One thing I don't get about cricket

[kiwiviktor81]

...even though I've been a follower for 25 years, is why the slip cordons aren't packed with the tallest guys on the field?

The slips and the space behind the keeper are effectively like a goal that has to be defended. In all other sports with space to defend (a soccer goal, a handball goal, a rugby lineout, the front line of a volleyball team, rebounds in basketball) you get the tallest guys to do it. And you don't want those lumbering oafs in the outfield anyway.

Jake Oram (6'6") and Kyle Mills (6'5") could almost cover three slip positions by themselves, leaving an extra fielder somewhere out there.

Has any team ever tried this and did it fail?

 

[Spark]

Because slips fielding is an incredibly unique skill not really comparable to any other fielding position on the park. Put random blokes in there - even good fieldsmen in there but non-specialist slippers - and the results will likely be disastrous.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Really? You don't get why you'd actually want guys in there who could catch instead of just stopping the ball from getting past?

The difference is the slip's job is to catch the ball, whereas there's no onus on a goalkeeper to catch it, just to stop it from getting in the net.

 

[Spikey]

tall people can't catch

 

[Flem274*]

Because it's funnier to make the short people jump around.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Oh, I understand to have the need to catch the ball, not just stop it, but in both situations the most crucial thing is to get your hands to the ball, and are the tall guys actually all worse at catching? Even if they were 10% worse they might get hands to 20% more balls owing to height and reach.

I also get that slip fielding is different to infielding, which is different to outfielding, but if the tall guys got the same training would they be any worse?

It could be that the tall guys are usually bowlers who have less hand-eye coordination/worse reaction times, but if there were tall batsmen wouldn't they excel in the slips?

I get the feeling that the approach of a lot of teams is: "You're a top order batsman, we'll train you for the slips," even if said batsman is short.

 

[Prince EWS]

...even though I've been a follower for 25 years, is why the slip cordons aren't packed with the tallest guys on the field?

The slips and the space behind the keeper are effectively like a goal that has to be defended. In all other sports with space to defend (a soccer goal, a handball goal, a rugby lineout, the front line of a volleyball team, rebounds in basketball) you get the tallest guys to do it. And you don't want those lumbering oafs in the outfield anyway.

Jake Oram (6'6") and Kyle Mills (6'5") could almost cover three slip positions by themselves, leaving an extra fielder somewhere out there.

Has any team ever tried this and did it fail?

While it's easier for tall fielders to get to the higher catches, it's counterbalanced by the fact that it's harder for them to get to the lower ones. As has been said, slip fielding is a technical skill; it's not just a physical action.

 

[Spark]

I think the main reason slippers are often top order bats is because the baseline skill is the same - hand-eye coordination. Not so much for fast bowlers.

 

[Prince EWS]

I get the feeling that the approach of a lot of teams is: "You're a top order batsman, we'll train you for the slips," even if said batsman is short.

That's because the reflex and cognition speed requirements of batting in the top order at a high level are quite similar to the reflex and cognition speed requirements of slips catching.

Taller players have greater reach but they greater reach isn't as much of an advantage as you think, particularly when counterbalanced with the disadvantage of less mobility towards low catches.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

While it's easier for tall fielders to get to the higher catches, it's counterbalanced by the fact that it's harder for them to get to the lower ones. As has been said, slip fielding is a technical skill; it's not just a physical action.

That might be true, but a lot of slip catches come at chest height, and height offers a reach advantage in sideways movement as well as vertical, meaning that the slip cordon could span out more.

I could accept the argument that slip fielding is technically more difficult, but I wonder if a system could get an advantage by training the taller players from an early age to field in the slips.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Oh, I understand to have the need to catch the ball, not just stop it, but in both situations the most crucial thing is to get your hands to the ball, and are the tall guys actually all worse at catching? Even if they were 10% worse they might get hands to 20% more balls owing to height and reach.

I also get that slip fielding is different to infielding, which is different to outfielding, but if the tall guys got the same training would they be any worse?

It could be that the tall guys are usually bowlers who have less hand-eye coordination/worse reaction times, but if there were tall batsmen wouldn't they excel in the slips?

I get the feeling that the approach of a lot of teams is: "You're a top order batsman, we'll train you for the slips," even if said batsman is short.

Trent Copeland fielded in the slips, and he's a pretty tall bloke. I think it has more to do with the taller guys normally being bowlers and thus having less time to spend on close-in catching than the batsmen. If you had a tall guy who also had good hands then I'm sure he'd be in slips. It has more to do with other things than just height I think, and a shorter guy can make up for it by having a good leap etc.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

I think the main reason slippers are often top order bats is because the baseline skill is the same - hand-eye coordination. Not so much for fast bowlers.

I think this is true. No sense in being able to reach the ball if you end up reaching it with your face.

 

[Son Of Coco]

You get quick bowlers with good hand eye co-ordination though...the more time you spend taking reflex catches the better you get at them. Taking a tennis ball to the beach and taking diving catches in the water improves things no-end.

 

[Polo23]

If you've fielded in the slips (or played cricket at any relatively decent level) you'll know that not anyone can be a slips fieldsman, regardless of the "training" they get. It really is a skill in it's own, much like batting or bowling.

 

[Spikey]

it's not as if tall people have never entered the slips - Matt Hayden for example.

 

[Debris]

And the tall players in a side are almost always the fast bowlers. Being really tired does not mesh well with trying to take reflex catches.

 

[Son Of Coco]

If you've fielded in the slips (or played cricket at any relatively decent level) you'll know that not anyone can be a slips fieldsman, regardless of the "training" they get. It really is a skill in it's own, much like batting or bowling.

Some people can't field anywhere, but if you have reasonable hand-eye co-ordination and practice your catching then you can be pretty good. Obviously you still have to be one of the top 3 or 4 people in that position in your team. I think you're right in that people feel more comfortable in certain positions. Some like to be behind the bat and waiting for the edge, while others prefer to be in front of the bat.

 

[GIMH]

it's not as if tall people have never entered the slips - Matt Hayden for example.

Freddie as well

 

[Lostman]

Freddie as well

Was the one I was thinking of for a big fast bowler in the slips.
Any others in recent times?

 

[Daemon]

Pace bowlers in slips is a terrible idea most of the time. More often then not, they're also the tallest guys in your team.

Height may be an advantage when jumping up but for low catches it can be a disadvantage as well. It's also hardly a prerequisite, there are much more important factors that make up a good slip fielder.