This is part of the specialist fielding series of articles, for the full list of fielding positions covered click here.

Fielding at gully is like being a goalkeeper saving a penalty.   

Everyone knows you need to be fit to play cricket at your best.

Where the disagreements start is on the best way to do it.

Because fitness is cricket new (and still not fully accepted in many quarters) players who are keen to train have had to take lessons from other sports that have been faster to embrace the benefits of strength training: Rugby, American Football, Track and Field.

And in turn these sports have taken their cue from the original gymnastics and strongman training that dates back as far as the Ancient Greeks.

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but most cricket teams fail to reach their expectations. Yours included.

It’s not because you want to fail, or that the side is untalented. It’s certainly not bad luck. These are handy excuses. Ways we use to justify our failure after the event.

We don’t all play in a team where we have great fielders to support us. A great wicket keeper to take a leg side stumping, a short leg that snatches a half-chance and a pair of good hands in the deep that you know will always take it. Unlike fast bowlers who take a lot more wickets by hitting the stumps or LBWs, spin bowlers rely much more on a good fielding team.

 As you know PitvhVision Academy is having the first ever live interactive coaching event at the Oval today (Friday 27^th August).

If you can't make it, don't worry, we will be keeping you right up to day with pictures and tweets of the evening's events.

If you want live updates head over to http://twitter.com/micoach where we will be updating things as they happen.

Look out for some exclusive coaching tips.

What is your role in your cricket team? Leave a comment in the comments section to discuss it.

“Cricketing excellence lies beyond physical talent. Sporting success emanates from the whole person within – his temperament, emotional make-up, thinking ability and even prejudices.” Frank Tyson once wrote.

Sometimes we use shorthand and call this ‘character’ or ‘attitude’.  I like to think of it as the way you see the world, at least in cricketing terms.

Don't tell anyone, but I have a little dream.

I dream of taking up leg spin. I admire the art and, frankly, you can go on a lot longer bowling spin than you can wicketkeeping.

This is part of the specialist fielding series of articles, for the full list of fielding positions covered click here.

As a slip you are the highest profile fielding position because you are at the sharpest end of the game.