For a fast bowler, getting his victim courtesy beating the batsman and the stumps uprooted is just one of the best views, but when the bowler bowls just outside off stump, a little swing, batsman beaten, a thick edge to the eagles waiting in the cordon - Now thats a wonderful scalp!
Rahul Dravid, the World Record holder, was the cordon leader for his Bucket Big Hands for India. When watching several matches, we decide when there is a drop catch, "Rubbish, this fellow has to be dropped!". If the cricketer is in the middle 30s', we decide he has to retire from the game !! Wow ! this is how we back the players who represents trilions of us!
Frankly, it is not just as easy as it looks standing beside the wicket keeper looking for THAT edge off the bat. The hand-eye coordination should be so very quick that the ball reaches you in a snap of a time - Like That ! Its a fact that some one who is assigned a task of standing in slips is not to drop catches, coz he is there just to hang on to those that comes, but shouldn't there be a little soft corner towards him :). The best and most suitable way of holding on to these quickies is to expect an edge every ball when in the slips.
The most easiest approach - watch the bowler release the ball, look at the bat the next moment - there is an edge - then gulp it into your bucket palm ! Sounds easy eh? ;)
Try this out in your free time - take a leather ball and a suitable bat accompanying a friend. Ask him to help you taking catches in front of the bat coming off the edge! You will feel the fun ! :)
Never a special view you get to see a catch to the slips... Getting the wicket uprooted comes next. ;)
I just love to be part of the cordon, I dont like having soft corner and I hate dropping catches !
Happy Birthday Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and Our Own Dr. Rajkumar! :)
Cheers !
Sudarshan
