Fred's concentration

Concentration is very important in cricket, in every aspect of the game. Batting, bowling and especially fielding require focused attention at all times. This is indisputable cricketing truth.

It is also true to say that this rarely happens. It is incredibly difficult for amateur (and sometimes professional) cricketers to concentrate hard for 100% of the time and mistakes do happen.

Some of the most comedic moments I've ever witnessed have been watching fielders react having lost their concentration. These reactions tend to fall into certain categories:

The 'Dignified' Reaction: The batsman plays a simple push to mid off where our fielder (let's call him Fred) is waiting. Unfortunately, Fred at that point in time is thinking about what colour to paint his kitchen ceiling and has no idea the ball is coming towards him. After a shout from one of his team mates, and the scrambled sound of the batsmen taking an unexpected single, Fred jerks to life, picks up the ball and throws it in. All the time he is doing his utmost to make it look as if he knew the ball was coming all along. We know he is embarrassed.

The Panic: This usually happens when the ball is travelling at a fair pace towards Fred who this time is thinking about the girl with long legs in the office. The first symptom is the rising volume of his team mates' pleas as they watch the ball speed towards him. They all realise he's on another planet.

"Fred. Fred. Fred! FRED. FRED!"

Fred's reaction is swift. He starts to sprint towards the centre of the pitch which would normally be OK but the ball is fizzing past him to his left. Fred spots it from the corner of his eye and immediately changes direction to run away from the centre. If he's lucky the ball goes for four and he just has to deal with the furious stares from his team mates. If he's unlucky, he manages to reach the ball before the boundary and fall on it in a breathless heap. Fred then quickly snaps to his feet and with eyes closed and body clenched in a pathetic attempt to make it look as if he's really trying, he launches the ball with all his might right over the middle of the pitch and across to the other side of the field where it runs away for five overthrows.

The Fear: This one usually occurs when everyone on the ground realises that Fred is in danger from a fast approaching ball. Except Fred.

In every case of this type, there will a desperate scream from the team mate closest to him.

"FFRRRRREEDDDD!!!!"

Fred is naturally startled at being awoken from his reverie where he was away jet skiing in the Mediterranean. Again, the result depends upon whether or not he is lucky. If he's lucky he just has to suffer the indignity of the whole ground watching him collapse on the floor with his arms clasped over his head as the ball passes swiftly by for another four runs.

A less fortunate result will see Fred attempt to stop the ball without actually knowing where it is by opening his arms wide like a vicar welcoming his flock. The ball will then usually glance Fred on the forehead and ricochet away for six. Fred again collapses from the knees and in a vague dazed fashion attempts to raise his hands to the wound as he falls.