5 cricketing skills that are very difficult to master

#3 Slip Catching

Mark Waugh shapes up to take a catch at slip

One of the elements of cricket that has evolved at a breakneck pace over the past two decades or so is the standard of fielding. Almost all sides nowadays have fielders who can be relied upon at different stages of the game. However, catching in the slips is an aspect that has diminished greatly in recent times. It remains the toughest skill to master as far as fielding is concerned.

A slip fielder not only needs good reflexes but also requires immense powers of concentration to assist a firing bowler. He has to judge his position precisely and await opportunities even as a few other fielders lurk beside him. On the other hand, when the catches do come, they might be moving viciously and the fielder needs to have really good hands to be a successful at slip. Unlike ground fielding, slip catching has to come naturally to the player. As a result, the number of great slip fielders in cricket is quite low at any given point of time.