Question

Cricketer pulls his hands back while catching a ball.

Answer 1

because the ball is coming with motion and the ball is harder . the player wants to protect his hand and to take the ball in rest position they pull their hand back while he is catching the ball.

Answer 2

HEY....

The cricketer pulls his hands back while catching the ball to decrease the intensity of force , so more distance is covered and it doesn't hurt him.This phenomenon is an example of ' Newtons second law '.