Chasing, retrieving and sliding.

When you have to chase after a ball in the outfield, make sure that you chase hard; it will give a huge boost to the confidence of the bowler and the team.

If you are right-handed, keep the ball on that side of the body. If the ball is moving quickly, then you will need to slightly over-run the ball. Pick the ball up with your right hand alongside your right boot. Keep the body low and your knees flexed.

Note the low body position

Turn back quickly to get into the throwing position, but make sure that you look up, fix your eyes on the target, and throw out the front arm towards the target. Complete the throw. (See Coaching Corner 22).

If the throw is over a long distance, you may have to “crow-hop” into the throwing position to add power to the throw, in other words the right foot passes behind the left foot before the left leg is extended to get into a strong throwing position. (See also Coaching Corner 24) See photographs.

Nowadays, you often see players sliding next to the ball and allowing their momentum to push them to their feet for the throw.  This technique was invented and perfected by Jonty Rhodes in the 1990s, and allows you get into the throw quickly, but don’t assume that the old method described above is automatically inferior, and remember that there is no point in sliding for the sake of sliding.

The technique also requires a great deal of practice to do properly without the risk of injury, and is not suitable for all playing surfaces, so it is recommended that the young player concentrates first on the method described above.

Common faults

·         Not getting low enough

·         Not taking the time to throw properly, i.e not focussing on the target and not throwing off a stable base.

General advice on stopping , intercepting and retrieving the ball.

Don’t use your feet! Although there is nothing in the laws of the game which prevents you from stopping the ball with your feet, it is generally ineffective.  Not only that,

·         It looks awful

·         Stepping on the ball runs the risk of painful sprained ankle. 

·         Treading on the ball will scuff it and, these days, leave you open to accusations of ball-tampering.