The hoo-haa over the discovery that England plans how to get Australia out has been blow into an outrage.

It's not a suprise to me. After all why shouldn't they?

All players have weaknesses and England have a chap whose job it is to analyse these and come up with strategies and field placings for each man: It increases your chances of getting them out if you know how they are likely to play.

Good captains at all levels have been doing this for years.

At club level it's less of a science and more of an art. You can still do it though.

Look at the batsmen as a bowler, captain or wicketkeeper. Work out what their favoured shots are and what they don't play well.

It may even just be a hunch that you work from: How the batsman stands in his crease, what hand he holds the bat with or the look in his eyes.

Then set the field individually for each batsman, know where to bowl the ball and change things around if it's not working.

Laying plans in the field is simple, but like England, make sure you have one (and your bowlers can bowl to it) or you will pay the price.

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