It took 20 matches at the World Cup for the Test-playing nations to produce a match that could be classified as a ‘thriller’.
But with the quarter finals on the horizon we can expect more close encounters in which fielding will play a big role.
With majority of the teams locking down their final XI, let’s look at each player’s fielding ability, and allocate each player either one, two or three points.
Three: above average fielder, expected to take all catches, including the odd blinder. They are extremely quick across the ground and are also expected to hit the stumps directly on over 50 per cent of occasions. They create hesitancy when batsmen are looking for a run.
Two: average fielder, but with the standard set so high, they are expected to take all straight-forward catches, produce the odd piece of good fielding, but they don’t intimidate the batsmen. They are safe, can save runs in the field, but are still below the top bracket. Even the best fast bowlers have been ranked in this category, as they simply cannot be compared with the elite.
One: below average. While not all of them are poor fielders, these players are a liability; some because an injury affects throwing or running, while others lack concentration. Fielders in this category needed to be hidden and batsmen target them for easy runs.
Note: All wicket keepers have been classified as ‘two’ unless they are a part-time keeper.
| Australia | |
| Warner | 3 |
| Finch | 2 |
| Watson | 1 |
| Clarke | 3 |
| Smith | 3 |
| Maxwell | 3 |
| Haddin | 2 |
| Faulkner | 2 |
| Johnson | 2 |
| Starc | 2 |
| Hazelwood | 2 |
| Total | 25 |
| Ab Avg | 4 |
| Bel Avg | 1 |
| New Zealand | |
| Guptill | 3 |
| McCullum | 3 |
| Williamson | 3 |
| Taylor | 2 |
| Elliot | 2 |
| Anderson | 2 |
| Ronchi | 2 |
| Vettori | 1 |
| Southee | 2 |
| Boult | 2 |
| Milne | 2 |
| Total | 24 |
| Ab Avg | 3 |
| Bel Avg | 1 |
| South Africa | |
| De Kock | 2 |
| Amla | 1 |
| Du Plessis | 3 |
| AB De Villiers | 3 |
| Miller | 3 |
| Duminy | 3 |
| Beharadin | 2 |
| Steyn | 2 |
| Morkel | 1 |
| Tahir | 1 |
| Philander | 2 |
| Total | 23 |
| Ab Avg | 4 |
| Bel Avg | 3 |
| India | |
| Dhawan | 1 |
| Rohit | 2 |
| Kohli | 3 |
| Rahane | 3 |
| Raina | 3 |
| Dhoni | 2 |
| Jadeja | 3 |
| Ashwin | 1 |
| Shami | 1 |
| Yadav | 2 |
| Mohit | 2 |
| Total | 23 |
| Ab Avg | 4 |
| Bel Avg | 3 |
| England | |
| Ali | 2 |
| Bell | 1 |
| Ballance | 1 |
| Root | 2 |
| Morgan | 3 |
| Taylor | 3 |
| Butler | 2 |
| Woakes | 2 |
| Broad | 2 |
| Anderson | 2 |
| Finn | 1 |
| Total | 21 |
| Ab Avg | 2 |
| Bel Avg | 3 |
| Sri Lanka | |
| Dilshan | 3 |
| Thirimane | 2 |
| Sangakarra | 2 |
| Jayawardena | 2 |
| Chandimal | 2 |
| Matthews | 2 |
| Karunaratne | 2 |
| Perrera | 1 |
| Herath | 1 |
| Malinga | 2 |
| Lakmal | 1 |
| Total | 20 |
| Ab Avg | 1 |
| Bel Avg | 3 |
| West Indies | |
| Gayle | 2 |
| Smith | 2 |
| Samuels | 1 |
| Carter | 2 |
| Ramdin | 2 |
| Simmons | 2 |
| Russell | 2 |
| Sammy | 2 |
| Holder | 1 |
| Benn | 1 |
| Taylor | 2 |
| Total | 19 |
| Ab Avg | 0 |
| Bel Avg | 3 |
| Pakistan | |
| Jamshed | 1 |
| Shehzad | 3 |
| Harris Shoail | 2 |
| Misbah | 2 |
| Maqsood | 2 |
| Akmal | 1 |
| Afridi | 2 |
| Yasir Shah | 2 |
| Riaz | 1 |
| Shoail Khan | 1 |
| Irfan | 1 |
| Total | 18 |
| Ab Avg | 1 |
| Bel Avg | 5 |
After ranking each player, it is clear Australia is still slightly ahead of the rest of the pack. It is probably safe to assume each point represents five runs in the field. Based on that, Australia is likely to save five more runs in the field that New Zealand, while there a difference of 35 runs between Australia and Pakistan (lowest ranked team).
Based on the fielding rankings it is likely to be Australia and New Zealand in the World Cup final.
Barring upsets it is likely the top two teams and potential semi-finalist will be Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. That should not come as a surprise given those are the top four teams in the tournament.
raz
Guest
Where did i say best fielding side?? Go watch some cricket before making useless derogatory comments. India is a much better fielding side than they are given credit for,thats all the point i made.If you want to get personal and hurl stupid insults,nothing i can do.
raz
Guest
Newzealand easily has the most all round fielding side with good outfielders and close in fielders.
13th Man
Guest
For me its South Africa who are the best. De Villiers and Du Plessis are the best two fieldsmen in the world, Miller and Duminy also fantastic fieldsmen as is Rossouw who you have failed to mention in your article. Australia and New Zeland are also very strong fielding sides and India is just pathetic, how Kohli is a 3 astounds me, did you watch the test series? he really was atrocious in slips. Also i think you really should give wicket-keepers a 3, they really are the best fieldsmen going round. Guys like ABDV, McCullum and Sanga are fantasticwith or without the gloves. I think you will find that most keepers are fantastic fieldsmen and the best keepers deserve a 3.
sd
Guest
well said rengede !
Renegade
Roar Guru
Lol this guy just keeps providing the laughs... Haha India best fielding side - deadset stitch up.
raz
Guest
Not india's fault,they can only play whats in front of them.Lol all you want.Doesnt change the results ,does it?? India demolished everyone in champions trophy 2013 in england ,have 2 world cups and very narrowly missed a 2nd world t20 ,not to mention the no.1 test side crown for nearly 19 months.And the best win/loss ratio in ODIs since 2011. Doesnt change any of that,they might not win this one,but they are not gonna go down easy.
sd
Guest
agreed india is pathetic!
sd
Guest
lol ! india is rubbish ! they beat sa because of their choking habbit ! and once again if they will face aussies in the tournament they will be kick out from wc.
cjb
Guest
Worth reading the article for that little collection
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Wasn't going to stay anything. Still, even if It's not exactly a fool-proof method, it was an enjoyable read. Doesn't bother me too much that it is based mostly on conjecture and opinion.
Targa
Guest
This bloke is considered an average fieldsman (only a 2)??!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQR3SwnwTH4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw4LyJ9tnGY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7i6J-4vf_0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52S7YGLjqy8 If Trent Boult is a two, most of the guys listed should be 1s. Tough marker
Hayley
Guest
So you haven't seen any of Boults incredible catches from the past 1-2 years or so. Otherwise you wold have him as a 3. Milne took an amazing catch against England, he's easily capable of doing it again.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Don't think its as simple as that in terms of determining finalist. Add in: The bowling attack is required to get the best out of the fielding abilities by creating as many opportunities as well as taking advantages of their skills. And: The captains abilities to place them in those positions for the same reasons. Quantify those in the same way then it gets a bit clearer, though leaves out batting strengths. For me, NZ keeping both England and Oz to below 153 when prior to both matches pus 300 was expected suggests a strong attack overall, despite what NZ's batting produced. That is the key to NZ's chances, our batting, as is anyones, slightly more hit or miss as all sides have shown so far. After 4 matches NZ has conceded around 170 runs an innings, on batting wickets...not too bad, regardless of anything else
raz
Guest
What has india done so bad ??? India's fielding has probably been most impressive ,not a single dropped catch in 26 or so and ground fielding is always great,this is not the india which has passengers in field apart from ashwin maybe,who isnt the worst either .South africa on the other hand has passengers like morne morkel,tahir and amla isnt the best either.
Riccardo
Guest
Australia are an outstanding fielding unit but I question whether they are better than the Kiwis as a unit. And how India rank alongside the Proteas just defies belief. I do agree the deeper this tournament goes the higher the likelihood that basics, like this discipline, will be more important...
raz
Guest
When u have hashim amla at point,you shouldnt really be complaining,indian out fielding and catching has been the best this world cup.Infact its been good for last 3-4 years .
Statistic Skeptic
Guest
You can't mix qualitative with quantitative when you're talking stats.
If India is rated the same as South Africa in regards to fielding.....well.
sd
Guest
agreed ? but i still think New Zealand are the best fielding unit in world cup > Russell=3 ( just like max and warner he is super Athlete) Anderson=3 (great fielder ) Shehzad =2 Ballance=2 (good fieldsman) Watson=0 (can't field can't bat can't bowl) fiery tasmanian in watson out
raz
Guest
Have you ever seen dhawan fielding ??? He easily as good as rahane or kohli in the field,one of the best in the side. Yadav is probably one of the best outfielders in world cricket,guy runs like a bull and is built like one too.