There are 3 main disciplines to playing cricket. They are batting, bowling and fielding.
Unfortunately, fielding is often ignored in terms of tactics and training.
However, if executed diligently, much advantage can be gained from it.
Below are a few tips:
-Move in with bowler (if not in a short catching position).
-Soften hands with catches & have fingers pointing down or up so the ball hits
the soft part of the palms not the heel of the hand.
-When fielding a ball, position yourself behind the ball and get one knee down behind the other heel.
-Watch the ball into your hands before attempting to throw in a return.
-Always throw to the keepers end unless you hear a definite call for the bowlers end.
-The bowler should always be ready to take a return at the stumps from the bowlers end.
-If the keeper fields the ball, make sure someone takes the stumps.
-Balls that travel most of the way to the boundary should be fielded using a relay throw,
where possible. You should position yourself roughly halfway between the fielder and the stumps.
-Be ready to back up the fielder every ball so run out attempts can be executed,
without giving away overthrows.
-When fielding a ball near the boundary, pick the ball up and throw in the return and
then look to see if it crossed the boundary, not before.
-There should always be plenty of talk in the field. Every ball something positive should be said
about the bowler, the keeper &/or the fielding.