Field Settings | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

When to Copy India's Aggressive Field Settings

In a low scoring one day game, India's stand-in captain Virat Kohli, was unusually aggressive with his field settings. Is this a method you should copy?

There are certainly times when a bit of creative thinking results in unexpected fields, and results that hail you as a brilliant tactical leader.

But you need to be careful as a captain or bowler.

Batting Tactics that Keep Captains Awake at Night

This afternoon, I had a conversation with ex-England captain, Michael Vaughan about the impact on batting tactics and shot execution in limited over cricket.

We discussed how - tactically - the game has gone full circle. The new ODI regulations have influenced the renaissance of an age old limited overs adage.

Keeping wickets is, once again, the holy grail of batting.

Forced to be Brave: How Spinners Will Achieve the Holy Grail

I used to get annoyed watching the ODI game when a new batter would come to the wicket against a spinner and merrily knock 10 singles in 15 balls without any pressure.

The field setting and the tactics were so defensive.

The New ODI rules and regulations will change all that.

With 5 men as a minimum inside the inner ring, here's what will happen:

How Smart Captains and Fast Bowlers Can Stop the "Batsman's Game"

Most changes to ODI Rules are made to increase scoring opportunities for batters and teams to make the game more of a spectacle. The great thing about the latest rule changes is that captains and bowlers have the chance to hit back!

Here are a couple of options around one type of delivery, the short ball.

Field Settings: Leg Spin, Tail Ender and Set Batsman

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

Imagine a game situation where you have a tail-end batsman at one end, and a well-set batter at the other end. It makes senses to spend more time bowling at the weaker player. You are more likely to get a wicket.

The trouble is that the set batsman will do everything he can to stay on strike by hitting boundaries in the over then stealing a single on the last ball.

You don't want to defend this tactic alone as you still want to try to bowl both players out. But you also want to stop the boundary shots.

So you set an in-out field.

Field Settings: Left Arm Fast, Limited Over Death

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

In short format cricket, the left arm quick is a great option to have in your team. When bowling to right handed batsmen they have the tactical advantage of slanting the ball across, making it harder to go leg side.

This was first used to brilliant effect by England in the winning World T20 campaign in 2010, but it is just as useful at club, school and Academy level.

The batsman is trying in most case to hit the ball hard over the leg side field.

Tactics you Should be Using: Leg Stump Line

Sometimes even the great Shane Warne had to admit defeat.  Despite being the textbook attacking spinner, there were times even Warnie used negative bowling to get results.

There is certainly no shame in switching plans as a last resort.  If the finest leggie to ever live used it, you can too.

Picture the scene; a limited over game where you bat first and put up an above par score of 223. 

IPL Skills: How to Teach the Yorker

Yorkers will single-handedly win games of cricket in this year’s edition of the IPL. And they will do the same if you coach it well because the yorker is an exciting ball that can be practiced and developed through coaching routines and practices.

Malinga has made himself into one of the most valuable T20 players in the world in the IPL over the last 2 editions.  It’s no shock to learn that he attempts over twice as many yorkers than any other bowler in the IPL. 

Malinga is a diligent trainer and is often seen aiming his yorkers at targets before matches with unerring accuracy. Here’s how your bowling unit can copy his success.

Why You’re Putting the Best Fielders In the Wrong Position

Cover point is where your best inner ring fielder should always be to a seam bowler, right?

Field Settings: Fast/Medium, Old Ball, Club Wicket, Long Format

This is a special field setting for a particular type of seam bowler: One we set up to give a prize away here.

The bower in question has a unique style in that he bowls wide on the crease and gets plenty of seam movement.

He mainly plays 50 over club matches with draws possible, bowling in the middle of the innings or towards the end.