Indian captains don’t generally give much importance for the field placing properly. This is one area wherein Indians lose many matches.
Field placing is an important subject which cannot be explained by one article as this. Still I would like to give some valid examples wherein captains have failed to capitalise on the situations.
Take for example, during 2003 World Cup final, the
Australians plundered a number of lofted shots for which there were no catching fielders in deep near the boundary line. This resulted in Australian victory.
During 1983 World Cup, it was due to good field placing that India won the cup. Kapil Dev stood at Mid Wicket just to catch Viv Richards lofted shot and that shot was the World Cup prize catch shot of the entire World Cup 1983.
Eknath Solkar was placed near short square leg or sily mid off or sily mid on. Eknath Solkar caught a number players shots. Such things don’t happen often.
Saurav Ganguly is not very good in doing this field placing job as much as most of the other captains.
During Clive Lloyd’s captaincy, West Indies cricket team achieved success as World’’s No.1 team for 10 years only due to scientific field placings. The support given by the fast bowlers with 100% support by Wicket keepers, Slip fielders and Gully fielders made West Indies team World’s No.1 team for 10 years.