Indian Catching-1: Intro

The deteriorating Indian standards of catching in Test matches have prompted a number of written and verbal screams from the cricket fraternity.

A young-ish Indian team was under considerable pressure during most of the recent England series, and a few misses were expected from inexperienced hands. Most hoped to see improvements in the ongoing series in Caribbean but the lapses have continued even with the team in driver's seat, suggesting a deeper malady.

Close in catching is an aspect of fielding that depends as much on innate ability as on training and fitness. Only so much of it can be taught and then it is up to the individual's reflexes and common sense.

The present vacancies for close at fielding positions within the Indian team look like taking some time getting filled up, so I might as well post my two words on it. More than two words, or even posts actually. This is going to be a longish rant, spread over s-e-v-e-n posts, one a day (as I plan it now, but I offer no promise to stop there).

No, there's no way I would blame you for thinking that the 'unleashing' stuff from that last post got big on me and made me unleash myself on poor DS friends! Too late to talk me out of it though, it is really happening mates.

May God bless you with patience to bear with it and strength to return to DS after post-trauma counselling.

[next: The recent past]