Slip fielders

[Adelaide Hawk]

Traditionally, Australia have had the best slip fielders in Test Cricket history. As a boy I remember the brilliance of Bobby Simpson snaring catches of ball that had seemingly whistled past him. Then there were Ian and Greg Chappell, both sensational slippers. Ian Redpath wasn't bad either.
I recall in the 1974-75 test series against England we saw Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, and Max Walker all tearing in and aiming for a slips cordon comprising Ian Chappell at 1st, Greg Chappell 2nd, Ian Redpath 3rd, Doug Walters 4th, Ashley Mallett in the Gully, Terry Jenner at point, and Ross Edwards in the Cover. Not much ever got through that group.
More recently we have seen Alan Border, Mark Taylor and the elegant Mark Waugh, all who made taking slip catches look as easy as picking oranges from a tree.
My worry is that with the inevitable end to Mark Waugh's career looming, our stocks of truly great slip fielders seem to be on the wane. We've seen Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting in there at times really struggling to create match winning catches.
I have always felt that Australia's high standard of slip fielding over the years has been as important to our successes as our bowling and batting.
I'd appreciate any thoughts others may have.

 

[SeinDude]

Shane Warne is also a good slip fielder, usually at 1st slip and Damien Martyn is quite capable of fielding in the slips. I think you're being a bit harsh on Hayden and Ponting though... I can't recall either of them dropping too many easy catches.

Cheers!!
SeinDude

 

[catattack]

No catches in slips are easy. At the speed the ball is going, it is a split second, reflex action. Some players are better than others, but you can't expect them to catch 100% of all chances.

 

[Arch#11]

Funny this has come up when M Waugh has dropped 3 sitters in the current innings.

The conditions can't be helping though as it is exremly hot and hard to concentrate.

There certainly arn't any standouts putting there hands up for Mark Waugh's soon to be vacant 2nd slip and 1st slip for the spinners possie.

Martyn is capable but have seen him drop many, ponting is better used in 4th where he can use is athleticism or even in the outfield where he is 2nd to none. Hayden is a great gully fielsdmen.

You would have to hope that whoever M. Waugh's replacement will be will be able to fill in the important position in the slips.

 

[Portmanteau]

Post-Waugh brother's retirement:

1st slip: Warne
2nd slip: Ponting
3rd slip: Martyn
4th slip: ?
Gully: Hayden
Point: ?
Cover: Lee

Keep in mind there shall be two batsman replacing the Waugh's, both which will be quality fielders. Hopefully one can field at second slip, as Ponting should be a point, or failing that, cover-point.

 

[bluechampion]

Boof

Lehmann's a reasonable slipsman, and will probably replace M.Waugh in the side, so why not in the cordon?

Ian Harvey - if he ever gets the consistency to play Test Cricket- would be a natural choice.

And that's not as ridiculous as it sounds - he was in the running early last season.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Re: Boof

Originally posted by bluechampion
Lehmann's a reasonable slipsman, and will probably replace M.Waugh in the side, so why not in the cordon?

Ian Harvey - if he ever gets the consistency to play Test Cricket- would be a natural choice.

And that's not as ridiculous as it sounds - he was in the running early last season.

Ian Harvey will never play test cricket. BTW, if I remember correctly a few years ago Langer used to field in the slips & did OK. ie. 1st Warne, 2nd Ponting, 3rd Martyn, 4th Langer, Gully Hayden