Neil Pickup
Cricket Web Moderator
Bob Simpson on Cricinfo:
"History, and I am sure the modern computer, would show that first slip takes the most catches followed by the second and the third slips. Yet, because other countries are using spread slips, though without much or perhaps any success, Smith is being influenced by it without understanding the law of averages.
"I don't know who is helping the South Africans with their fielding, but whoever is doing so should examine why so many catches are being spilt."
Now, to me, this is a major case of lamp-posts and drunkards. Of course most catches are taken by first. That's because there's a first in far more often than a second... but how much difference is there between second and third in possible chances offered? What about third and, say wide fourth?
What are your takes on the optimal slip setups?
"History, and I am sure the modern computer, would show that first slip takes the most catches followed by the second and the third slips. Yet, because other countries are using spread slips, though without much or perhaps any success, Smith is being influenced by it without understanding the law of averages.
"I don't know who is helping the South Africans with their fielding, but whoever is doing so should examine why so many catches are being spilt."
Now, to me, this is a major case of lamp-posts and drunkards. Of course most catches are taken by first. That's because there's a first in far more often than a second... but how much difference is there between second and third in possible chances offered? What about third and, say wide fourth?
What are your takes on the optimal slip setups?