IND vs AUS WTC Final 2023: Team India is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the World Test Championship Final. the Men in Blue have paid special attention to their fielding with the moving ball posing challenges to the Indian fielders. Among the techniques used is a drill with coloured rubber balls at the Arundel Cricket Club.
The Indian team is now using multicoloured rubber balls for catching practice. The move helps players to adjust to last-minute deviations which could cost them dear. Different colours of balls have been used with green and yellow the most prominent ones. The rubber balls are different from the tennis balls used for training keepers.
“These are specially made rubber balls, not the ones we are used to seeing in gully cricket. This is made for fielding drills. These balls are named ‘reaction balls’ and it is used for fielding drills only in some specific countries, mainly England or New Zealand where the breeze and colder conditions become a factor,” a renowned fielding coach, who has worked at NCA and at national camps, told PTI.
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Asked if there was any significance for the green coloured balls that was used to give catching practice to Gill, he said: “I don’t think there is any specific scientific or cricketing reason for any specific colour. But certainly there is a reason for using that kind of rubber balls for catching practice — especially for slip fielders and keepers.”
“In England, due to underlying moisture and the lush green outer area (beyond 22 yards) means that the ball will wobble a lot more than usual.
“England is the only country and to some extent in New Zealand, you will find that deliveries that beat the batter’s outside edge is deviating wickedly, making it difficult to gather or catch the ball. The Dukes in England in fact wobbles even more,” the coach added.
He then explained why these rubber “reaction balls” are being used for training.
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