The Fielding XI

[honestbharani]

Current XI:

1. X Marshall (Mid Wicket/Short Leg)
2. H Gibbs (Gully)
3. R Ponting (2nd Slip)
4. M Clarke (Cover)
5. P Collingwood (Point)
6. A Symonds (Sqaure Leg)
7. A Flintoff (3rd Slip)
8. C Read (Wicket Keeper)
9. S Warne (1st Slip)
10. B Lee (Mid Off)
11. S Jones (Fine Leg)

Man, I thought only Yuvraj Singh's batting was under rated here?

 

[marc71178]

Got to have Gary Pratt as 12th man!

 

[Blaze]

and McCullum for Read.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Haven't seen much of many short legs over the years, but I have been mighty impressed with what I've seen of Ian Bell around the bat (staying still, staying low) over the last twelve months. As, I'm sure, has Justin Langer.

Could anyone with a longer history of viewing suggest a list of great short leg fielders (of course Brian Close will be here), what exactly made them great, and how close they think Bell comes/has the potential to come towards that bracket?

 

[Top_Cat]

The greatest short-leg fielder I personally ever saw.

His catching in the home series against India in 1991 was just phenomenal. Come of his catches just shoudn't be taken off a quick bowler!

What made him great was;

1) He couldn't field anywhere else!

2) Anticipation.

Bell isn't hampered by 1) but I believe he has 2) in spades. If hes not up there with the best already, he will be soon enough.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Aakash Chopra was phenomenal at short-leg against Australia, both home and away.

Difference is, Bell can bat.

 

[chaminda_00]

Collingwood doesn't hit the stumps on runouts so he's out. I can't think that Flintoff has ever fielded 3rd slip, and his slipping in general has deteriorated recently (probably because he doesn't have the time to practice). Can't work out why Simon Jones is there. Unless, like Lee, it's because he looks "athletic". Is Marshall better than Bell at short leg? Trescothick above Warne IMO, although it's a coin toss.

- Collingwood can pass the ball to Clarke to hit the stumps
- You can change the slips to Trescothick (1), Flintoff (2) and Warne (3) of you want
- Both Lee and Jones are very good out fielders and out of the top bowlers around, they are one of the best. Bond and Pollock would give them a run for there money, but IMO they are slightly better and i haven't really noticed Bond fielding lately cus i fall a sleep watching Franklin etc bowl at the other end.
- If you pick a specialist short leg it would have to be Hodge, but i went for the better all round fielder and opening batsmen. Note that Marshall is listed at Mid Wicket/Shot Leg.

 

[honestbharani]

India have been blessed with some brilliant fielders at short leg recently. Aakash Chopra, Kaif, Yuvraj and Ramesh when he was there and now Gambhir are all very very good in that position. I guess it is because of our spin oriented bowling culture.

 

[Blaze]

- Bond and Pollock would give them a run for there money, but IMO they are slightly better and i haven't really noticed Bond fielding lately cus i fall a sleep watching Franklin etc bowl at the other end.
.

Huh? Bond hasn't really played much cricket lately and none with Franklin?

 

[Dasa]

Aakash Chopra was phenomenal at short-leg against Australia, both home and away.

Difference is, Bell can bat.

I remember at Brisbane (I think?) he took a brilliant reflex catch from a full-blooded pull shot from Langer at short-leg from the bowling of Nehra (?) only to see it called a no-ball....which the replays showed was an incorrect call. Either way, it was brilliant.

 

[luckyeddie]

Haven't seen much of many short legs over the years, but I have been mighty impressed with what I've seen of Ian Bell around the bat (staying still, staying low) over the last twelve months. As, I'm sure, has Justin Langer.

Could anyone with a longer history of viewing suggest a list of great short leg fielders (of course Brian Close will be here), what exactly made them great, and how close they think Bell comes/has the potential to come towards that bracket?

Bell's the only really good one I've seen since John Morris in the English game - surprising really when you think that the qualifications for being able to field at short leg are as follows:

1. Being mental

 

[PY]

1. Being mental

Always wondered why Thorpe went there on his return to international cricket.

 

[luckyeddie]

Always wondered why Thorpe went there on his return to international cricket.

Which return to international cricket was that?

He had a few.

 

[chaminda_00]

Huh? Bond hasn't really played much cricket lately and none with Franklin?

I was thinking about the Zimbabwe Test series when i wrote that were they bowled together. I don't usually give One Day cricket too much time, which is what i gather you are refering to as bowling together.

 

[jamesicus]

The greatest fielder I ever saw was Learie Constantine -- many of his catches were fantastic acrobatic gems.

The next best was Sidney G. Barnes ("bagga') -- a phenomenal close-in fielder.

 

[garage flower]

Current XI:

1. X Marshall (Mid Wicket/Short Leg)
2. H Gibbs (Gully)
3. R Ponting (2nd Slip)
4. M Clarke (Cover)
5. P Collingwood (Point)
6. A Symonds (Sqaure Leg)
7. A Flintoff (3rd Slip)
8. C Read (Wicket Keeper)
9. S Warne (1st Slip)
10. B Lee (Mid Off)
11. S Jones (Fine Leg)

No-one has mentioned Dwayne Bravo. A shocking omission. Fast in the outfield, very athletic, excellent arm and a fantastic pair of hands. He can bat and bowl a bit too.

I'd take Greame Smith over any of your 3 slippers (though I realise you're trying to pick a team and not just the best XI fielders) and put Ponting anywhere in front of the bat. He sems to miss his fair share at slip, but has been superb everywhere else against South Africa.