India’s fielding drills: Multi-coloured rubber ‘reaction balls’ to adjust to wicked deviation | Cricket News

PORTSMOUTH: Team India’s practices over the years have had their fair share of innovation and they now use multi-coloured rubber balls to catch practices to accommodate last-minute lapses that could cost them dearly.
One of the Indian team’s field exercises at Arundel Land here seen the rising star Shubman Gill take catches with the color of the ball being green.
There were also yellow-colored balls, but not the lawn tennis balls you usually see when goalies and tight fielders perform hard reflex strikes.

“These are specially designed rubber balls, not the ones we are used to seeing in ravine cricket. They are designed for field drills. These balls are called ‘reaction balls’ and they are only used for field exercises only in some specific countries, mainly England or New Zealand where the breeze and colder conditions become a factor”, a renowned field coach, who worked at CNA and in national camps, PTI said.
When asked if there was any significance to the green colored balls which were used to practice catching Gill, he replied: “I don’t think there is any scientific reason or specific cricket for a specific color. But there is certainly a reason for using these kinds of rubber balls to catch practice – especially for outfielders and keepers.”
“In England, due to the underlying humidity and the green outside area (beyond 22 yards), the ball will swing a lot more than usual.
“England are the only country and to some extent in New Zealand you will find that deliveries that beat the outside edge of the batter deflect badly making it difficult to collect or catch the ball. The Dukes in England actually waver even more,” added the coach.

He then explained why these rubber “reaction balls” are used for training.
“These balls are lighter and so they would wobble and swing or deflect more. The idea is to adapt to that changing trajectory or line of the ball.
“Now coming to color, different colors are used because it’s a human tendency to lose sight of the ball at the last second. Different colors help you judge the deflection line until the last moment while catching the ball,” he added.

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