Setting a field to a bowling plan

Setup

1. Full fielding side of up to eleven on a centre pitch, a batting pair padded up, and a scorer with a wagon-wheel sheet on the boundary.
2. Before each over, the bowler and the captain agree a plan in one sentence, e.g. 'Fourth-stump line, good length, try to find the outside edge.'
3. They set the field on the whiteboard first, then place it on the ground. Treat any field shown here as one common way to set it, not the only one.
4. Anyone fielding close in (short leg, silly point) or a keeper standing up to the stumps wears a helmet with a faceguard when using a hard ball.

How it runs

1. The bowler bowls an over at the batting pair, who play normally and run when it's on. The scorer marks where every ball is hit.
2. After the over, bowler, captain and scorer compare the wagon wheel with the field: did the ball go where the plan expected?
3. The captain makes up to two changes for the next over, either to tighten the plan or to match what the bowler is actually delivering.
4. Each bowler bowls two or three overs in total, within your association's workload guidelines, then the next bowler and captain take over with a new plan.
5. Check the field is legal every time: no more than two leg-side fielders behind the popping crease (behind square), and any inner-ring or powerplay restrictions in your competition's playing conditions.

Coaching points

• The field follows the plan, and the plan follows what the bowler can deliver reliably.
• Bowlers: own the field. If you want a change, ask the captain before the ball, not after the boundary.
• Protect the bowler's strength first, then cover the batter's favourite scoring area.
• Use hand signals and names so each fielder knows exactly where to move; check they're in place before the bowler starts the run-up.
• If the bowler keeps missing the plan, change the plan or give the bowler a simpler target before changing every fielder.

Common mistakes

• Setting a field the bowler can't bowl to, e.g. a heavy off-side field for a bowler who drifts onto the pads.
• Chasing the last shot by moving a fielder to where the ball has just gone.
• Placing three leg-side fielders behind the popping crease; it's a no-ball under the Laws.
• Fielders drifting from their marks over the over; captains should check every ball.