India’s slip cordon – by the numbers
An analysis of India's slip fielding
An important series. First test.
Day one. two catches dropped in the slips within the first hour. Cricket has
seemingly become better with bigger scores, and better fielding abilities.
However, if there is one thing in cricket that hasn’t quite been as good as it
was before, it is slip fielding. In particular, India’s slip fielding over the
past few years has dipped considerably, considering the standards set by
Dravid, Sehwag and Tendulkar. Rahane has been exceptional in the cordon and Rohit
has been good too. In this piece, I attempt to look at India’s slip catching in
tests over the past 5 years by the numbers – catches taken, catches dropped, and
who amongst the players tried out in the slip cordon is the best - in addition
to making an attempt at understanding the positions of the players in the
cordon.
Before I get in to the numbers, I
will give you a brief explanation about the simple methodology – I looked at
the tests India played over the past five years. At the time of starting to
accumulate data for this article, the first test in this period was Test # 2027
in 2012 - against Australia in Australia in what was the second test of the
series. I trawled through ESPN Cricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary to take note
of India’s dropped catches in addition to logging in data about catches taken
in the slips. The commentary on the website is straightforward enough when
describing such opportunities – words such as “dropped” and “chance” are used.
A note to add – I understand that the BBB commentary is subjective; different
commentators on the website would have interpreted the chances in the slips
differently. It is indeed vital to take this into account; however, only nine
of the total number of dropped chances had been classified as “tough” chances.
A safe assumption that a majority of slip catches have been classified and
described accurately or nearly accurately should hold good.
Picture courtesy:
Yahoo Cricket
Over the period of last five
years, India played 46 test matches – 22 at home and 24 away. Out of these 46
matches, it won 22, lost 13 and drew 11 (Source: ESPNCricinfo). The win-loss ratio isn’t good enough
and there are a multitude of factors to account for when a team loses – the
toss, the batting and the bowling performances of the teams, and equally
important being the fielding.
Slip catching has been India’s bugbear once they started losing able slip fielders in the form of Sehwag and the like. In these 46 matches, the Indian slip cordon has caught 126 of them and dropped 64 of them. The numbers indicate that the cordon dropped a catch for every two catches they caught which, by itself, is quite a telling statistic. Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Slip catching has been India’s bugbear once they started losing able slip fielders in the form of Sehwag and the like. In these 46 matches, the Indian slip cordon has caught 126 of them and dropped 64 of them. The numbers indicate that the cordon dropped a catch for every two catches they caught which, by itself, is quite a telling statistic. Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
The number of catches dropped in
away test matches is 35, as compared to 29 in home tests –without doubt, chances
in away tests are always more crucial. The charts also show that Indian slip
fielders have spilt more catches off seamers than the spinners – 40, compared
to 24 off the latter.
While there are more opportunities for catches off seamers – the areas covered by the slip cordon for a seamer as opposed to a spinner are larger hence producing more opportunities for a catch to be taken or dropped, the number of chances dropped off seamers is indeed slightly high. It is also interesting to note that the number of catches dropped increases after the retirements of Dravid, Sachin and Laxman, and the axing of Sehwag.
The chart below shows bowlers off whose bowling the catches have been dropped. Of all these bowlers, catches have been dropped off Shami’s bowling the maximum, accounting for 17% of all chances. Next in line is Ashwin, who has 11% - but the slips for the spin department represent no major threat now as I will illustrate later in the article.
While there are more opportunities for catches off seamers – the areas covered by the slip cordon for a seamer as opposed to a spinner are larger hence producing more opportunities for a catch to be taken or dropped, the number of chances dropped off seamers is indeed slightly high. It is also interesting to note that the number of catches dropped increases after the retirements of Dravid, Sachin and Laxman, and the axing of Sehwag.
The chart below shows bowlers off whose bowling the catches have been dropped. Of all these bowlers, catches have been dropped off Shami’s bowling the maximum, accounting for 17% of all chances. Next in line is Ashwin, who has 11% - but the slips for the spin department represent no major threat now as I will illustrate later in the article.
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Dropped catches by over of the day:
Is it possible that Indians tend
to drop catches later during the day when it seems too long? Maybe it could be
a case of lapses in concentration – the ability to switch on and off has often
been talked about to work perfectly for Dravid and other excellent slip
fielders. A chart of when the slip fielders have dropped the catches indicates
no correlation as to the assumption of the fielders dropping catches later in
the day.
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Dropped catches by innings of the match:
Dropping catches change the
momentum of a match sometimes, or a series, and can even change a player’s
career. A few fans will always remember Jadeja dropping Cook in the third test
against England when India was 1-0 up in the series. That drop made a
difference in that match, the series (which England went on to win 3-1) and Cook’s
career when he had gone 11 innings without a fifty.
There are several other instances when the catches have been dropped at crucial junctures. It would be difficult to exactly quantify how much each drop meant – we can probably look at the differences between how much the batsman had scored until then and his final score. It is possible to see when these catches have been dropped, how the match was poised then, and observe if India was ahead, level or behind in the series.
The following four tables show catches dropped in each innings of a test match, along with the factors indicated above. The rows shaded in grey indicate, in my opinion, crucial points in a test match when chances have gone begging. I am sure there would be keen observers who could point to other match situations in this list which were crucial. Notice that a few of the catches dropped in the first innings come within the first hour of play (assuming an average over rate of 12 per hour); underlining even more the number of chances early in the day and the importance of taking them.
There are several other instances when the catches have been dropped at crucial junctures. It would be difficult to exactly quantify how much each drop meant – we can probably look at the differences between how much the batsman had scored until then and his final score. It is possible to see when these catches have been dropped, how the match was poised then, and observe if India was ahead, level or behind in the series.
The following four tables show catches dropped in each innings of a test match, along with the factors indicated above. The rows shaded in grey indicate, in my opinion, crucial points in a test match when chances have gone begging. I am sure there would be keen observers who could point to other match situations in this list which were crucial. Notice that a few of the catches dropped in the first innings come within the first hour of play (assuming an average over rate of 12 per hour); underlining even more the number of chances early in the day and the importance of taking them.
First innings:
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Second innings:
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Third innings:
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Fourth innings:
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Slip catches taken by India:
It would be unfair if I did not
point out the number of catches taken in the slip cordon in the same period,
seeing that there are a couple of players in the slip cordon who stand out. The
stacked column in the following chart for home games in 2015 is exceptionally
tall, in part due to the matches played on pitches which assisted spin, and in
part due to the emergence of Rahane as an able slip fielder to spin.
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Ratio of slip catches taken to slip catches dropped:
Ratio of slip catches taken to slip catches dropped:
An even better indicator, though
simplistic, would be the ratio of catches taken to catches dropped by the team
over the period concerned. A higher ratio would, naturally, indicate a good
showing in the cordon. The charts below show the comparison of this ratio – the
ratio for pace bowling in 2014 is almost a factor of 2 – following the exit of
a slip cordon, the newer slip cordon struggled in their catching. Playing away
from home didn’t help too, with a lot of catching opportunities in England, New
Zealand and Australia coming off pace bowling mainly.
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
The chart above shows why Rahane
has been quite brilliant for a slip fielder to spin. He has taken 27 catches to
spin and dropped just 8 of them and that, even by normal standards, has been
exceptional. He has evolved to be a dependable first slip option to Ashwin and
Jadeja. Fun fact: of the 28 catches taken by spin in 2015, Rahane claimed 19 of
them – close to 70%.
Ratio of slip catches taken to slip catches dropped - by player:
Ratio of slip catches taken to slip catches dropped - by player:
Another exercise would be to chart
a ratio of catches taken to catches dropped for each player in this generation
and understand why Rahane is so important in the slip cordon for India.
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
The average ratio for the current
crop of players stands at 1.8. Considering the standard set of fielders in the
slip cordon as was observed in the ongoing series against England, Vijay and
Kohli are at 1.56 and 1.5 respectively. Jadeja received a lot of flak for
dropping Cook in the 2014 series and more recently in the first test; his ratio
is at 1.5 as well. Rahane’s ratio is 3.27 – way above his slip partners. It is
also important to mention Rohit Sharma, who has featured in the slip cordon often.
He has caught 9 in the cordon off seamers, and has dropped none.
Rotation of slip fielders in the cordon:
Nasser, one of the best commentators
in the game currently, made a pertinent point about developing a set of players
to stand in the slip cordon and nurture them. While Rahane does stand at first
slip for the spinners, he is often found in the gully region for the seamers.
To be fair, India has tried out quite a number of players in the slip cordon for the seamers and it appears as though it is trying to find the right combination. It must also be said luck has not favored them as well. Players such as Dhawan, Rohit and KL Rahul have missed out games owing to injuries or inconsistency.
The fielders have been moved around a lot in the cordon – maybe an attempt at finding who fits where best. Vijay, Kohli and Jadeja were at 1st, 2nd and 3rd slips respectively in the first test against England while Rahane was at gully. If either Rohit or Dhawan make a return to the side, it is possible that the player will either be slotted in the first or third slip position. Or it might prompt another upheaval of sorts in the slips with Dhawan back to his second slip spot, Vijay staying at first and Kohli moving to third. In any case, I am sure both Kohli and the team management have realized a set of specialist fielders are necessary for the slip cordon, and that a good fielder in the outfield does not necessarily translate to a good slip fielder.
I attempted to understand fielders and their positions in the slips in the 5-year period. Since no website, to my knowledge, looks at recording the positions of various fielders on the field, the following diagram was created using information from the BBB commentary – either through the catches dropped/catches taken/a rare mention of who was standing where in the cordon. The shaded cells show where the dropped catches occurred with the corresponding player name in the cell. There were a few instances where players were shifted from one slip to another within the same game as well as instances where players in the shaded cell went on to take a catch or two in the same innings.
The following diagram is left open to interpretation – I have tried to see which primary slip fielder moved where. In my view, Kohli, Vijay, Dhawan, Rohit and Rahane are the go-to slip fielders available currently. Five players and four positions in the cordon – based on availability, it is possible to find the best combination and slot them in their respective places.
Rahane might have to move in to slips if the team is unable to find someone suitable for those positions – going by his record in the slips for the spinners, it might be a solid gamble to go with him. He was tried in the second slip position to pace bowlers in 2014 but it must be remembered that he was still evolving as a slip fielder then. 2015 was a revelation of sorts for him – not to forget the world record of 8 catches in an innings. It is also possible to counter this argument by insisting that Rahane is a slip fielder for the spinners alone and might not be suited for standing up to pacers – someone with technical expertise can probably explain why.
To be fair, India has tried out quite a number of players in the slip cordon for the seamers and it appears as though it is trying to find the right combination. It must also be said luck has not favored them as well. Players such as Dhawan, Rohit and KL Rahul have missed out games owing to injuries or inconsistency.
The fielders have been moved around a lot in the cordon – maybe an attempt at finding who fits where best. Vijay, Kohli and Jadeja were at 1st, 2nd and 3rd slips respectively in the first test against England while Rahane was at gully. If either Rohit or Dhawan make a return to the side, it is possible that the player will either be slotted in the first or third slip position. Or it might prompt another upheaval of sorts in the slips with Dhawan back to his second slip spot, Vijay staying at first and Kohli moving to third. In any case, I am sure both Kohli and the team management have realized a set of specialist fielders are necessary for the slip cordon, and that a good fielder in the outfield does not necessarily translate to a good slip fielder.
I attempted to understand fielders and their positions in the slips in the 5-year period. Since no website, to my knowledge, looks at recording the positions of various fielders on the field, the following diagram was created using information from the BBB commentary – either through the catches dropped/catches taken/a rare mention of who was standing where in the cordon. The shaded cells show where the dropped catches occurred with the corresponding player name in the cell. There were a few instances where players were shifted from one slip to another within the same game as well as instances where players in the shaded cell went on to take a catch or two in the same innings.
The following diagram is left open to interpretation – I have tried to see which primary slip fielder moved where. In my view, Kohli, Vijay, Dhawan, Rohit and Rahane are the go-to slip fielders available currently. Five players and four positions in the cordon – based on availability, it is possible to find the best combination and slot them in their respective places.
Rahane might have to move in to slips if the team is unable to find someone suitable for those positions – going by his record in the slips for the spinners, it might be a solid gamble to go with him. He was tried in the second slip position to pace bowlers in 2014 but it must be remembered that he was still evolving as a slip fielder then. 2015 was a revelation of sorts for him – not to forget the world record of 8 catches in an innings. It is also possible to counter this argument by insisting that Rahane is a slip fielder for the spinners alone and might not be suited for standing up to pacers – someone with technical expertise can probably explain why.
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
The usage of fielders for spin is
much more straightforward. Until his axing, Sehwag held fort at first slip.
Vijay and Kohli were both identified and tried at first slip but the team
finally hit gold with Rahane. He has good reflexes and seems to have the right
temperament to stand in the slips.
Sources: ESPNCricinfo, Analysis
Note: The above article contains stats and analyses up to the third Test between India and England which concluded on November 29, 2016.
Edit: The above article was originally published on 12th December, 2016. The post was updated to include sources for the charts in the article, in addition to including sub-headings and a byline.
Stats courtesy of ESPNCricinfo
I tweet @ rightarmchuck
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