Sliding stop vs conventional 'pull back' stop fielding

Modern game has helped in the growth of fielding

Green outfields have helped in the improvement of ground fielding

The above preamble tells a story about the necessities and complexities of both pull-back and sliding stops. It was the former that was once prevalent when outfields weren’t always greenish.

ODI cricket first stamped its authority and then it’s the turn of T20 cricket to take the cricketing globe by storm. Amidst the transformation, the importance of saving runs became an important aspect in the game and that’s when fielders pulled up their socks to fuel their agility on the field.

Fast bowlers are deemed to be average fielders, but even they have raised the bar to emerge as potent athletes in the field. Brett Lee was a prime example of the slide and stop method. In a nutshell, in a generation of fast paced cricket, fielders aren’t left with the choice of relaxing and taking a breather in the outfield.