Gathering the ball
Whether you are keeping up to an off spinner, leg spinner or a slow
medium pacer, the objective must always be to cover the outer edge of
the bat.
For an off spinner or medium pacer, the hands are placed in line with
the ball, while for a leg spinner or left arm spinner the idea is to
place the hands where the ball will spin and beat the outside edge.
When the ball is wide outside the off stump, take a sideways step and
turn the body and the gloves, so that the fingers are pointing
sideways. The thumbs are kept out of the way and the right elbow is
kept low to prevent the hands from splitting and allowing a gap for
the ball to pass through.
Taking the balls down the leg side is difficult as the batsman
obstructs the view of the ball for a fraction of a second and may
cause you to miss the ball.
Judge the line and the bounce early and move quickly sideways with the hands leading.
The line the ball is taking must be `recorded' in your brain and even
if you are not watching the ball all the time, you must anticipate
where you can catch the ball. The pads must follow the hands to form
the second line of defence.
The most difficult types of balls to gather standing up is the yorker
or the over pitched deliveries as you do not have time to judge the
bounce of the ball.
For such deliveries bring the pads together in line with the ball with
the knees touching and bent. The head is kept low with the eyes on the
ball.
Let the ball come to you and avoid snatching at it. The important
aspect to be remembered while standing up is that you must expect
every ball to come to you and watch the ball from the bowler's hand
till it is safely in the glove.