmen are doing. Should fielders with a better view be helping or is it all down to me?

Example last night: A slight miss field in the deep led to the batsmen taking a risky second. I looked at them and the one going to the bowlers end seemed to be the best option, I shouted bowlers end but the ball still came to me, I took off my glove and caught it and threw straight to the bowler. I hadn't realised the batsman at my end had for some reason not made his ground when I had it in my hands but I had turned to throw immediately. The throw wasn't over the stumps by the way, it was a few yards away and quite high. After no one was run out the fielders didn't understand why I had taken the bails at my end but I really had no idea which was the best option.

I get the feeling I messed up and want to stop this happening again.

[RoyalParkReds]

First point I would consider is that you should analyze the batsman as they run during their fielding,batting and whatever to see which ones are quick and which ones not so. Also, especially when you play in a non-professional level ( mine included) there can be some obvious unfit players and you know if they're running a two or three which end you will probably have to throw to. This also applies to batting and picking your fielders.

Secondly, team mates should help out because they obviously have time to see what is happening. They can spot if a player has hesitated or slipped etc. The only problem is sometimes team mates confuse the fielder by shouting contradicting calls or just simple wrong ones. A lot of the time I see this happening is if there is batsman A that is one meter or so behind batsman B in the running and the fielders automatically call his end because he needs to make more ground, but if your you're fenching the ball just behind point or gully for example and someone calls bowler because that is where batsman A is running too, it will probably not easier to just throw it to the shorter end and into the the keepers glove.

That was a very wordy example.   

[Mtown Don]

You should definitely be getting shouts from fielders who have a full view of the situation. Something like 'take them off' if the run out is on at your end of the standard 'bowler's' if you need to shy.

It sounds like you're being very hard on yourself. It's hard to take a throw going away from the stumps then turn back and set yourself to shy even if you had been aware that the runout was on at your end. If I'm picturing the situation correctly, I probably would have done the same thing. Sometimes people don't realise the difficulties of 'keeping

[HallamKeeper]

My team are fairly bad in the field. If I'm lucky one or two throws will be by the stumps at a decent height each game. Most of the time I have to jump or the lovely ones right in front of you. I wanted to get some opinions before I raised the issue with the team. I really think we could do a lot better.

I also have a theory that fielders should try to throw in to me fairly hard each time even if the batsmen are comfortably making the run. I want to make them run rather than jog so they get tired and make mistakes.

[ajmw89]

Always throw to the fat bloke's end...

[Akewstick]

Well, first of all, don't shout them an end to throw at when you're not sure which one's best. Secondly, if someone get the ball to you and you're not 100% sure they're past you, knock em down, you can still throw to the bowler's end then if that's on.

[richthekeeper]

If in doubt, keeper's end. You've got big gloves on...

Agree with the sentiments of everyone who says you should be expecting more help from your teammates. I had one on Saturday where I had no idea there was a chance until my buddy at square leg bellowed "take 'em off!" in my ear. I did, and he was out by a yard.

[Vitas Cricket]

I have had a few mishaps when run outs are on and the ball is coming from the deep. I try to keep an eye on which end is the best opportunity but obviously from a long throw your eyes are focussed on the ball so you can't really see what the batsmen are doing. Should fielders with a better view be helping or is it all down to me?

Example last night: A slight miss field in the deep led to the batsmen taking a risky second. I looked at them and the one going to the bowlers end seemed to be the best option, I shouted bowlers end but the ball still came to me, I took off my glove and caught it and threw straight to the bowler. I hadn't realised the batsman at my end had for some reason not made his ground when I had it in my hands but I had turned to throw immediately. The throw wasn't over the stumps by the way, it was a few yards away and quite high. After no one was run out the fielders didn't understand why I had taken the bails at my end but I really had no idea which was the best option.

I get the feeling I messed up and want to stop this happening again.

My experience is fielders tend to throw towards the end that is making noises at them (even if those noises are 'bowlers end!')

It frustrates the hell out of me, because on the odd occasion when i'm fielding, i can still hear perfectly....

If it's a poor throw, it's not your fault but you should always consider your own end as the priority, i think i've run someone out once with the old glove off and launch it trick. The ball has a lot of travelling to do in order to execute a run out at the other end, and thats without considering whether you've caught it cleanly and thrown it accurately.

Sounds like your team mates need to provide some input. At my club we appoint two 'callers' who work with the keeper. In my opinion, even with 'callers' my call should be the priority as i'm the one with the gloves and the best chance of a clean pick up to break the stumps. But once my eyes are focussed on the throw, the 'callers' come into their own as they can inform me whether to get the bails off at my end or get the ball down the other end after i've caught it, and with how much intensity. There is nothing worse than having your back to play, hearing 'bowlers end' as you are taking the fielders throw, turning and throwing in a rush because you think theres a tight runout only to see 2 batters stood next to you but your throw has gone astray. If it's an easy run out at the other end because the batsmen have cocked it up, someone needs to be telling you.

We use two callers as one of them may be the fielder throwing it in at the time.

[dougydee]

It sounds like there is a bit of game awareness missing from your team. Depending on what level/grade you are playing you should expect more out of your team mates.
Try having your cover and mid wicket as appointed callers.  When the ball is on the opposite side of the field to them it's their call as they should have a full view.

[HallamKeeper]

Thanks, some really helpful advice. We have a T20 tonight so perfect for me to organise them a bit better. I like the idea of two callers, makes sense to me, especially the intensity.