WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes has brought a new fielding tactic to the English game which confused the umpires.

Wicketkeeper Ben Cox ditched his pads and gloves to field at fly-slip for part of the Rapids’ exciting clash against Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the NatWest T20 Blast.

Rather than changing the position of one of his fielders, Rapids’ captain Daryl Mitchell added one more player to the outfield by taking Cox from behind the stumps.

Cox took up the fly-slip position for the 16th and 18th overs bowled by spinners Moeen Ali and Saeed Ajmal during Worcestershire’s 14- run win in the match at Wantage Road.

It was one of the most innovative field placings seen in English cricket and umpires Nick Cook and Graham Lloyd had to confer before allowing play to continue.

The unusual move had the desired effect, with Josh Cobb caught in the deep off the bowling of Ajmal for 80.

Rhodes said: “It’s just a tactic that we used in a game of cricket.

“In doing it there are pros and cons and we think that, in certain parts of a match, it can be appropriate.”

After Friday’s match, Rhodes admitted Worcestershire had followed the example of Indian MS Dhoni, who stood back to spinners while keeping for India in a Test match in England.

“It came about when I watched MS Dhoni stand back to the spinners for India and I thought that was a great idea,” Rhodes said.

“Afterwards, he said he wanted another catcher around the corner and he felt he could do that himself, standing back.

“That’s how it started us thinking about it.

“One of the things I challenged the coaches in the winter to do was to try and come up with some ideas as to what can happen in cricket, what is allowed in cricket, things that might just knock the opposition off their guard.”

Worcestershire slipped to an 11-run defeat against Nottinghamshire Outlaws in another tight T20 Blast match at New Road on Sunday.

Rhodes said: “We lost but we should not take anything away from the team and the way they played.

“Eight of their players had played international cricket and we put up a brave performance.

“Although we were second best, it was a terrific game.

We demonstrated character and showed we are a difficult side to beat.