Menno Gazendam is author of Spin Bowling Project. Get your free 8 week spin bowling course here.

Chances are you don't need a slip.

You bowl off spin and the most common situation is that the pitch takes turn, the batter is right handed and overs are limited.

It's a waste.

You are better off having attacking catching men short on the leg side. Say, at short mid-wicket.

It does not mean you are negative, or lack confidence. It simply means you are reading the pitch and placing your field accordingly. If you keep turning it in sharply, the chances of a catch on short leg side is much better than at slip.

When can I have a slip?

When the pitch is not turning you can move that leg side catcher out and get him in a slip position.

For a right handed batsman the ball will drift away so the chances are more likely for a fine outside nick than for the ball to pop leg side.

Keep spinning it hard as the revolutions will create drift towards the off-side. And once it hits the non-spinning deck it will go on with the drift towards slip.

You can also have a slip when you are bowling to left handed batsmen and the ball is spinning away from him. The angles are back in your favour.

Know your fielders

However, be sure to put someone at slip that can catch.

This is especially true if you are still a youngster or play a weaker standard. First slip is a very difficult position to master, especially to a spinner where you stand much closer. You may prefer to give yourself a better chance by placing your fielders in a positions where they are more likely to catch the ball.

It might look nice and attacking, but when you know there is no chance that anyone in your team will be safe at slip, change your tactic and do without one.