Tony Greig emphasises - captaincy and fielding important aspects of cricket

CRICKET: The former cricketing star and ace commentator Tony Greig is no more with the cricket world. However, some of the things he taught young cricketers, the cricket world cannot easily be forgotten. Captaincy and fielding plays an important part in the game which ultimately will go a long way in deciding the ultimate result.

He, no doubt, has a good knowledge of the game and he insists that matches are won or lost on the field, particularly these days of limited over cricket. "Our side may be led by the most brilliant tactician in the world, but there is little a captain can do, except offer words of advice and comfort, if his batsmen are getting rolled over like nine pins."

It is the field where his expertise and experience will account and his policy will be dictated to a large extent by the wicket conditions and the runs he has to play with. Obviously, he will be able to display a more aggressive approach if his side batted first and made a reasonable total than if he had to defend a small total.

Whatever tactics he adopts, he needs the full co-operation of his bowlers and his fielders. There should never be a poor fielder in his side.

Greig is of the opinion that if one is a specialist batsman then that player must-make himself as useful in the field as possibly can. It is not necessary that person should make himself a specialist fielder, such as a slip or short leg. These require a gift which not everybody possesses.Everybody should be mobile on the field and develop an accurate arm when returning the ball, even if that person doesn't boost of a long throw. Coming to wicket-keeping, it is a question of personal choice of how one fields and which style you adopt for catching the ball when you field in a specialist position. Greig says, whoever, certain general rules should be put into practice.

He says that at all times the fielders must have their eyes on the ball ever since the ball leaves the bat. If the fielder is not in one of the close catching positions, it is far better to be on the move. The fielders must start their walk to coincide with the bowler's approach to the wicket.

Once on the move it is far easier to accelerate towards the wicket or go to either side than to do so from a standing start. This approach could prove the difference between the batsman taking a run - or even a second - and being forced to repeat to the safety of his crease. The batsmen should not rush in, because they might easily be caught on the wrong foot or off balance if you should want to change reaction all of a sudden.

If the batsmen play an uppish stroke the fielders must always have their eyes on the ball from the moment of impact and the prepared for a catch. The fielder must always give himself as much time as possible to get hold of the ball safely. And this principle applies to ground strokes as well. If you have the time the fielder must get his hands and body behind the ball to give himself an extra line of defence.

AC de S