Duncan Fletcher shuffled players during India's slip-catching session ahead of the first Test against New Zealand © AFP
By CricketCountry Staff
Hyderabad: Aug 21, 2012
With the retirement of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, slip fielding has become a concern for India coach Duncan Fletcher ahead of the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday.
The retired duo together took 345 catches in 298 Tests over the past decade and half. Most of their scalps came in that arc behind the wicket.
According to a report in Hindustan Times Fletcher shuffled his preferred quartet, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina, during a slip-catching session that went on for about an hour.
During the training session, Tendulkar and Sehwag occupied the first and the second slip respectively. Virat manned the third slip while the acrobatic Raina, occupied the fourth.
The position was changed later as Tendulkar and Virat exchanged spots but the message from all this is getting clear.
