The Art of Fielding

PL on Australia's Freudian slips

Josh Inglis at training Monday

Australian slips practice has taken on a bit of a comic turn in Barbados. First, there is the sight of the diminutive Josh Inglis standing at third slip between the towering Beau Webster at second and Cameron Green at gully.

“Like a bail between two stumps,” Inglis observed.

And then there was the level of chaos provided by fill-in assistant coach Matthew Wade, whose erratic throwing made life painful for Andrew McDonald, who was on his knees trying to hit chances to the distant and diverse slippers.

Fielding drills are not for the timid. That ball is thrown hard and is pumped up tight, if you’re giving throwdowns or hitting slips catches, then you are in the line of fire. Pain is involved.

One of Wade’s wayward throws got McDonald square in the ribs. Occasionally, McDonald put in a Rishabh Pant commando roll as he attempted to play ball while protecting himself.