As you know, I love coaching fielding and perfecting elements of the game that gives teams the best chance of squeezing life out of the opposition batters and taking wickets.

One of the tactics I use to achieve this is the "7 man fielding unit". I challenge the team to commit at least 7 active players to each delivery that is hit into or through the inner ring.

This creates a positive mindset towards taking wickets, keeps everyone involved in each play, encourages fielders to throw down stumps for run outs without being worried about overthrows and to sends a message of intent to the opposition.

How does it work?

Here is a really basic example:

• Fielders 1 & 2: The ball goes to an inner ring fielder (Fielder 1) then the fielder next to her (Fielder 2) moves to support the ball stopper in case they go to ground. The ball can then be flicked to the standing fielder to throw from a stronger and more powerful position.
• Fielder 3: 1st Slip runs round to back up the keeper's end stumps.
• Fielder 4:The keeper runs to the stumps to give an option for assisted run out
• Fielder 5: Mid wicket runs to the bowlers end stumps to become the "bowlers end keeper" - or BEK - to give the option of an assisted run out. If a spinner is bowling then the bowler can become the BEK
• Fielder 6: Mid on runs round to back up the stumps at the bowlers end.
• Fielder 7: Deep Fine leg comes in towards the action to back up the keepers end for deflections off of the stumps that may evade the 1st slip who is backing up the initial throw.

7 man unit practice

Set up middle practices where the ball has to be thrown at the stumps for direct hits or assisted run outs every ball, even if the batter is safe.

It's great to practice hitting a keeper or BEK at appropriate heights as well as aiming for the base of the stumps.

Keep a tally of perfect executions; direct hits and assisted run outs and encourage the players to take ownership for their off the ball running if the ball goes to someone else.

Feel free to stop the practice any ball you like to assess the commitment and awareness of your fielders. You will find that after a couple of interventions that the players will start communicating more readily and move more instinctively.

I was asked the other day if this approach was tiring to fielders. The answer I gave was "Yes. for the unfit ones!"

Ultimately, we are only talking about committing to 10 yards or so to each ball that's connected with by the batter (around 60% of total deliveries in 50 over cricket).

So that's the equivalent of 1800 yards in 3 hours of cricket, not too much to ask for the obvious benefits is it?