Catching an Outfield Ball in Cricket

In the game of cricket, gloves are only worn by the wicket keeper, who is positioned directly behind the batsman. Fielders do not wear gloves so in order to protect their hands when catching high flying balls they must follow a method which minimizes the impact on their hands. Of course calloused hands will assist in guarding against injury but the best way to avoid injury is to catch the ball in the proper manner.

 Cup your hands together as the fly ball is approaching. Align your hands with the direction of the ball as it is flying through the air. Position yourself at the point where you think the ball will come down. This is fairly simple by extrapolating the arc of the balls trajectory.

 Extend your hands upwards as high as possible. The sooner you can grip the ball the easier it will be to slow down its momentum. Once you close your hands around it allow the ball to keep moving in its trajectory while closing your body, which should be directly behind the ball, around it.

 Close your hands around the ball as soon as it reaches you. As soon as you grab the ball your hands should start moving with the ball in a downward motion, thereby allowing the ball to slow down inside your grip.

 Continue the movement of the ball with your hands. Don’t try to stop the ball’s movement at the outset, as soon as you catch it. Allow the ball to keep moving once it is inside your grip and bring it into your body, this way it will be less likely to bounce out of your hands.