How to Catch a Cricket Ball

Catches decide close games. Good catching is mostly about position, soft hands and watching the ball all the way in.

Get in line

Move so the ball is coming straight at you, not to one side. Taking a catch across your body is far harder and gives you no second chance if it pops out.

Hand position

For a ball above chest height, catch with fingers pointing up. For anything below the chest, point the fingers down. Mixing these up is the most common reason a simple catch is dropped.

Keep your fingers relaxed and slightly spread. Rigid fingers bounce the ball out.

Soft hands

Give with the ball as it arrives. Let your hands travel back a short distance to absorb the pace instead of meeting it with a hard surface.

Watch it in

Keep your eyes on the ball until it is in your hands. Looking up to see where the batters are is the classic way to drop one.

Practice

• Start with underarm throws from close range and build distance.
• Practise high catches outdoors so you learn to judge them against the sky.
• Do short, frequent catching sessions rather than long ones — concentration fades.