High Catches

In this lesson you will learn to judge the flight of a high ball. The first second after the ball is struck is the most important. Watch how it comes off the bat, its height, its speed and its direction, and make an early estimate of where it will land. A ball hit very high will hang in the air, giving you time, while a flatter hit will travel further and faster. You will learn that it is usually better to move quickly to roughly the right area and then make small adjustments, rather than drifting slowly and having to lunge at the end. With practice you will start to recognise the shape of different hits, such as a top-edged pull that spirals or a clean lofted drive that carries deep.

• The first second after impact is crucial
• Read height, speed and direction
• Get to the area early, then adjust
• Learn to recognise different hits

In this lesson you will learn how to move to a high catch. Run on the balls of your feet with your head as still as possible, because a bouncing head makes the ball harder to track. Where you can, run with your arms moving naturally and only bring your hands up when you are close to the catch, as running with your hands raised slows you down. If the ball is going over your head, turn and run on a curved path rather than backpedalling, which is slow and can cause falls. You will learn to aim to arrive early and wait for the ball, rather than catching on the move. Arriving balanced and stationary, with your feet set, gives you the best chance of a clean catch.

• Run on the balls of the feet, head still
• Bring the hands up late
• Turn and run rather than backpedal
• Arrive early and wait if possible

In this lesson you will learn the two main hand positions for high catches. The traditional method is fingers pointing upwards with your thumbs together, catching the ball around eye level, which lets you watch the ball right into your hands. The reverse cup, sometimes called the Australian method, has the fingers pointing down with the little fingers together and the ball taken around chest height, with the hands giving down towards the body. Both are used at the highest level, and coaches have different preferences. You will learn to choose one method and practise it until it becomes reliable, while understanding the other. Whichever you use, present soft, relaxed hands and avoid pointing your fingers directly at the ball.

• Fingers up, thumbs together, around eye level
• Reverse cup: fingers down, around chest height
• Both methods are used at the top level
• Pick one and practise it until reliable

In this lesson you will learn how to secure a high catch. A ball falling from a great height arrives with considerable speed, so soft hands are essential. Reach up to meet the ball and then let your hands give, drawing it towards your body. With the reverse cup, your hands travel down towards your chest. Close your fingers around the ball as it lands and, if needed, bring it into your body for extra security. You will learn to keep watching the ball until it is completely secure and only then think about celebrating or throwing. A common error is relaxing too soon after the first contact. Hold your position for a moment after the catch so that you show complete control of both the ball and your movement.

• Reach up, then give with the hands
• Close the fingers as the ball lands
• Bring it into the body for security
• Hold your position before celebrating

In this lesson you will learn how conditions affect high catches. Bright sun can make a high ball disappear, so wear a cap or approved sunglasses, and use your non-catching hand to shade your eyes while tracking the ball, bringing it into position late. Wind can make the ball drift, sometimes a long way, so check the direction of the wind before play and expect the ball to move with it. Under floodlights the ball may briefly disappear above the lights, so keep watching where it should reappear. You will also learn to check where the sun is at different times of the match and to tell your captain if a position is especially difficult. Planning for conditions turns difficult catches into manageable ones.

• Use a cap, sunglasses or a shading hand
• Expect the ball to drift with the wind
• Under lights, watch where it will reappear
• Know where the sun is during the match

In this lesson you will learn to take high catches near the boundary within the Laws. A catch is not fair if the fielder is grounded beyond the boundary when touching the ball, or touches the ball while in contact with the boundary itself. Glance at the rope as you move. If you catch the ball and feel your momentum carrying you over, you may release the ball back into the field before you step over, and you or a team-mate can then complete the catch, provided the ball has not touched the ground. Under the latest playing conditions and the 2026 MCC Laws, a fielder who has jumped from beyond the boundary may only touch the ball once while airborne, so repeated bunny-hop touches are no longer allowed. Check the WFA competition regulations.

• Not fair if grounded beyond the boundary
• Know where the rope is before the catch
• Release the ball back into play before stepping over
• Only one airborne touch from outside the rope

In this lesson you will learn the importance of calling for high catches. A skier often draws several fielders towards it, which creates a real risk of a collision or two fielders leaving it to each other. The fielder in the best position should call loudly and early, using an agreed word such as mine, and should keep calling if needed. Others should stop, step away and, where useful, position themselves to back up or take a deflection. Captains and wicketkeepers can help by calling a name early. You will learn that the bowler often has a poor view of a high ball and should usually leave it to a fielder with a clearer line. Agree calling rules as a team before the match so that everyone knows what to do.

• The best-placed fielder calls loudly and early
• Others step away and back up
• Captain or keeper may call a name
• Agree calling rules before the match