Field Settings | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

Putting on the squeeze: How to take wickets in limited overs games

Is it pointless taking wickets in limited over games?

Victory simply requires you to score more runs than the opposition in the allotted time (usually 50 or 20 overs). Whether you are in the field first or second you job is to keep the score as low as possible. That means defensive tactics.

Should you be resigned to not taking any wickets as captain or bowler then?

When is a mid off not a mid off? (Or how to manipulate the field without changing it)

It's possible to make changes to your field without actually moving the fielders.

Tradition dictates that changing a field involves moving a fielder from one position to another. Mid off may go to deep mid off in defence or silly mid off in attack for example.

Field Setting: Leg spin, old ball, any wicket, long format, right handed batsman

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

Leg spin is dangerous on any pitch because there is greater turn, drift and dip in the standard leg break than orthodox spin. However, the leg spinner also tends to be less accurate and when combined with variations like the googly it makes for an interesting challenge when setting a field.

Field setting: Fast/medium pace, new ball, any wicket, Twenty20

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

Limited over cricket (especially Twenty20) is all about restricting the runs and this field is designed to help the opening bowler. When the ball is new and the bowlers are fresh, it's possible to be a little more attacking to get early wickets and restrict the run rate with the field up.

Field settings: Slow Left Arm spin, old ball, turning wicket, long format

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

This is a standard and easily customised field for the orthodox left arm finger spinner bowling to a right handed batsmen. With accurate bowling and plenty of turn the spinner should be able to use this field and it's variations to bowl a side out.

Field Settings: Medium pace, some movement, slow wicket, limited overs

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

This is a field with a single purpose but can be used by medium paced bowlers from the faster to the slower end. The purpose is to 'squeeze' a batsman who is looking to score runs by stopping the singles. It does away with attacking fielders to prevent the runs so is ideal in limited overs cricket.

Field Settings: Right arm fast, inswing, new ball, fast wicket, long format

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

The fast bowling inswing field is even more rare than the outswing field, however it can be effective for a genuinely fast bowler (at club level that is around 80mph or 129kph) on a pitch that is very quick.

Field settings: Medium pace, some movement, old ball, club wicket, long format

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

This field is effective in club matches, especially in England. It works well in a number of different conditions to a number of different types of medium pace bowlers (swing, seam, slow or fast). You can use it to both take wickets and restrict scoring in longer format games.

Field settings: Right arm fast, outswing, new ball, fast wicket, long format

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

This is a very attacking field that is rarely seen, even at the top level. It requires a genuinely fast bowler (at club level that is around 80mph or 129kph) on a pitch that is very quick.

The idea is all out attack where the bowler holds the advantage and wickets are the main consideration.