Save more runs than you concede - good times. Fumble your way through a game - dark looks from the bowler, captain and coach.
Gone are the days of hands in pockets and blank looks at your shoes. Fielding is crucial part of the modern game and sides that hustle, scramble, dive and tumble create pressure and improve their prospects. And Craig Cumming knows it.
The Otago skipper was not impressed with his side's performance in the field during its three-wicket loss to Wellington on Saturday.
"We were very hesitant and weren't very proactive," he lamented. "It is an area we have always done well and we need to tidy it up. If we had have been better in the field, we might have giving ourselves a chance to win the game."
Otago has set the standard in the field for the past few seasons and will be looking to make amends when it plays Northern Districts in Oamaru this evening.
While the fielding was lacklustre, there were some positive signs for the 2008-09 champion. Aaron Redmond blasted 82 and strike bowler Neil Wagner - one of the offenders in the field - took three for 29 in an impressive spell.
"Batting-wise we were close," Cumming said. "We just needed to finish stronger and there are a couple of things we are looking to do better in this game."
Coach Mike Hesson has stressed the importance of making a good start but the Volts struggled early, labouring to 26 for one from their opening five overs and scored just 19 from the last four overs.
"The first four overs and the last four overs we let ourself down. We didn't have the intensity at the start that we'd like and we didn't give ourselves and opportunity to finish well, either.
"We had a good 12 or so overs in the middle but you need to score in all 20 overs to be successful. It is certainly an area we are looking to improve on."
Otago seemed on track for a total of about 180 but lost momentum and was forced to settle for 153 for six. Redmond was in cracking form but he was deprived of much of the strike for a crucial three or four-over period.
Cumming was reasonably content with the bowling performance. Otago created pressure but some nice striking from Michael Pollard cost Otago dearly. He made a habit of punishing a good over with a six off the last delivery.
"All and all, it was an OK performance but we need to get better to be competitive in this competition."
Northern has been a mixed bag. The Knights were thumped by 78 runs by the defending champions, Central Districts, in their opening match but bounced back to demolish Auckland by eight wickets.
Former Otago left-armer Bradley Scott took three for 17 and promising fast bowler Trent Boult was impressive with one for five from two overs.
Australian international Brad Hodge whacked 37 from 25 balls and remains one of the biggest threats in the batting line-up.
The 35-year-old is considered one of the best twenty/20 batsmen in the world and boasts an impressive record. In 104 games, he has scored 3179 runs at an average of 35.71, including two 100s and 21 half-centuries.
"He has been a world-class player and has done very well in twenty/20 so I'll be more than happy if the Oamaru crowd don't see much of him. But it is great to have players of his calibre in the competition. They increase its profile."
The other huge threat is Australian twenty/20 specialist David Warner. He has replaced David Hussey as the second overseas professional.
OTAGO v NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Oamaru, today
Otago: Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Craig Cumming (captain), Darren Stevens, Chris Nash, Derek de Boorder, Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, Warren McSkimming, James McMillan, Sam Wells.
Northern Districts: David Warner, Peter McGlashan, Brad Hodge, Daniel Flynn, Brad Wilson, James Marshall, Anton Devcich, BJ Watling, Graeme Aldridge, Bradley Scott, Trent Boult, Brent Arnel.
