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At last, a boon for fielding practice and a means of sharpening your eye-reflexes, useful even for batting, will be available very soon for cricketers of all ages and levels. No more will coaches be looking for the old-fashioned 'slip cradle' which was heavy, cumbersome to store and so difficult to acquire and maintain. No more will coaches have to waste the time of one of his charges hitting the ball at his colleagues to practice fielding. Here is a situation where all participants get involved from one to eight or more.

Named ``Catch-It'' has been devised by Bertram Jayasuriya, the former Kingswoodian who is also the Director/General manager, Mercantile Shipping Co. Ltd., who is an ardent cricket fan. It is a simple structure where a number of participants - the numbers depending on the size of the particular model can use simultaneously. One throws the ball at a particularly designed reinforced synthetic guts connected to a wooden frame secured on to an iron frame standing upright. The ball on hitting the guts comes back at a speed to be caught or fielded by another participant or by himself, as the case may be, and helps not only in sharpening catching skills but helps get your 'eye-in' especially before going to bat.

The advantages of ``Catch-It'' are manifold. It is easy to carry around. The smaller version measuring 3ft by 2 1/2 ft. weighs around 12.5 kgs while the bigger 6 ft. by 2 1/2 ft. weighs roughly 22.5 kgs. ``Catch-It'' can be stored conveniently since the frame and the stand are collapsible and can be kept in any corner without occupying hardly any space, unlike the old fashioned slip-cradle.

Since the ball is thrown against guts, the ball is hardly damaged unlike when thrown at a slip-cradle. No more will one have to hit the ball to a set of fielders in a semi-circle for fielding practice. With ``Catch-It'' all can participate. The smaller version of ``Catch-It'' can be used by 1-4 participants while the bigger version can accommodate up to 7 or 8 players.

After extensive research and many earlier prototypes, the final product will be demonstrated at the SSC grounds today in front of a distinguished gathering comprising of around 80 invitees. ``Catch-It'' will be available in the market very soon. ``Catch-It'' is the modern answer to better cricket in the new millennium. So don't miss it ``Catch-It''.