ENG vs IND 2018, 1st Test: We need to Identify Players for Slip Cordon - Mohammad Azharuddin

‘Catching in slip cordon’ is one of the few problems persisting alongside Indian cricket over the years, and still, the ways to sort it out is being invisible to the current troop.

Though we have had great slip catchers in the past, the current set up is finding it hard to discover the perfect slip cordon. Meanwhile, Azharuddin suggests management to find eligible players.

Standing for six hours in slip is not easy – Azharuddin

Speaking of the problem, the former India skipper, Mohammed Azharuddin feels the management should find the players who can pluck the catches whenever it is on offer.

He went on the say the fielders need to give an extra hour of practice for slip catching to sort out the problem as quickly as possible. However, Azharuddin wants to make it zero drops at slip cordon for India.

“Standing for six hours in slip is not easy. You have to take a minimum of 50-60 catches in a day during practice to become a good slip fielder. Slip is a specialised position. Everybody cannot stand in slips, and that is what is happening with the Indian team. We need to identify players who want to stay in the slips. They should be willing to practice hard to take catches in slips. Practice ma­kes you perfect,” said Azharuddin during the unveiling of Bijapur Bulls’ squad, KPL.

“When you stand at the slips, you need to stay in the right position. Sometimes you stay back, sometimes you move up front. I think slip fielders have to learn from the wicketkeeper. Actually, as per where the keeper stands, the slip fielder has to adjust and stand, as the keeper can only tell you as to how the ball is behaving. At the end the of the day, slip fielders have to make themselves comfortable,” added Azhar.

Stats of Indian drop catches:

As per the record on the register, the Indian slip cordon has shelled out as many as 2.48 catches per Tests since they played against Proteas in 2013. It is the third worst stats for a Test team.

The other two teams that are worse than India are Afghanistan and Bangladesh. India’s success rate in slips against seamers is 67 per cent since 2014, which is only better than the teams mentioned above.