andy wrote:Smith drops a very very close catch and given his reaction to his finger popping out his game in the field could be done....no choice but to be that close
I think this is the type of pitch where we can zig-zag between what is the right or wrong thing to do. You say for instance that there is no choice by to field that close, I am going to say that the Smith opportunity shows if a ball carries as it normally should, I don't care if you are Superman, you aint catching a thick edge coming off an express fast bowler delivery fielding 10 meters away from the bat. Smith simply didn't have time to react to it, as probably no one would. At that speed you are basically reacting purely on instinct, and if that instinct happens to be a fluke in putting your arms in the right place, maybe you take it.
Of course, when the ball doesn't carry as it should, the edge will flop down. Really, we can't fault the slips on either team... you are either in the right position or wrong position on what the ball does off the pitch, which is random.
