Need to give game time to our reserves, says fielding coach Sridhar

In this ongoing coronavirus crisis, cricketers are forced to sit at home and practise whatever resource is available to them. While some cricketers have all the facilities like the big yards or lawns inside their home, others are locked inside apartments.

Based on the space they have and the significant equipment they possess, Team India’s coaching members have given them the drills so much so that the cricketers would sharpen their training routines accordingly.

R Sridhar on fielding drills:

R Sridhar,Team India's fielding coach
R Sridhar. Credits: Google

Players are not deemed match-fit, and it would take more time for them to raise their standards. As far as the fielding part is concerned, it will take at least 3-4 weeks to be match-ready. However, for bowlers, it will be more than that, and also the workloads for players have to be raised slowly.

Will begin with tennis ball catching: R Sridhar

Team India’s fielding coach R Sridhar made his plans very clear. He said he would start by giving players some tennis ball catching because they wouldn’t have practised for a longer period of time i.e. 12-14 weeks. R Sridhar doesn’t want his players to get injured soon after a long break.

R Sridhar
R Sridhar. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“As far as catching is concerned, once we are back I will begin by giving them some tennis ball catching because they wouldn’t have practised for a long time (12-14 weeks). All of sudden, I don’t want their hands to get injuries. I will slowly make them catch a semi-hard ball which is lighter than a cricket ball. Once they get used to it for a few days, we will graduate to the cricket ball. When it comes to throwing and fielding drills, we will gradually increase the workload because a sudden spike can lead to injuries,” R Sridhar was quoted as saying by TOI.

With cricket slowly gearing up for a restart following the coronavirus-enforced shut down of many sporting activities, the important aspects of the global game are set to change forever.