When it comes to the term “Cricket”, we generally discuss mainly about batting and bowling. The most important and underrated aspect of the game which is fielding is generally left unscathed in the sport’s discussion. A good fielding side can save those extra 20-30 runs which can prove match winnings in close matches and as it’s popularly said “catches win matches”. So in this article lets discuss some magnificent and strongest arms in different international cricketing sides which the world has witnessed over the years.
The first player in the list is South African veteran, AB De Villiers. Most batsmen decide against the run, it is widely understood that his arms and shoulders are naturally gifted. He is agile, a true athlete in every sense of the world, thanks to his experience of playing multiple sports before taking up cricket. He is also one of the most feared and admired batsmen in the world today even after having announced his retirement from international cricket. He is generally seem keeping the wickets for the IPL side, RCB these days but still remains one of the best arms in cricket.
The second player in the list is Australian veteran, Andrew Symonds. His deadeye-throwing arm could get batsmen hastening, when they realised that the ball had reached him. His throw from the boundary or from close would fly in to the keeper like a bullet. Not only batsmen but even wicketkeepers were wary of his enthusiastic throws because they would inevitably thud loudly into their gloves. He was a stunning fielder and continuously made sure to make his presence felt on the field.
The third player in the list is West Indian players, Keith Boyce. Apart from being an exceptional all-rounder, Boyce was a fielder who prowled in the deep with feline ease. His sprints were express fast, his catches outstanding. Above all, he had flattest throw that has ever existed — that went like a bullet to crash into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. There was a reason he was called Stingray. He would fail to make it into 11 at times but would always be on the field as a substitute fielder, such was his maestro on the biggest stage. He is forever remembered as a stunning enthusiastic fielder who was absolutely agile and active on the field.
The fourth player in the list is Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja is one of the biggest assets of the game for Indian Cricket. Adding to his top batting and bowling skills, he possesses supreme fielding capabilities and has one of the strongest arms in modern cricketing world. We have seen multiple scenarios of Jadeja hitting the bullseye from the boundary and even from within the 30 yard circle by direct hits which seemed absolutely impossible at that angle. He is one of the most celebrated all rounders on the global cricketing stage and has earned a lot of praise owing to his classic fielding capabilities.
Thr fifth player in the list is Pakistani player, Shadab Khan. He is an outstanding fielder from Pakistan, a team that has been notorious for letting down sitters. Shadab’s excellent fielding skills can be checked from his fielding efforts during the CPL 2017 season. Khan’s superb fielding and an excellent throw ensured that Chris Barnwell was well short of his crease. He has been a safe fielder and the batsmen do think twice before taking chances against his fielding owing to his flexibility on the field and a pretty strong throwing arm.
The sixth player in the list is Kiwi player, Martin Guptill. Guptill had a major injury early in his life owing to which he has just 2 toes on his left foot but barely does this fact hinder him from being one of the best fielders for his side with a super strong throwing arm. Guptill is always a fielder, which the batting team is wary to steal a run off. His reaction time from picking up the ball to releasing it with utmost accuracy is fantastic. His most celebrated runout includes his direct hit which sent MS Dhoni back on his way in the 2019 Cricket World Cup Semi Final and ended India’s reign in the tournament.
Other classic throwing arms include players like Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Fabian Allen, Faf Du Plessis among others. With the cricketing fitness bars being raised day by day, the players are finding it imperative to bring on their “A” game to the field and show it off with utmost passion on the field. We are seeing the younger cricketing generation take up fielding more seriously than batting and bowling, making their throwing arm strong and considering fielding to be an important aspect of the game as well which are really good signs for the future of this sport.
