Question

Why player pull his hand back while catching ball in cricket

Answer 1

While catching a fast moving cricket ball , a fielder in the ground gradually pulls his hand backwards with the moving ball, In doing so, the fielder increases the time during which the high velocity of the moving ball descrease to zero. thus, the accleration of the ball is descreased and therefore the impact of catching the fast moving ball is also reduced.

if the ball stopped suddenly then it's high velocity is descreases to zero in a very short interval of time.

thus, the rate of change of momentum of the ball will be large. therefore, a large force would have to be applied for holding the catch that may hurt the palm of the fielder.