Saving Singles in Cricket: Infield Fielding and Run Prevention
Infield fielding — preventing batters from scoring easy singles through sharp ground fielding and quick returns — is cricket's most basic but most frequently tested fielding skill.
Saving singles — preventing batters from scoring one-run runs through the infield — is the most consistently practised fielding skill in cricket. A batted ball that travels through a gap in the infield for an easy single represents one run conceded; across a T20 innings, conceding ten such singles (versus fielding a team that prevents six of them) is a four-run difference that can decide a match. Elite infield fielding sides restrict the batting team's running game — making runs difficult to score without boundaries — forcing batters to take risks on big shots rather than building their total through running.
Ground Fielding Technique
Ground fielding technique involves: (1) getting low to the ball — bending the knees and getting the hands close to the ground before the ball arrives, preventing the ball from going under the hands; (2) watching the ball all the way into the hands (not looking up too early to throw); (3) picking up cleanly with both hands or one hand depending on the angle; and (4) throwing quickly and accurately to the end most likely to produce a run out. The common fault is remaining upright and fielding with hands at thigh height — the ball bounces or rolls under upright hands more easily than low-positioned hands.
Infield Positioning for Run Prevention
Infield positions for run prevention are placed at 'mid-on,' 'mid-off,' 'mid-wicket,' 'cover point' and 'point' — positions approximately on the circle that cut off singles through the gaps between fielders. The captain positions infield fielders based on where the batter is most likely to hit the ball given the bowler's line. A batter who consistently hits through mid-wicket will have an infield fielder positioned in that gap; a batter who plays through the covers will find the cover region reinforced. Effective infield positioning denies the batter's preferred singles zone, forcing them to play to unpreferred areas or take risks.
Frequently asked questions
How do captains balance boundary prevention vs single prevention in fielding?
The fundamental tension in fielding placement is between preventing boundaries (placing fielders on the boundary rope) and preventing singles (placing fielders in the infield). T20 powerplay restrictions force a specific balance — no more than two outfielders during powerplay overs — prioritising infield single prevention over boundary protection in those overs. After powerplay, captains must choose based on their bowlers' plans and the match situation whether more value comes from infield pressure or boundary protection.
What is backing up a throw in cricket?
Backing up a throw means a second fielder positions themselves behind the wicketkeeper or stumps in case the original throw misses or is fumbled. If the throw is inaccurate and there is no fielder backing up, the ball can roll to the boundary for four overthrows — adding four runs to the batting team's total. Backing up is a fundamentally important fielding habit that prevents overthrows; in professional cricket, oversight backer-up positioning is part of fielding discipline.
How important is running between the wickets to cricket batting?
Running between the wickets — converting well-placed shots into one or two runs through quick calling and fast running — can add 20-40 runs to a batting team's total in a T20 innings, and a similar or larger amount in longer formats. The best running pairs (like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for India) maintain exceptional communication, start their runs early based on the shot's direction, and are difficult to run out. Against fielding sides that save singles effectively, good running between wickets is essential to maintaining a competitive scoring rate without necessarily hitting boundaries.