January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Fountain: Even Test cricketers don't know how to catch correctly
Specialist is trying to change Bermuda's approach to much-neglected discipline
By Colin Thompson
One of the world’s leading fielding experts is currently putting the island’s cricketers through their paces.
Englishman Julien Fountain, the first baseball player hired by a Test playing team, has been recruited by Bermuda Cricket Board on a short-term basis.
During a three-week coaching stint Fountain intends to improve local fielding standards at both club and national levels.
“David Moore (national coach) wants me to visit the clubs to try and get the message across and change the approach to fielding. I’m trying to raise the standards in the domestic structure which is not as great when you move up to national level,” he explained.
“What we are doing is basic hand and eye coordination drills. Cricketers catch a ball but very often won’t understand the actual mechanics of doing the skill. We are taking them right back to the basics…… giving them all the elements of how to catch a ball. The body movement, foot positioning, balance and hand movement and positioning.
“It’s everything and you would be surprised that even Test cricketers don’t actually know how to catch a ball although they do it everyday.”
The former British Olympic baseballer assisted with the island’s ICC Intercontinental Shield preparations earlier this year, and was impressed with some of the potential he observed in training.
He added: “I was with them in South Africa and in just that week they came on. I know the results (Intercontinental Shield) weren’t quite what we had hoped in Namibia, but it’s early days and we are trying to rebuild a structure here.”
Fountain began his cricket career at English County side Somerset where he progressed from the Under 13 to Under 19 level before switching allegiances to baseball.
He represented Britain’s Olympic baseball team in major international competitions and also had trials with Major League Baseball teams New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals before eventually returning to the cricket pitch.
During his coaching career Fountain has worked with Test nations such as England, the West Indies and Pakistan and more recently with ICC Associate powerhouse Ireland alongside former Windies opening batsman Phil Simmons — the Irish coach.
The Englishman describes fielding as a science and integral part of the gentlemen’s game.
He said: “Literally every 12-18 months the game changes. The pace gets quicker and the expectations get higher and certainly things like 20/20 or the IPL fielding is massive.
“Fielding is huge and you would now expect teams to achieve two run outs and at least three catches per game in a 20/20 match — it’s just par for the course.
“It’s even got to the stage, to be honest, where we expect outfielders to be able to hit the stumps — and not just infielders. With the replays it’s now down to milliseconds and so if you hit it’s obviously better.” n
One of the world’s leading fielding experts is currently putting the island’s cricketers through their paces.
Englishman Julien Fountain, the first baseball player hired by a Test playing team, has been recruited by Bermuda Cricket Board on a short-term basis.
During a three-week coaching stint Fountain intends to improve local fielding standards at both club and national levels.
“David Moore (national coach) wants me to visit the clubs to try and get the message across and change the approach to fielding. I’m trying to raise the standards in the domestic structure which is not as great when you move up to national level,” he explained.
“What we are doing is basic hand and eye coordination drills. Cricketers catch a ball but very often won’t understand the actual mechanics of doing the skill. We are taking them right back to the basics…… giving them all the elements of how to catch a ball. The body movement, foot positioning, balance and hand movement and positioning.
“It’s everything and you would be surprised that even Test cricketers don’t actually know how to catch a ball although they do it everyday.”
The former British Olympic baseballer assisted with the island’s ICC Intercontinental Shield preparations earlier this year, and was impressed with some of the potential he observed in training.
He added: “I was with them in South Africa and in just that week they came on. I know the results (Intercontinental Shield) weren’t quite what we had hoped in Namibia, but it’s early days and we are trying to rebuild a structure here.”
Fountain began his cricket career at English County side Somerset where he progressed from the Under 13 to Under 19 level before switching allegiances to baseball.
He represented Britain’s Olympic baseball team in major international competitions and also had trials with Major League Baseball teams New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals before eventually returning to the cricket pitch.
During his coaching career Fountain has worked with Test nations such as England, the West Indies and Pakistan and more recently with ICC Associate powerhouse Ireland alongside former Windies opening batsman Phil Simmons — the Irish coach.
The Englishman describes fielding as a science and integral part of the gentlemen’s game.
He said: “Literally every 12-18 months the game changes. The pace gets quicker and the expectations get higher and certainly things like 20/20 or the IPL fielding is massive.
“Fielding is huge and you would now expect teams to achieve two run outs and at least three catches per game in a 20/20 match — it’s just par for the course.
“It’s even got to the stage, to be honest, where we expect outfielders to be able to hit the stumps — and not just infielders. With the replays it’s now down to milliseconds and so if you hit it’s obviously better.” n
[[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.