OPPORTUNITY SHOULDN’T ‘SLIP’ OUT OF HANDS!

The most striking element in the 200^th Test catch that Rahul Dravid took to dismiss Dale Steyn was the way it was taken. An absolute blinder which had flown past the keeper in a flash; he just managed to grab it at the last moment.

All eyes were on this magnificent slip-fielder throughout the series- due to achieve this feat. But it can be said with great conviction that none of them expected it to happen the way it did! Despite being one of the most senior players in the side, the catch reflected the exuberance of a debutant; jumping and diving at every ball that flew past the edge of the blade. With this blistering effort, he definitely has put himself in a position where no one else has ever reached.

Right from his debut against England, fielding had been one of his strengths along with his batting capabilities. His first catch was the dismissal of Nasser Hussein in his debut Test which marked his tryst with good fielding skills. Till date, it has been an eventful and a significant aspect of his cricketing career.  His performances have proven that time and again.

Dravid taking a catch off his safe hands

There have been others like him in the league too- proving their worth in the team by fielding well specially in the slips viz. Mark Waugh, Stephen Fleming and Jacques Kallis. Though he might not have been such an effective slip fielder in the beginning, he definitely has gained expertise in it. His fielding efforts showed stunning regularity and precision- which separated him from most of the veterans in this arena.  

He surely shows that fielding is his major forte along with his batting capabilities. On numerous occasions he has been the messiah for the team. This does prop up a question; having specialised field positions: a need for the Indian team? In this case, more than hundred catches have been taken at the slips!

Numbers speak for themselves; the highest number of catch takers apart from wicket keepers has been the slips. Dravid (200), Mark Waugh (181), Ponting (178), Stephen Fleming (171) and Jacques Kallis (166)- four out of the top five catch takers have been the slip fielders.

Resultantly, along with being a batsman or a bowler, it is a prime requisite to be a good fielder. Players like Mark Waugh, Kallis and Jayawardene etc. have been noteworthy contributors to their teams in their areas, but they were also remembered for their great fielding capabilities. At times, the latter stole the limelight more than the former.

Expertise in specialised field positions can be of great help to the team and help in effective co-ordination. Dravid rightly mentioned in one of his interviews-when John Wright was the coach, he insisted on having him at the slips for Test matches. Gary Kirsten also believes in the same and considers it to be an art which some people possessed while some developed it eventually. He suggested Dravid to stand on his instep- helpful to be quick on the feet. Ultimately, the goal was to grab all the opportunities. He developed and mastered this art magnificently in the due course of time.

In Tests most wickets fall off the spinners’ deliveries and the fielders close to the batsman stand more chances of taking catches. Highest wicket takers in Tests have been spinners. The leading Indian wicket-taker in Tests is a spinner (Anil Kumble). There would have been several occasions when the scoreboard would have shown “c Dravid b Kumble”.

Having a good fielding would be an invaluable asset and having a fielder with the highest taker of catches in that unit- certainly is an icing on the cake!