This is a guest article from Fish Hoek Cricket Club Head Coach, Jamie Rood

During England’s 2015-16 tour of South Africa we saw the incredible short leg fielding by James Taylor and Temba Bavuma. Can you copy this?

With these simple tips, you can turn half chances into wickets and make a unique fielding position your own.

What makes a world class short leg fielder?

• A low centre of gravity allows you to stay lower for longer, enhancing the chances of getting your hands in the right position.
• You also need fearlessness. Being so close to the batsman is an intimidating position. Just like facing the chin music whilst holding a bat in your hand, you have to be prepared to take a few knocks along the way.
• Watching the batsman like a hawk is a contributing factor in getting to the ball. Just like James Taylor, if you see the batsman advancing down the wicket, follow him and attempt to line the ball up with where you think it will go. Short sharp movements are the key to getting a hand on the ball and making it stick. Work hard in practice using a variety of different balls. Start with catching a golf ball off a bat face, experiment with reaction balls to enhance your quick movements and then move on to a real cricket ball to mirror the actual environment in a match situation.

Typically short leg is “under the batsman’s nose”. James Taylor’s success in the position throughout the series came from how deep he stood. Giving yourself a few extra yards will buy you an extra split second; time which is imperative in such a quick fire role. Be sure, however, to stand close enough that the ball will still carry.

Like all unique skills in the game of cricket, they are rarely executed to good effect without investing time on the training ground. However, with the right physique, skills set and practice, you too will make a name for yourself as a demon under the lid.

Jamie Rood is Head Coach at Fish Hoek Cricket Club in Cape Town, South Africa and a Senior Coach at All Rounder Cricket Academy. He has coached high level players across the world's three major cricketing nations in the last 4 years.