On-field communication in Cricket

A Report on On-
Field
Communication
in Cricket
Prepared for,

Prof. Neera Jain, as part of the WAC Course

Submitted By,

Ishpreet Singh (12P139) Karan Jaidka (12P141)

Kshitij Agrawal (12P142) Mayank Bathla (12P149)

WAC Section D, PGPM 2012-14, MDI Gurgaon

12th December, 2012

A Report on On-Field Communication in Cricket

Acknowledgements
Like the most demanding undertakings in life, this research would have not taken place without
the effort of many individuals. First, I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Neera Jain
for her guidance, support, belief, and comprehensive attention to detail and the broad picture
of this project. Thank you for the various tips and points you gave us in the aspects of report
writing and our topic in general. They were really vital to see our research reach completion.

The team would like to express their sincere gratitude to Mr. Naman Chawla and Mr. Shivam
Sharma from Roshanara Club, Shakti Nagar, New Delhi for taking time off and giving them to
opportunity to personally interview them. Their insights definitely added tremendous value to
the outcome of this report. The students of Management Development Institute, Gurgaon
deserve special mention for giving their views and opinions on the subject through the survey.

A big thank you to our entire team for putting in long hours to make this research report a
reality. Lastly, we thank the Almighty for guiding us through the implementation of this project.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements…………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………(i)

Table of Images…………………………………..…………………………………………………………..……………………………………(iv)

Executive Summary…………………………………..…………………………………………………………..……………………………..(vi)

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Scope ................................................................................................................................................ 1
Relevance ......................................................................................................................................... 1
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................. 2
Verbal and non-verbal Communication .............................................................................. 2
Relevance of Communication to Cricket ............................................................................ 3
The Various Avatars of On-Field Communication in Cricket............................................................ 5
Communication between Captain and Bowler ................................................................... 5
Communication between Captain and Fielders.................................................................. 6
Role of the Wicket-keeper .................................................................................................. 7
Communication between Batsmen .................................................................................... 8
Communication between Fielders ...................................................................................... 9
Communication between Players and the Coach ............................................................... 9
System of Code Words ...................................................................................................... 10
Motivation ........................................................................................................................ 11
Team Huddles ................................................................................................................... 12
Sledging ............................................................................................................................. 13
The Role of the Crowd ...................................................................................................... 15
The Strategic Time-Out ..................................................................................................... 16

METHODOLOGY ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………18

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ANALYSIS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19

Analysis of the Survey .................................................................................................................... 19
Analysis of the Interview................................................................................................................ 33

RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………35

Communication between Captain and Bowler .............................................................................. 35
Communication between Captain and Fielders............................................................................. 36
Role of the Wicket-keeper ............................................................................................................. 36
Communication between Batsmen ............................................................................................... 37
Communication between Fielders ................................................................................................. 37
Sledging .......................................................................................................................................... 38
Motivation ..................................................................................................................................... 38

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….39

APPENDIX A – The Questionnaire, as part of the Student Survey…………………………………..………………………41

APPENDIX B – Interview Questions…………………………..……..…………………………………………………………..……….44

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Table of Images
Image 1 – A model proposing the relationship between communication and coordination required
enhancing team performance………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..4

Image 2 – England Captain Alistair Cook sets the field while discussing with pacer James Anderson….….6

Image 3 – Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag gestures to his fielders…………………………………...…….7

Image 4 – A Pakistani wicket-keeper appeals for a successful LBW………………………………………………………….7

Image 5 – Communication between batsmen is very vital……………………………………………………………………….8

Image 6 - Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Steven Smith collide during their game against
Canada at the Cricket World Cup…………..………………………………………………………………………………………………..9

Image 7 - Greg Chappell with Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly during his stint as India coach…………….10

Image 8 – The Indian team huddle up during the ICC World Cup, 2003………………………………………………….13

Image 9 – When sledging shows its ugly side……………………………………………..………………………………………….14

Image 10 – The importance of crowd support is well illustrated in this image…………………………….…………16

Image 11 – The Strategic Time-out timer, as seen on giant screens during IPL matches………………………..17

Image 12 – Question 1 of the Questionnaire………………………………………………………………………………………….19









Image 21 – Question 10 of the Questionnaire……………………………………………………………………………………….29

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Executive Summary
Sports and communication are two very important aspects of human life. Sports and games are
the means by which humans constructively give vent to their latent energy, while strengthening
their physical being and also honing social skills like team work, decision making and leadership.
Communication is the most important aspect of man's social behavior. The way man
communicates with his fellow men improves or derogates his relationship with them and
consequently his standing in a society. So communication plays a key role in the 'social skills'
aspect of sport. Various methods are prevalent in order to improve one's communication skills.
However, the one method that can have deep impact on anyone from kids to adult, because of
its fun factor, is sports.

Can anyone imagine a game of cricket where the players of a team do not communicate with
each other? What would be the implication of that? Will the players be able to win if they don't
communicate?

In each and every phase of life, man needs to associate and share his views with his
contemporaries. Communication is needed not only to express one's views, but also to imbibe
the views and experiences of others, which is how man expands his knowledge. This
communication needs to be precise, concise and palatable so as to be effective. In Cricket, the
fielders would easily run out a batsman if he spends time calling out to the other batsman, “Hey
come on run! We can take two runs in this ball!” If this communication had been precise and
concise, the call would have just been, “Run!”

On the field, regular practices of communication do not always work. There is just a fraction of
second for a player to decide his move and for his teammates to gather his intentions and act
accordingly. A wink of the eye, a grunt or a yell is all that can pass between the teammates. But
that still works because the players know their teammates, and how they will communicate.
This knowledge comes with the hours of practice the players put in together, as a team. They
devise their own secret codes and signs to communicate the game strategy right under the
nose of the opponent. It is important to note here that communication is not just verbal. Body
language, hand or leg signals are all different ways of communication in Cricket.

The information that is being communicated should be graspable and non-offensive to the
receiver. Many a times, in the middle of a high tension game, the tempers are high, and the
players tend to give vent to their feelings by using abusive language on their opponents. As a
result, they end up being fined or suspended and regret their behavior later. Though it is very
difficult to do so, if the players master the art of controlling their emotions, and communicate

vi


their objection in a non-offensive manner, not only would they avoid facing penalty, but also,
they avoid unnecessary tension between the teams.

Thus, in Cricket, not just communication, but effective communication is essential. The
precision, conciseness and palatability cannot be developed overnight. The age old adage that
'Practice makes a man perfect' stands true in the case of communication too.

Mother Theresa said, “Life is a game, play it”. Sports and communication are two inseparable
aspects of human life. Life without either game or communication would be like the altar or a
temple without its residing deity. These are the two attributes that add color and flavour to life.
And it is only proper that one is used in learning the other. Communication in sports helps us to
play the game better, and sports in communication helps us to communicate better.

In the report, an attempt is made to probe in detail the role of on-field communication in
Cricket. The various existing modes of communication in Cricket are discussed and analyzed and
suggestions to improve them are presented at the end. The survey and interview methods of
data collection were also used to get a panorama of perspectives from various sources.

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Introduction
Scope

A team, filled with the most talented and capable players, will flounder in mediocrity if they are
not able to communicate effectively on and off the field. On the other hand, a team composed
of average run-of-the-mill players will be strong contenders every time if they can get their
thoughts across effectively. This is true of every team sport, and Cricket is no different. Effective
communication in Cricket is an absolute essential trait that the best teams must have to remain
competitive and become successful. Though the role of the coaches and the support staff is
very important in communication off the field, this report will focus on the communication,
both verbal and non-verbal, by the players on the field. The report will also throw light on the
psychological effects of communication with special focus on crowd support or jeering and
sledging. The report will seek to assist the coaching staff of international and domestic teams
round the globe as they emphasize to their players the vitality of on-field communication.

Relevance

Cricket requires a lot of thinking. Conditions vary, different opposition players have wildly
different strengths and weaknesses, and the game can change in the matter of a few minutes
even after long periods of stalemate. Whether you are batting, bowling, fielding or captaining,
sometimes a five minute break might feel like exactly what you need to compose your
thoughts. The secret is to combine the natural time you have with a subtle control of the pace
of the game. The secret is to communicate effectively at every possible juncture of the game.

Cricket is no longer considered just a gentleman’s game. It has evolved over time, mainly
because of the way the players have been expressing themselves. They now display their
emotions openly, and this has added to the excitement of playing and watching the game,
especially in Limited Overs Cricket. They also have to deal with numerous emotions on the field,
and sometimes, a sudden emotional or psychological rush of adrenaline by players is enough to
turn the way a match is heading. Hence, in today’s day and age, it is not only about setting the
field, instructions given by the captain to his players, small chats between the batsmen
between overs. It is now about team huddles, strategic time-outs, sledging and many other
ways in which cricketers communicate, strategize and play with emotions. The report not only

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emphasizes the importance of the old-school way of communicating on the field, but it also
brings out the challenges which players face in the new schemes of communication on the
cricket ground.

Literature Review

The current review of literature begins with research that supports the view that
communication is a trained and accomplished skill. Furthermore, the review focuses on major
concepts and research applications of nonverbal and verbal communication in the field of
cricket psychology.

Verbal and non-verbal Communication

During the last 25 years, the number of published articles and books in the area of nonverbal
research increased six-fold in comparison to research published between 1960-1981 (Harrigan,
Rosenthal, & Scherer, 2005). At the same time, verbal communication, as a part of teamwork,
and procedures for effective training have materialized as a vital research area specifically in
the industrial organizational (IO) field. A number of studies examined team communication
(Bowers, Jentsch, Salsas, & Braun, 1998).

Team communication includes a minimum of two individuals and a meaningful conversation in
which a sender attempts to influence the response of a person or a team (Weinberg & Gould,
1995). In an attempt to communicate, a message can be transmitted through verbal or
nonverbal channels. The shared information in verbal communication is open, explicit,
unambiguous, precise, and clear. Conversely, in nonverbal communication the information
conveyed is hidden, implicit, covert, unexplained, and sometimes, not obvious to the casual
observer. Depending on their knowledge, nonverbal communication can be understood
between the team members. At the same time, nonverbal communication is subtle, yet critical
in obtaining information. In particular, Martens (1987) and Weinberg and Gould (1995), citing
research by Mehrabian (1968), reported that as much as 50% to over 70% of human
communication is nonverbal. However, these numbers have to be used with caution as
Hegestrom (1979) noted that Mehrabian’s findings have been misinterpreted and used for
generalization. Actually, Mehrabian’s formula (i.e., in which verbal channel accounts for 7%,
vocal channel accounts for 38%, and facial channel accounts for 55% for liking the person who
speaks a message) is inappropriately used as a common reference stating that total message
and its meaning is being transported mostly by nonverbal channel. Generalizations of
Mehrabian’s studies indicate that verbal communication contributes with a small percentage,
failing to show that analysed channels were accountable only for communication of attitude.

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When people communicate, they rely on different sources of information as they form
impressions about one another. For instance, people form feelings about others based on the
speech content (Krauss & Chiu, 1998; Steller & Köhnken, 1989) or behaviour watching (DePaulo
& Friedman, 1998). Sometimes, communication process can involve the receiver of the
information perplexed because he or she is uncertain about the veracity of the statement. For
example, when body language deviates from, or opposes, to what is being said, the receiver has
‘the sixth sense’ that may be misleading. In such case, nonverbal cues are likely to be more
salient when they disagree with verbal communication (Borgoon, 1985; Borgoon, Buller, &
Woodall, 1996).

Relevance of Communication to Cricket

The communication process in team sports and other domains has several purposes. Although
the occurrence of the process is identical in all communications, the functions of the
communications differ. Communication processes can result in persuasion, evaluation,
information transfer, motivation, and problem solving (Weinberg & Gould, 1995). In addition,
communication may carry more than one function at the same time.

As individuals cooperate, they are regarded as a team. Eccles and Tenenbaum (2004) posited
that cooperation, along with coordination are indispensable in sports where demands outweigh
individual’s productivity. Given that each sport is characterized by its distinctive team size,
different coordination requirements are imposed in order for the team to perform at its best.
One can assume that as the number of teammates increases, the team potential increases as
well. However, data from Ringlemann’s study (see Kravitz & Martin, 1986) showed that team’s
productivity decreased as the number of individuals on the team increased. Steiner (1972)
suggested coordination losses as a cause for the decline in relative teammate productivity with
increasing team size. Steiner defined coordination loss as a failure to synchronize efforts in a
maximally proficient manner, while yielding less productivity. Furthermore, Carron and
Hausenblas (1998) proposed that teammate interaction and coordination, either in task or
social situation, become progressively difficult with increasing the team size. For example, in a
two-person team, there is one link, while in four-person team there are six links to coordinate.
If the coordination is performed skillfully, it should result in greater team performance. Image
11 is a proposed model that illustrates the relationship among communication, coordination,
and team performance.

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Image 1 – A model proposing the relationship between communication and coordination required
enhancing team performance

In a study of verbal and nonverbal communication between team members, Lausic,
Tenenbaum, Eccles, Jeong, and Johnson (in press) found that winning teams exchanged
messages more frequently than losing teams. Also, communication patterns obtained via Data
Analysis Tool (Jeong, 2003) discriminated between more effective and less effective teams.
Finally, the more effective teams increased the chances of successful coordination, and
ultimately winning, by (a) displaying a more consistent type of communication, (b) using
frequent planning statements, and (c) providing regular feedback by acknowledgment.

In cricket, as in any other game or sport, and even in the very game of life, the importance of
communication with our fellow players cannot be emphasized enough. Communication is
needed not only to express one's views, but also to imbibe the views and experiences of others,
which is how man expands his knowledge. This communication needs to be precise, concise
and palatable so as to be effective. Take the game of cricket again. The fielders would easily run
out a batsman if he spends time calling out to the other batsman, “Hey come on run! We can
take two runs in this ball!” If this communication had been precise and concise, the call would
have just been, “Run!”

On the field, regular practices of communication do not always work. There is just a fraction of
second for a player to decide his move and for his teammates to gather his intentions and act
accordingly. A wink of the eye, a grunt or a yell is all that can pass between the teammates. But
that still works because the players know their teammates, and how they will communicate.
This knowledge comes with the hours of practice the players put in together, as a team. They
devise their own secret codes and signs to communicate the game strategy right under the
nose of the opponent. It is important to note here that communication is not just verbal. Body
language, hand or leg signals are all different ways of communication in games.

One may wonder where does palatability fit in here. How can communication be 'palatable'? By
palatable, it is meant here that the information that is being communicated should be
graspable and non-offensive to the receiver. Many a times, in the middle of a high tension
game, the tempers are high, and the players tend to give vent to their feelings by using abusive
language on their opponents. As a result, they end up being fined or suspended and regret their

4


behaviour later. Though it is very difficult to do so, if the players master the art of controlling
their emotions, and communicate their objection in a non-offensive manner, not only would
they avoid facing penalty, but also, they avoid unnecessary tension between the teams.

So it can be concluded that in games, not just communication, but effective communication is
essential. The precision, conciseness and palatability cannot be developed overnight. The age
old adage that 'Practice makes a man perfect' stands true in the case of communication too.

The Various Avatars of On-Field Communication in Cricket

In any team sport, a team’s ability to communicate during the course of a game has a direct
impact on its success. Communication is the key to teamwork, the difference between success
and failure. Players must learn to take advantage of all the information available to them.
Tough decisions are easier to make when players know exactly what they’re facing. They gain
this knowledge through listening to their teammates and through sharing their own
observations and experiences.

Good communication helps to ensure player safety, create an efficient defense, and develop
trust and confidence among teammates. The unit that learns to communicate well can play
with minimal risk and maximum strength. Create a winning combination by developing
responsibility, exhibiting leadership, and fostering teamwork.

Communication between Captain and Bowler

The key area of communication in the field is between the captain and his players. The bowlers,
in particular, need to have two way conversation with their skipper to make sure the field
matches the line and length the bowler is aiming for.

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Image 2 – England Captain Alistair Cook sets the field while discussing with pacer James Anderson

Often this can be simple. The captain knows already what the bowler is trying to do and sets
the field to match with barely a word. However, either player could make a change based on a
hunch that needs to be discussed. The captain must also be sure that bowlers are comfortable
with his tactics on the field too. Good captains know how to deliberately open and plug gaps in
the field and the bowler should be fully aware of what is going on. You don't want your star
bowler against your plan because he doesn't know what is happening.

Keeping bowlers in the loop at all times is one of the most important jobs a captain can do. It's
different for every personality of bowler, which makes it a tricky task.

Communication between Captain and Fielders

The fielders need to keep eye contact with the captain as much as possible. This makes it easy
for the skipper to move the field quickly. It also works the other way, with a quick gesture from
the fielder to the captain suggesting a tactical change such as moving a bit deeper or closer
against a certain batter. Most of the times it is not possible for the fielders to hear what the
captain is saying so he must be able to clearly decipher his hand gestures and set himself
according to the need of the captain

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Image 3 – Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag gestures to his fielders

Role of the Wicket-keeper

The wicketkeeper has an important role in fielding communications too. Adjusting a fielder to
the correct angle and informing the captain about a bowlers pace, movement and bounce (the
keeper is in the best position for both). The keeper should be looking at the fielders and making
the necessary changes with respect to the angles because he will be in a very good position to
know where exactly the fielders should be. The keeper always has a better view of a batsman
and his technique, so he should obverse the batsman closely and should give his opinion to the
captain regarding the batsman and his technique.

Image 4 – A Pakistani wicket-keeper appeals for a successful LBW

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The wicket-keeper should lift the spirit of team when the morale of then team is down by
encouraging his team mates. Also, the keeper should be very active when appealing to the
umpire because if a keeper is disinterested in an appeal, then the umpire may sometimes give
his decision in the favour of a batsman even if the batsman is out. He should be vocal when
appealing and at the same time he should not cross the limits or the law, if he does cross the
limit, then he and his team may get into trouble.

Communication between Batsmen

Batting communication is twofold. The easier of the two is the conversation between batsmen
in the middle. Apart from clear calling, all batsmen should know how to talk to each other
between overs. This allows them to discuss the match situation and the tactics they are
choosing. For example, telling each other who they think the poor fielders are can lead to extra
stolen singles.

It's also important to keep each other aware of their thinking as you cross for runs. A quick
word as you pass such as "two there" or "push this fielder" can act as a timely reminder.

Image 5 – Communication between batsmen is very vital

Batsmen can also protect each other's weaknesses by talking between overs. A slow runner
may not be keen on quick singles or a bad player of spin might want to take the seamer as
much as possible.

The more difficult is communication between the captain and the batting partners from the
sidelines. The captain on the sidelines has more trouble getting a message out. Not many club

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players need a change of gloves (or even own a second pair) so the top level tactic of sending
the twelfth man out is rarely used.

Ideally players will work out themselves exactly what is needed. However it may not always be
obvious. The best tactic is for the captain to keep the batsmen primed for whatever plans they
have beforehand and trust them to get on with it.

Communication between Fielders

Perhaps the most important role communication plays on the practice or game field involves
safety. When two or more players are aggressively pursuing a ball, hazardous situations can
arise. With proper cooperation and communication, players can operate at full speed with
minimal risk. Whenever several players are involved in a play, the risk for collisions is high.
Cooperation and proper teamwork dramatically reduce the risk of mishaps. Every team should
find ways to maximize the potential of each player within the safest environment possible.

Image 6 - Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Steven Smith collide during their game against Canada at
the Cricket World Cup

Communication between Players and the Coach

Coaches need to be able to clearly communicate expectations, goals, standards, and feelings to
their players. They instruct, encourage, discipline, organize, and provide feedback. And
although we tend to think of effective communicators as being able to send clear messages that
are interpreted as intended, communication is a two-way street that also involves receiving
messages. For a coach, this means listening attentively. Cricketers need to be able to

9


communicate their goals, frustrations, and feelings to their coaching staff. Communication
problems arise if a coach assumes athletes are interpreting a message exactly as the coach
intended. Thus effective communicators focus not only on message content but also on how a
message might be interpreted by—and might affect—the receiver.

Image 7 - Greg Chappell with Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly during his stint as India coach

System of Code Words

As important as it is for teammates to talk with each other, it’s also important to figure out how
to relay information without divulging it to the other team. Having a set of code words ensures
that every player on a team reacts correctly to a specific situation.

Players should get into the habit of using in-game communication habits during training
sessions. This is especially true during drills that simulate a situation that regularly occurs during
game play.

According to the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, 70 percent of human
communication is non-verbal. Many times hand signals and a series of signs are used to indicate
what a player is supposed to do on the field. Thus, making sure that every player has
memorized every possible signal, and ensuring that the signals are complicated and varied
enough so that other team can't pick up on them easily, are extremely important aspects to
effectively communicating during sports.

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Motivation

With the right motivation, it’s amazing what athletes can achieve. When players are motivated
to work towards their goals, it is that much easier to go the extra mile when others might call it
quits.

Motivation is a huge factor in sporting success. Motivation can influence decisions, learning and
performance in any sport. If a cricketer is not in a positive psychological state, mistakes will be
made in the performance, and he will not perform at his best level. Intrinsic or Self-Motivation
comes from the cricketer himself. These are factors like personal satisfaction, zeal and
enjoyment. It is because of personal ambition and the drive to have fun. However, many times,
players feel down-and-out and they need someone to back them, to support them so that they
can pick themselves up and go the extra mile. Sometimes, self-motivation is not sufficient. It is
in these situations where the captain’s role becomes extremely important.

A good captain starts to build team spirit long before the side goes onto the field. However
once the team is out on the field, the captain should continue to instill a positive attitude
among his players.

A captain should take the time to tell his team what he expects of them while they are in the
field. This may become awkward for many captains as they might have to deal with senior
players and former captains as well. However, it is imperative that each player, both seniors
and juniors, know what exactly is expected of them on the field so that the same instructions
are not repeated during match-time.

Players are bound to make mistakes. Fielding mistakes, fumbling while collecting the ball,
overthrows, missed run-outs, dropped catches and the like are very common. But if the captain
has a go at the players and criticizes them, it loses its effect as the team would think 'here he
goes again'. Generally encouragement and praise is more effective than a smack on the wrist.
This is especially true when a player makes a mistake. It has been seen that when bowlers are
reprimanded for not bowling a particular line and length or when simple run-outs are missed
because of poor throws and the captain is quick to shout at the players involved, it has an
adverse and negative effect on the concerned players. They feel de-motivated and let down
and more often than not, they would not perform at their optimum levels. Seeing them
dispirited the other players also feel de-motivated and it as a cascading negative effect on the
entire team. Nobody is trying to make a mistake and all players feel terrible when they do so.

A captain can help his players feel better by making sure there are no recriminations when
errors happen. If the captain goes up to a player, pats them on the back and tells them they will

11


get the next one right, it sends a clear and positive message out and helps to build a better
team. This is doubled by applauding good work in the field too.

It’s not only the captain who has all the responsibility of motivation and encouragement. It's
easy to forget to encourage players while you are thinking about field placing and bowling
changes. That's where a good vocal wicket-keeper and senior players can keep the captain’s
mind alert, chirping at the batsmen, supporting players who made mistakes and reminding you
to congratulate good bowling and fielding. Every team needs a reliable wicket-keeper. As well
as taking catches, stumping the batsmen and performing run outs, the wicket keeper is one of
the team’s most important players, motivating and inspiring the bowlers and fielders to raise
their game and win. It's often said that the best sides are a team of captains. This does not
mean that there is a committee meeting for every field change. Instead, there are several (if not
all) players who show the qualities of leadership even if they are not officially captain. Leaders
(whether appointed captains or respected players) need to know their team well. When
motivation is lost, some players respond best to an arm round the shoulder while others need a
kick to get them going.

The final aspect to motivating players in the field is to keep them fighting until the last. A team
with confidence will do this naturally.

Team Huddles

Empowering people is a lot about attitude and behaviour towards staff than merely processes
and tools. And that is why often, being mindful of a few parameters and paradigms could
significantly maximize the potential of teams.

In sport, a huddle is an action of a team gathering together, usually in a tight circle, to
strategize, motivate or celebrate. It is a popular strategy for keeping opponents insulated from
sensitive information, and acts as a form of insulation when the level of noise in the venue is
such that normal on-field communication is difficult. Commonly, the leader of the huddle is the
team captain and it is the captain who will try and inspire his fellow team members to achieve
success. Similarly after an event a huddle may take place to congratulate one another for the
team’s success, or to commiserate a defeat. The huddle became more widely used in cricket
after the Indian national team used it to great success during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

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Image 8 – The Indian team huddle up during the ICC World Cup, 2003

Everybody fondly remembers the ‘Great Indian Team Huddle’ during the 2003 ICC Cricket
World Cup in South Africa. This small group activity on the field brought the entire team
together and transpired unity and togetherness. It made a significant difference in uplifting and
improving Team India’s performance as well as each player’s spirit and motivation to perform in
the team. Every viewer waited to see the Indian team all huddled up. It was one of the
highlights of the World Cup and it took India all the way to the finals. Seeing the success which
Team India enjoyed, other teams also began following the ‘team huddle’ mechanism of
motivation and it has now become a common sight in both international and domestic cricket
around the globe.

Sledging

Sledging is a term used in cricket to describe the practice whereby some players seek to gain an
advantage by insulting or verbally intimidating the opposing player. The purpose is to try to
weaken the opponent's concentration, thereby causing him to make mistakes or underperform.
It can be effective because the batsman stands within hearing range of the bowler and certain
close fielders; and vice-versa. The insults may be direct or feature in conversations among
fielders designed to be overheard.

There is a huge debate in the cricketing world as to whether this constitutes poor
sportsmanship or good-humoured banter. Sledging is often mistaken for abuse, and whilst
comments aimed as sledges do sometimes cross the line into personal abuse, this is not usually
the case. Sledging is usually simply an often humorous, sometimes insulting attempt at

13


distraction. However, former Australian captain Steve Waugh referred to the practice as
'mental disintegration'.

Sledging does often degenerate into a nasty part of the game. But at its best, it's witty,
entertaining and adds character to the game. Some of the best known sledges demonstrate:-

 When Ian Botham took guard in an Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with
"So how's your wife and my kids?"
 Steve Waugh nicked one through to the keeper off Michael Holding. When Waugh refused
to walk, Holding walked past muttering "Once a convict, always a convict".
 Javed Miandad labelled Merv Hughes a fat bus conductor. A few balls later Merv dismissed
Javed and called "Tickets please".

Image 9 – When sledging shows its ugly side

However, sledging has its ugly side too. Players, sometimes in the heat of the moment, lose
control of their thoughts and emotions and the sledging incident becomes a fiasco in the
cricketing world and the international media. Sledging came into the media spotlight during the
2007-08 Indian tour of Australia when Harbhajan Singh was accused of alleged racial abuse
towards Andrew Symonds. He was charged with a Level 2.8 offence (abuse and insult not
amounting to racism) to which he pleaded guilty and was fined 50 per cent of his match fees.
Harbhajan (Mumbai Indians) was also fined $15,000 for sledging in a separate incident during
IPL-III. Match referee Gundappa Vishwanath was not too happy with Harbhajan's antics after he
caught and bowled Deccan Chargers batsman Tirumalasetti Suman in the 11th over. Harbhajan
had a few words to say to the batsman that earned him a $15,000 fine for a level 1 offence.

14


The Role of the Crowd

“Cricket? It’s just a game. As simple as a ball and a bat, yet as complex as the spirit it
symbolizes. It’s a sport, a business, and sometimes even a religion.” This quote by sportscaster
Ernie Harwell shows just how important Cricket is in our society. Cricketers always prefer
playing games in their home countries and venues in front of the home crowd. This preference
is not misguided, as cricketers tend to experience a home-ground advantage as it improves
their chances of performing at their highest levels. The home advantage appears to be universal
across all kinds of sports. Fans themselves believe that crowd noise is the primary cause of the
home-ground advantage.

Crowd factors represent the differential support from spectators received by the home team
versus the away team, which impacts the magnitude of the home-ﬁeld advantage. Other crowd
factors include the behavior of the spectators. For instance, when crowds boo home teams to
voice their displeasure with the team’s play, the home team responds by playing better and
exhibits an advantage over the away team after booing. For instance, S Sreesanth said the
booing he received from the Trent Bridge crowd motivated him to do well during England's first
innings at Nottingham in one of India’s tours of England.

However, the crowd’s booing and jeering does not always have a positive effect on a player’s
state of mind. More often than not, it leaves a dent in the player’s psychology and it if the
player’s performance has been sub-par for some time, it takes him a considerable amount of
time to regain his form. In a league game, Kevin Pietersen was out first ball on his return to
cricket - then booed all the way back to the pavilion. Instead of showing everyone at Lord's
what they are missing, Pietersen cut a sorry figure. Throughout his career, he has struggled
against left-arm spin, so Hampshire line up Liam Dawson for his first ball. It arrives, it is an
absolute beauty, drifting, dipping, pitching on leg stump before turning sharply and taking his
off-stump. One ball, one minute - thanks for coming! He returns slowly to the pavilion with yet
more boos ringing out as the Hampshire fans give their verdict on him.

15


Image 10 – The importance of crowd support is well illustrated in this image

Apart from these specific roles of the crowd, the crowd’s frantic cheering of every run scored,
every 4 or 6 hit, every wicket taken, their innovative posters and banners which are displayed
on the giant screen, the Mexican waves, etc. are a real source of motivation and inspiration for
our cricketers. The atmosphere in a cricket stadium, especially an Indian stadium, is never short
of electrifying.

No wonder thousands of people crowd the stadiums of the world to watch cricket. They have a
significant role to play in the outcome of a game. The way they communicate to the players in
the middle either motivates them to perform better or completely demoralizes them.

The Strategic Time-Out

The Indian Premier League has fixed a five-minute period, split into two equal halves, for the
mandatory strategic time-outs. The batting team would have to take the 2 and a half minute
mandatory time-out between the sixth and ninth overs while the fielding side would have to
take the time-out between the 11th and 16th overs. While introducing the tactical time-out,
former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi stated that its purpose was to allow teams to discuss strategies
instead of having to spend time on it during the course of the game, and hence minimize
match-time delays. He said that teams can actually benefit from the strategic time out feature.
If a team is undergoing a rough patch, taking a time out is a wonderful option which may help

16


the team to channelize their resources better and come back to perform much better than
before. Critics disagreed instantly, saying it was nothing but another channel for the league to
make more money.

Image 11 – The Strategic Time-out timer, as seen on giant screens during IPL matches

But the franchises, some of whom had originally not accepted the interruption openly, later
said the timeout is necessary from the both the cricketing and the financial perspective. "[The]
strategy break is good because you need to get more revenues in it," one of the franchise
officials said. "Ultimately the entertainment part is great but within a short break you have to
get the revenues, otherwise the IPL can't survive."

Even if teams agree the timeout is beneficial, some are still trying to come to grips with it. "You
cannot do much in such a short time. You cannot reinvent a wheel," said TA Sekar, director of
cricket for Mumbai Indians, who was with earlier with Delhi Daredevils for the first two years of
the IPL. "Invariably each time there was a break, players lost concentration. It is quite an
innovative thing they are trying, it may help, it may not."

But Sekar admitted breaks were important in the Twenty20 format due to the rapid manner in
which changes occur. "Twenty20 is a game where execution of your plan is very, very important
because you don't have the time to make a comeback," he said. "So [the] strategy break may be
helpful because somebody inside [the dug-out] might see something happening which the
players inside may not see."

It’s been four years now since the strategic time-out was introduced and the teams and their
players have come to grips with the concept. Whether the feel its advantageous for them or not
is still a debatable issue.

17


Methodology
To conduct this exhaustive study on on-field communication in Cricket, a variety of research
methodologies were used, including both primary and secondary data sources.

First, a thorough research was done on the broad topic given to us. Research papers on
communication in Sports were read and studied. The perspective was then narrowed down to
Cricket and the communication which happens on the field while a limited overs match is in
progress. Numerous webpages were accessed and data was collected on the existing modes of
communication on the field. The research team opined that this was not sufficient and it was
decided to conduct interviews with cricketers.

Interview techniques methods used by either party to extrapolate or provide information.
These techniques can be both verbal and non-verbal. A verbal interview technique is conveyed
through the tone and inflection of the question or answer. The research team had the honour
and privilege of getting in touch with and interviewing Mr. Naman Chawla and Mr. Shivam
Sharma from Roshanara Club, Shakti Nagar, New Delhi and got the opinion of these two rising
stars on the role of effective communication in the Cricket field. Studying and incorporating
interview techniques gave the research team a positive impression about the thought process
which goes on in an actual cricketer’s mind. It gave the team an opportunity to step into the
shoes of a cricketer and compare and contrast his opinion about the subject with the general
public.

The team also felt that they needed the views of the public just to get a balanced perspective.
In order to do the same, the team designed a questionnaire comprising of 13 questions, which
had the same questions as the interview along with multiple options. The questionnaire was
floated among the students of Management Development Institute, Gurgaon. The 128
responses received were critically analyzed and reviewed. They were compared with the
interview results and a balanced analysis along with recommendations has been presented in
this research report.

18


Analysis
The research team has adopted both the survey and the interview techniques in order to
properly analyze the various aspects of On-Field Communication in Cricket. A questionnaire was
circulated among the students of Management Development Institute, Gurgaon and the same
questions were asked during the interview process of the cricketers from Roshanara Club. The
analysis of both parts has been presented separately.

Analysis of the Survey

What is the most effective way for a captain
to make field changes?

32 Shout to the concerned fielder

60
Expect the fielder to be looking
9 at him
Go to each fielder individually
27
Make hand gestures to make
the fielder understand

Image 12 – Question 1 of the Questionnaire

In cricket matches nowadays, field plans are made for each batsman due to which fielding
changes happen too frequently. In the question, the aim was to find out the best way to attract
the attention of a fielder while making field changes. There can only be two scenarios, either
the fielder is looking towards the captain or he isn’t. If he is looking, the captain can make the
fielder to move to the right place only by hand gestures. If he is not looking, either the captain
can shout at him or he can go the concerned fielder personally to move him to the right place.

19


According to the survey results, almost 50% of the people say that the captain should make
field changes by hand gestures only. Around 25% say that the captain should shout to the
concerned fielder to get his attention and make field changes. Approximately 20% say that the
captain should go to each fielder individually to make him move.

The results show that generally it is expected from the players to look at the captain at all times
because in international matches, due to the high decibel levels in the stadium, it is impossible
for players to hear what the captain wants to communicate. Hence, the most effective way for
the captain to communicate is via hand gestures.

20


When a fielder makes a fielding mistake
what is the general reaction from the team
players?

35 Anguish
43

Shouting

Forget and concentrate on the
30 20 next ball
Comfort and motivate the
fielder


It is very common in a cricket match that fielders misjudge the ball coming towards them; they
drop sitters due to which they get into the firing line especially if it happens at crucial moments
in matches like when catch of a batsman is dropped and the same batsman carries on to make
a big century. A legendary player has rightly said “Catches win Matches”. It is not about taking
catches only, a good effort while fielding can boost the morale of the bowler and his confidence
increases from the next ball itself as he knows that even if he bowls a bad ball in between, the
fielders are there to support him. In the question, it has been attempted to find the general
reaction of team players on a mis-field and what can be the better ways to handle it.

In the survey, a majority says that team players show anguish to the player himself rather than
supporting the player. Approximately 28% are of the view that team players come forward in
support, they comfort and motivate the player. Around 24% say that team players try to make
him forget anything of that sort happening and they help him concentrate on the next ball so
that such a mistake is not repeated. Some are of the view that team players shout at the player
who has committed a mistake on the field and make him realise how big a mistake he has done.

21


How often should the captain consult the
bowler?

7
After every ball
23
56
Whenever the strike changes

If a 4 or 6 is hit
42
Let the bowler make his own
changes


A captain has several responsibilities on his shoulders. One of the important things is to support
the bowler, motivate him and make things smooth for him so that he can successfully carry out
the chalked-out strategy. In the process, it is always very difficult for the captain to decide if he
should go to the bowler or he should give the bowler some time to get into rhythm and make
things work. The decision of how often the captain should consult the bowler depends on
various factors like the match situation, experience of the bowler, the opponent, etc. The
question has been posed because for every captain, it is important that the bowlers are doing
the right things at the right time.

In the survey, a majority say that the bowler should be given enough freedom to make his own
changes as it is the bowler who only knows exactly what is he doing and what is supposed to be
done. Approximately 33% say that the captain should consult the bowler every time he gets
clobbered. Sometimes, the bowlers go astray, get hit to the fence and hence, it is the right time
for the captain to intervene. Almost 18% say that the captain should come to the bowler each
and every time there is a change in strike as the bowler needs to be reminded about the
strategy to be adopted for the batsman on strike. There are still some who are of the view that
the captain should be there at hand with the bowler after almost every ball.

22


What are the harmful effects if a captain
keeps on talking to a bowler?

28 The bowler may think ‘here he
goes again’
54
3 A senior bowler does not like

A bowler may take it on his ego
43
It lowers the confidence of the
bowler and makes him nervous


At times, a captain pushes too much while trying to take care of his bowlers. He does not
understand the needs of the bowler and his communication, instead of motivating the bowler,
leads to some unwanted behaviour in the team which can ultimately hurt the performance of
the team. Still, there are other high pressure situations where it becomes imperative for the
captain to talk to his bowlers and get the best out of them. In this question, the negative effects
on bowlers, when a captain keeps on pestering them, are discussed. An attempt has been made
to identify the loopholes and avoid them, if possible.

In the survey conducted, a majority say that a bowler may feel low on confidence and he can
get nervous which will make his performance worse. Around 34% are of the view that a bowler,
if corrected too much may take it up on his ego which, again, is not the desired behaviour that
the captain seeks from the bowler if he wants the bowler to perform. Approximately 23% say
that the bowler may have the view that the captain always pokes his nose into matters in which
he is not at all required. This can be dangerous as in other important situations as well, bowlers
do not pay heed to what captain suggests. Some are of the view that there can be a possibility
that a senior bowler may feel that the captain is not showing due attention to the senior player
as compared to the junior player.

23


What are batsmen most likely to discuss
between themselves?

Match situation and further
21 strategies
42
Bowler's strategy

26
Other batsman's deficiencies

18 Identify slow fielders/opportunities
21
in the field settings to score
Off-the-field gossip


It has always been a point of discussion about what players discuss in-between breaks. It is very
important for a batsman to maintain his concentration during his stay on the pitch and there is
no person from whom he can seek advice other than the batsman at the non-striker’s end. In
pressure situations it becomes very necessary that the batsmen remain motivated and talk
about light things. At other times, there can be a scenario in which a senior batsman is helping
out his junior from his vast experience like making him know about his shortcomings. In the
question, discussion about conversation between batsmen is done to find out what role a
batsman should play in different circumstances.

In the survey conducted, a majority said that batsmen discuss about the current match
situation and develop further strategies accordingly. It is necessary to adapt playing tactics
according to the changing match situations. Approximately 21% are of the view that batsmen
discuss about scoring opportunities on the field. They help each other in marking the fielders
and discussing about how to convert the ones into twos. Around 19% think that batsmen talk
about light things like gossiping about late night parties, etc. just to keep the levels of pressure
to a minimum. The same number of people think that they make the other batsman know
about the flaws in his batting technique, if there are any. About 14% say that the batsmen talk
about the bowler’s strategy and make plans to try and negate any tactics adopted by the
bowler.

24


What is the most important role of the
wicket-keeper?
Informing the bowler/fielders of
the batsman's technique
15
46
Gauge how the pitch is
31 behaving and ask bowler to
make required changes
Vocal when appealing and
sledging the batsman
36

Motivate team members


The wicketkeeper has an important role in fielding communications too. The keeper is in the
best position to look all around him and see how the captain has set the field. Accordingly, he
can communicate to the bowler, telling him the right line and length to bowl at. The keeper can
also gauge the technique and strategies being adopted by the batsmen at the crease and hence
strategize with the captain and the bowler accordingly. This is why the captain always include
the wicket-keeper in the loop while making plans and adjusting the field. The keeper is
instrumental in motivating the fielders in the event of good fielding by them. He also helps in
uplifting their spirits when they are down and out. The wicket-keepers from the Indian sub-
continent are well known for their antics from behind the stumps. It is generally believed that
the umpires take the extent of appealing done by the keeper from behind the stumps while
deciding on their LBW or run-out decisions. A more vocal keeper is hence very crucial.

It is believed that all roles of communication assumed by the wicket-keeper are of equal
importance. However, is there any role which is more important that the others? This survey
result indicates that all roles are more or less the same in the level of importance. However,
people believe that the wicket-keeper is the most instrumental when it comes to motivating
the fielders and encouraging them to continuously perform. Being loud and vocal while
appealing, sledging the batsmen at the crease and gauging how the pitch is behaving, the
amount of turn and bounce in the pitch and communicating such information to his team
members also assumes significant importance.

25


captain?

13 Build team spirit/motivate the
20 players
Tell each player his role
10
85 Motivate a player if he makes a
mistake
Keep the bowler in the loop


In cricket, the Captain assumes a hugely important role, both on and off the field. On the cricket
ground, the Captain is the focal point; all instructions are directed from the captain to the rest
of the fielders. It is the captain who sets the field and maneuvers the fielders from one field
placing to another. However, one of the most vital roles to be played by him is to motivate his
team to perform to the best of their potential. If a player is low on confidence or a bowler has
just been hit for many runs in an over, it is the duty of the captain to effectively motivate the
player and inspire him to continue giving his best.

In this question, the main objective was to find out the opinion of people as to what they felt is
the most important role of the captain while he communicates on the ground. A clear majority
of respondents felt that it is the prime responsibility of the captain to continuously motivate
and inspire his team, not only when a player has a bad day on the field, but at all times. This
even includes appreciation and recognition of good performances. People believe that if a
fielder takes an astounding catch or puts in that extra dive to stop a few runs, he needs to be
appreciated for his efforts. In such cases, a gesture of applause from the captain is more than
enough to communicate recognition. A captain cannot only stick to this role. He also needs to
inform each player about his role in the team and the strategy which he needs to follow. The
communication between the captain and the bowler is also very essential as both need to be
thinking on similar lines so that the bowler knows about the areas at which he is supposed to
bowl.

26


What is the best way to build team spirit?

28 14 The team should be clear of the
goals
24
Team huddles

Support teammates in bad
62 times
Know each other well


Despite appearances, team spirit is essential in cricket. It can be used to psychologically
intimidate the opposing side. More importantly it encourages the individual to do their best, as
they want to do well for their team. It's that aspect of working together to create a common
goal that makes team spirit an important part of any cricket team with trophy-winning
ambitions. The question aimed to find out the best possible techniques of building team spirit
among players and how communication plays such a vital role in motivating and inspiring one’s
team to perform to their utmost potential.

In the survey, it was found that people believed that supporting one’s teammates when they
are low on confidence and to motivate them is the best way to build team spirit. This can only
happen if there is a prior good rapport among all players, including the captain and the coach.
The respondents felt that it was not necessary for the team should be clear of their goals
because if they unsure, it is the duty of the captain and the senior players to remind the players
of their objectives. Team huddles, a new development on the field, is still an upcoming trend
and is slowly proving to be a very effective way of getting the adrenaline pumping among the
teammates.

27


Why is Sledging done?

8
19 To weaken the opposition's
concentration
To show them we're better
14

87 To get under the opposition's
skin
To lay seeds of doubt in the
oppostion's mind


Sledging has become parts and parcels of almost all the sports in modern days, and it is quite
prevalent in Cricket as well. The professionalism in sports has increased to its peak and it is
getting more adopted in almost all the nations involved in it. The hunger for win and laurels of
the nation has made sports-persons, including Cricketers, to discover this unique weapon to use
to defeat their opponents. There are various reasons for Cricketers to adopt the numerous
avatars of sledging. The survey question aimed to look at and identify these various reasons and
to get into the Cricketer’s mind when he is about to sledge his opponent.

A clear majority of the respondents believed that the main purpose of sledging is to try to
weaken the opponent's concentration, thereby causing him to make mistakes or underperform
and change the flow of the game. A certain number of people thought that players like to
dominate the opposition and they try to do so by talking and hence, irritating the opponents.
When a player is not comfortable or is new to the game, sledging is done to make him more
nervous and force them to make a mistake. A very few were of the opinion that sledging is
done to cause a player to believe that he is not good and to dominate him.

28


What are the effects of sledging?

6 It weakens the concentration of
49 the opposition
Brings competitveness to the
61 game
Leads to ugly altercations
12
Motivates the opposition to
perform better


Sledging is part and parcel of the international game. These days with the availability of
technology and the involvement of the umpires one cannot get away with as much as in the
past, but it still happens regularly on the international circuit. The home of sledging is without a
doubt Australia. The Aussies don't use sledging as a way of blowing off steam or venting anger
or frustration. It is a definite tactic to break the concentration of the opponent. They are clever
enough to realise that some opposition players are likely to concentrate harder and be more
determined when they are sledged. Generally they will say nothing to such an opponent. They
may even try some reverse psychology and compliment such a player. Hence, as we can see,
sledging has numerous effects and to find the most effective of them was the aim of this
question.

Sledging, at its best, is witty, entertaining and adds character to the game. A majority of
respondents believed that in the heat of the moment, sledging can get ugly as no player is
ready to back down. Players, sometimes, lose control of their thoughts and emotions and the
sledging incident becomes a fiasco in the cricketing world and the international media. A
number of people felt that it weakens the opponent's concentration, thereby causing him to
make mistakes or underperform and change the flow of the game. If a team is not doing well, it
allows a team to get back into the game. But, the pride of playing for the national team
motivates players to dominate a particular player if he has indulged in sledging.

29


crowd?
Booing the oppostion

34 37
Appealing with the team to the
umpire

12 Motivating the team by
45 applauding every small
achievement
Support the team during
difficulty


Cricket is in our society. Cricketers always prefer playing games in their home grounds and in
front of the home crowd. This preference is not misguided, as cricketers tend to experience a
home-ground advantage as it improves their chances of performing at their highest levels. But
do the crowds play such a major role in affecting a team’s performance? Aren’t matches held in
near-empty stadia also? Don’t teams win series while on tour? This question aimed to find out
how important people felt the role of the crowd is in a limited overs Cricket match.

A sizable number of respondents felt that the crowd’s frantic cheering of every run scored,
every 4 or 6 hit, every wicket taken, their innovative posters and banners which are displayed
on the giant screen, the Mexican waves, etc. are a real source of motivation and inspiration for
the cricketers. However, people were quick to recognize the negative effects of booing and
jeering the opposition. Nowadays, people do not hesitate to bring down their own team’s
players if they have been consistently under-performing. It leaves a dent in the player’s
psychology and it if the player’s performance has been sub-par for some time, it takes him a
considerable amount of time to regain his form. Also, while on the field, the crowd buzzes you
and gives you that extra boost, the extra energy. As a team, this helps you in the tight
moments, it gives you a lift when things are tough. Many times teams believe that the crowd
can give them a home advantage by appealing to the umpire. It amplifies the affect and in this
way, the crowd can act as a 12th man!

30


What does the coach convey most often from
the dressing room?
Match situation and further
5 plans made by team
11

Opposition’s strategy
63

49
Batsman’s deficiencies when
team is fielding

Identify slow
fielders/opportunities in the
field settings to score


A coach has the advantage of being in the dressing room and has access to all the technology. A
good communication system between a coach and his players can lead to a better output for
the team. Whenever a coach sees a deficiency in the opposition, he should be able to
communicate it efficiently to his team. He can help the captain to make plans and decide the
further course of action. A good coach gives confidence to the players which causes them to do
well. The feedback by the coach should be efficient as it could assist the players to recognize
their deficiencies and improve on them accordingly.

Most people felt the messages sent by the coach to the captain through the twelfth man are
generally his and the coaching staff’s views on the match and instructions on how to improve
from there onwards. The coach outlines his key strategies and communicates them to the
captain on the field. A coach can recognize the strategy followed by the opposition and predict
the future course of action of the opposition. Thus the coach can make changes to his team
accordingly, even from the dressing room.

31


What is the most important purpose of the
strategic time out in IPL?

24 Regroup if the team is not doing
well
Discuss future plans
18
67
Change a strategy according to
17 the match situation
Only a money making plan of
the BCCI


The strategic time-out was introduced in the IPL by the former IPL Chairman, Mr. Lalit Modi
with an objective of giving time to teams to strategize during the innings. Each break would last
for 2.5 minutes and there would be two such breaks during the course of an innings, on the
lines of similar time-outs being adopted in Sports like Basketball and American football. He felt
that these time-outs were necessary to give a chance to teams to re-arrange their strategies
based on the match situation. However, as time progressed, many felt that the time-out was a
sheer waste of time, and teams could well manage without them. They only added extra bucks
to the BCCI revenue through advertisements. The last survey question aimed to catch a glimpse
of the perception of the public at large on this issue.

A clear majority of respondents are of the opinion that the Strategic Time-out is only a money-
making spree being adopted by the BCCI and that it does not add value to either the batting or
the fielding side. However, others are of the opinion that if a team is undergoing a rough patch,
taking a time out is a wonderful option which may help the team to channelize their resources
better and come back to perform much better than before. It allows teams to discuss strategies
instead of having to spend time on it during the course of the game, and hence minimize
match-time delays.

32


Analysis of the Interview

The research team had the privilege to interview two budding club cricketers, Mr. Naman
Chawla and Mr. Shivam Sharma from Roshanara Club, Shakti Nagar, New Delhi. The interview
gave the team a perspective from the point of view of cricketers and how their opinion varies
from the general public. Thus, the team was able to analyze all possible scenarios and come up
with a balanced analysis. The following paragraphs summarize the team’s interaction with
these players. They were presented with the same scenarios as the questionnaire.

As cricketers, the interviewees said that they are looking at their captain on most occasions so
that they do not miss out on any instruction which the captain points out at them via hand
gestures. However, if they are not looking at the captain, for any reason, the captain or the
closest fielder shouts in a loud voice to catch their attention. So, they do not face any difficulty
in maneuvering the fielders.

During normal scenarios, if a fielder misfields or drops a catch, the other players generally move
on with the game and do not express themselves, either vocally or through gestures. However,
if an important player’s catch is dropped or a misfield is done at a crucial situation in a high-
pressure situation, the human nature dominates and players do react by showing their anguish
and disgust openly.

The communication between the captain and the bowler is an important interaction which
happens on the field. The cricketers felt that the level and extent of interaction depends on
different situations. When the bowler is under the pump and is not able to get into rhythm, it is
but natural for the captain to walk up to his bowler and offer him some advice. When there is a
left-right combination at the crease, it takes time for inexperienced players to get into any sort
of rhythm. In this situation also, it is the responsibility of the captain and the senior bowlers to
help the bowler in bowling the right lines and lengths. But, if the captain keeps on continuously
walking up to his bowler, correcting and criticizing him, it affects the bowler’s confidence
negatively and adds to his irritation, and as a result, he may not be able to perform optimally.

There are a lot of issues which the batsmen at the crease discuss and it is very situation specific
and player specific. Iconic players like Sachin Tendulkar don’t only concentrate on their own
batting, but they make it a point to assist their batting partner in any possible way. The mere
presence of a living legend at the other end makes a world of difference to the relatively
inexperienced batsman.

Talking about the role of a wicket-keeper, he is the person who gets to know best about how
the pitch is behaving. He makes note of that and reminds bowlers to pitch the ball in right

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areas. He calls out nicknames of the bowlers after almost every ball which keeps them
motivated. Also, he is actively involved in sledging which makes it difficult for the batsman to
concentrate.

There are a lot of roles and responsibilities on the shoulders of a captain. But, if there is a need
to tell the most important one, it is making players work like a unit. For any team game, this is
the most important thing. The captain needs to make sure that nobody is feeling down, to give
proper strategies and to make those strategies work if the players falter. The interviewees gave
their frank opinion about the Strategic Time-Out in the IPL. They felt that it is simply a money
making attempt adopted by the BCCI and it does little in building team spirit. They went on to
say that there are ample moments during the course of the match in which the captain and the
players can get together and formulate strategies.

Sledging, which has its negative effects no doubt, cannot be done away with completely in
Cricket. It is part of the game. The interviewees were of the view that sledging, if done in a
controlled way can be a very effective tool in getting the edge. There have been a lot of
examples in which just a few fiery words exchanged turned the match on its head. Hence,
sledging is good if it does not cross the limits in any way.

The interviewees said that they really missed having decent crowds in their club matches. They
believe that a good turnout not only makes the atmosphere lively but also boosts the morale of
individual players. When the crowd cheers a boundary hit or a wicket taken, the extent of
jubilation which a player experiences cannot be expressed in words. But sometimes, the crowd
hoots or jeers the player which can make him nervous and jittery while on the field. The player
should learn how to deal with the crowd as when the team is on tour, he will not find many
supporters in the crowd and the home support would be lacking.

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Recommendations
In cricket, as in any other game or sport, and even in the very game of life, the importance of
communication with our fellow players cannot be emphasized enough. Based on the research
team’s thorough study and in-depth analysis on the subject of On-Field communication in
Cricket, it was found that there are numerous ways in which players can communicate and get
their points of view across to other players. But many a time, a particular method may not
always be the best way to communicate. The following paragraphs provide a few suggestions
and recommendations, based on the study, as to how to communicate effectively and
meaningfully on the field during a limited overs game of Cricket.

Communication between Captain and Bowler

The bowler needs to strategize with his captain from time to time. There is always a balance to
be maintained by the captain while communicating to the bowlers. If the captain visits the
bowler too often, the bowler might feel that the captain does not show confidence in him and
it affects his performance later on. However, if the captain does not visit the bowler at all, it
would not be good for the team as the bowler can get demotivated and perform below par.

There are different scenarios to be taken care of as well. The captain is supposed to behave
differently to an experienced bowler and an amateur. Experienced bowlers would take more
time and freedom before they look towards the captain or the team players to help them.
Comparatively, a bowler who is new in the international arena would not be very confident
about himself as he would not have played against different oppositions on different tracks. So,
he might require more support from both the captain and the senior players. It will help him to
calm down his nerves and settle down nicely in the team.

The captain’s communication roles change in pressure situations. In such scenarios, sometimes,
even big names in Cricket are not able to live up to their expectations. In cases like that, the
team which is able to hold on to their nerves wins the game and for that, a captain who is able
to lift the spirits of the team players is required. Higher levels of communication are needed as
compared to other situations.

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Communication between Captain and Fielders

As has been widely discussed earlier, the Captain has varied communication roles on the field.
Another avatar of this is when the captain has to communicate, both verbally and non-verbally,
to his fielders. In the electrifying atmosphere of a stadium, it is very difficult for the captain to
verbally communicate and shout out to his team, directing them to different positions. Hence,
it is only logical for him to use non-verbal communication techniques like hand gestures to
maneuver his forces. For this technique to be effective, it is imperative for the fielders to keep
an eye on the captain so that they do not miss out on his instructions. Also, the captain plays a
crucial part in motivating his players from time to time. He should go and speak to his players
and try and re-instigate the vigour in them when they are low on confidence. When a player
displays some outstanding skills on the field, the captain should appreciate his efforts. This can
be done by either verbally communicating to his players between balls or overs. Sometimes,
even hand gestures of applause or a thumbs-up are more than sufficient to boost the players’
morale. A captain who is open and vocal with his teammates would obviously receive the
team’s support during tough times. Hence, it is imperative that the captain establishes a good
rapport and chemistry with all his team members.

Role of the Wicket-keeper

It is not just the captain or the senior players who are involved in motivation and
communication among players. The wicket-keeper enjoys the luxury of being the central player,
right behind the stumps, and hence, he enjoys the best position on the ground. He is the one
who communicates regularly with the captain and the bowler. It is very necessary for the
wicket-keeper to remain pro-active at all times during an innings. He should appeal vociferously
for an LBW or a caught-behind or even a run-out if he feels that there are high chances of the
decision going in the fielding team’s favour. He should assist the captain in the field placing and
he can provide his views as well to the captain and the players. The wicket-keeper is the one
who can gauge the way the wicket is behaving and he can identify the right areas to bowl at.
Thus, he can and should suggest to the bowler the right lines and lengths to bowl to both left-
handers and right-handers. He also gets an idea about the strategy being adopted by the
batsmen and he can suggest new ideas to the captain and the bowler. Thus, it is very apparent
that the wicket-keeper has one of the most significant roles to play when it comes to
communicating on the field, and if he does not apply himself on the field, there is every chance
for communication to breakdown completely on the Cricket field.

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Communication between Batsmen

Nowadays, sledging has quite a big role to play in competitive cricket. Gone are the days, when
Cricket was considered a gentleman’s game. A lot of psychological pressure is put on the
batsmen at the crease by nearby fielders. The batsman is required to handle a lot of pressure.
He has to perform consistently to remain in the team, to help the team win matches, to handle
the crowd, to prove himself in front of the captain, to make use of scoring opportunities, etc.
The only player who is there to communicate with while batting is the player at the non-
striker’s end. So, the conversation between the two players becomes absolutely necessary for
the performance of the team.

Players are required to talk about their strategies against different bowlers. They tend to tell
each other about the rate at which they should go according to the match situation. The role of
senior player on the pitch becomes more important as he is supposed to look out for the other
batsman and help him feel comfortable against the opposition. Under extreme pressure, the
batsmen should talk about off-the-field matters as this seemingly mindless banter would help
them to divert their attention outside Cricket and it helps to ease off their tension. Sometimes,
during the drinks break, captain also sends a message to the batsmen at crease which, most of
the times, is a strategy the players are supposed to follow. All these small instances of
communication are very important for the batsmen to keep their cool and go on to build big
partnerships.

Communication between Fielders

Communication between fielders, though limited in occurrence can be match turners in their
own right. How many times have we seen fielders converging to take a catch and then two of
them collide and a simple catch goes a begging? How many times have we seen free funs gifted
to the batting side due to overthrows as there was no fielder backing up behind the stumps?
These are all avoidable situations and the only way to avoid them is by fielders developing
some mode of effective communication between them. When players are converging to take a
catch, the fielder closest to where the ball is going to drop should clearly and loudly shout
‘Mine’ or “I’ll get it” so that the other fielders know that there is someone in a better position
to take that particular catch. This is just to avoid dropping sitters due to miscommunication.
Also, the team should decide before-hand that there should always be a fielder backing up
when a fielder is aiming at the stumps in a run-out attempt. This is to avoid giving away
unnecessary runs as overthrows. Also, when a shot is hit towards the boundary, and fielders are

37


to give chase right till the rope, it is always better if two players run after the ball so that one
can dive and collect the ball, pass it to the other fielder and the other fielder throws back the
ball. In such a scenario, a quick glance between the two players has to be the cue that those
two players are to run after the ball. Time cannot be wasted in any other mode of
communication. Thus, in these situations which require quick reflexes, different modes of non-
verbal communication are what are necessary.

Sledging

There is debate in the cricketing world as to whether this constitutes poor sportsmanship or
good-humoured banter. Sledging is often mistaken for abuse, and whilst comments aimed as
sledges do sometimes cross the line into personal abuse, this is not usually the case. Sledging is
usually simply an often humorous, sometimes insulting attempt at distraction. Sledging should
be kept at such a level so that it does not go against the spirit of the game. The main reason for
sledging is perceived to be to weaken the opposition’s concentration and develop a grip on the
game. If sledging improves the competitive spirit and leads to better performance, it could be a
useful tool.

Motivation

Building team spirit is a continuous process. According to the interviewees, there is no one
particular way of building and maintaining the morale of the players. It is the responsibility of
each player to keep himself and his teammates motivated at all times. However, if a player is
low on confidence, the captain and other senior players should try and boost his confidence in
any suitable way.

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On-field communication in Cricket

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