Club and school cricketers are a conservative bunch. We like to play safe and stick to tried and tested tactics. But the game is changing fast, so isn't it time to try something new?

Here are five tactics that are slightly outside the norm: Not so crazy you can disregard them, but crazy enough to feel a little uncomfortable the first time you try them.

Let's make this year a touch more innovative with a few of these ideas.

Creative close catching

Most of the time, orthodox catching positions are great, but there are times you can do something different. At the very least it will make the batsman think about what the heck is going on.

So, instead of two slips and a gully getting whittled to none, try one of these:

• Attack more for longer. How many times does the ball go through third or fourth slip? Is it enough to justify trying a much more attacking field? It works for Brendon McCullum.
• Move the slips. On slow pitches where the ball does not carry, have no slips but two to four catchers in front.
• Move the slips again. Follow Alastair Cook's idea of a "silly slip" in a lid on a slow pitch. You know it will carry and every team has the brave - or foolhardy - volunteer.
• Short leg. "Boot Hill" is not just for fast bowling and bouncy pitches. It can be used as a defensive position and pressure the batsman. Just make sure your bowler isn't one who tends to drop short.

Unusual boundary fielders

You don't have to place your boundary runners in the traditional position either.

I was talking to an opening bowler in my team recently and we were discussing ways to offer some protection for when he over pitches.

"Where does the ball go when it happens?"

"Square mid wicket."

"Do you ever get hit to fine leg?"

"No."

"Then why don't we move fine leg to deep square leg or leg side sweeper?"

"But I'm an opening bowler, they don't have sweepers. Besides, that's setting a field for bad bowling."

"That's where the ball is going!"

He was basing his field on what is orthodox rather than what actually happens. In his case, it's sensible to move fine leg to deep square. It frees up midwicket to even move to a close catching position too.

Of course, this isn't universal. You will have your own variation on this theme. The point is, you can put fielders on the boundary where the ball is hit, even if it's not orthodox. If it's right for you, it's right.

What boundary runner are you wasting by sticking to orthodoxy?

The two shot rule

It's frowned upon to "follow the ball". But a good captain also puts the fielders where the ball is likely to go. That means following the ball with the two shot rule.

The rule is simple: If a batsman hits the ball to the same place twice, put a fielder there. Not matter how unusual the position.

You might argue this is following the ball. It is, but with reason; it is cutting off a shot that is clearly favoured by the batsman. By waiting for the second time, you make sure it's not a one off.

There exception to the rule is if the bowler has bowled a long hop (you can't defend that ball, just change the bowler if it keeps happening) or you are trying to make the batsman play that shot (driving at an away swing bowler with slips in place).

Sweep and roll

Hitting the gaps and running hard to keep the score ticking over is a tough skill on club pitches against slow bowling and ring fields. There are ways to beat the stalemate and one of my favourites is sweeping and rolling.

It works like this:

Play a sweep shot - slog, fine or orthodox - into a leg side gap. The bowler will be cross with you, especially if she has bowled a perfectly good ball that you have not respected.

If she moves a fielder to deal with it -mid wicket to square leg for example - roll the ball into the new gap by taking guard on off stump. Now she will be furious.

Fun isn't it?

You can apply this trick anywhere on the pitch by adjusting your guard to hit the ball into gaps while still playing orthodox shots. Want to go off side? Leg stump guard. Want to hit straighter? Stand out of your crease (or move down the wicket) to turn a good length ball into a half volley.

Death batting anytime

Here's how we can translate ODI cricket pace to the club game: selective hitting.

Unlike top level batsmen, the worse hitting ability and better bowling wickets of club and school level mean we can't emulate the "pedal to the metal" game totally. However, we can do a budget version.

The trick is to have a shot you know you can play at any stage of the game to get you a boundary. Combine this with the guts to play it at any time (because you look silly if you fail) and you can dictate the pace.

For example, imagine you are opening in a 50 over match. The opening bowler has a reputation for nagging accuracy and a little swing. You know she loves to bowl dots and beat the bat. Conditions are good for bowling. Nevertheless, you walk down the wicket third ball and strike a length ball on off stump over mid on for a one bounce four.

Risky?

Perhaps. But not insane (if you know how to play the shot).

And the benefit is a stunned bowler who could go to pieces, and at very least feels like control is with you.

It might only take one shot like this before you go back to "just batting" and scoring at a faster rate with more bad balls (club bowlers under pressure always bowl worse).

We usually reserve this type of play for when we are well set or when time is running out. Yet, these days we know you can be aggressive anytime. It's about confident control of your plan, and a surgical strike with exacting precision.

What new plans might you try this year?