Cricket Drills

The player at the front of the 2 players runs to the middle to collect the ball on the cone and roll it to the player on the opposite side. This player collects the ball and runs to the middle to put the ball on the cone. The next player then runs to collect the ball and rolls the ball for next player waiting.

10-18 players required. (Note diagram for accurate lay-out of drill.) Five stumps required for drill. Three stumps are set up on a diagonal line, 10m apart from each other. The other two stumps are 20m away from these, again on a diagonal but this time they are 20m apart. The Coach stands at the top on the middle stump. The drill begins when coach rolls the ball out as shown. Player 1 must sprint around the first stump, change direction and then underarm pick the ball up, aiming to hit the third stump. Player 2 must anticipate the ball coming towards them, and moves forward off the cone to back the ball up. Player 2 then throws overarm at the base of the next stump. Player 3 anticipates this happening, and backs the throw up, before throwing the ball over the top of the final stump. The next player now returns the ball to the coach, and then continues to run around the first stump. Drill continues, and players follow the ball, moving clockwise to the next station.

** AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON ** Drill can work with a mininum of 3 players and 1 feeder. Can add more pairs sharing catches if you have more numbers. Coach/feeder will use the ramp to send 4 consecutive catches to a player opposite. Inbetween that, players will pair up and swap catches whilst the coach is sending the 4 catches. Players rotate once the 4 catches have been taken.

Each team starts with a score of 200 runs. Batsmen can be out in the usual ways, and also: (a) by hitting the ceiling of the hall, (b) by being caught off the walls, except when hitting a 6. The batsmen have unlimited wickets, if you are out you deduct 6 off the teams score. Scoring runs works in the following way : Back wall along the ground, score 4. Back wall in the air, score 6 (can not be caught off the back wall). Side walls, score 2 plus any additional singles that are run. Back wall behind the stumps, score 1 plus any additional singles that are run. Wides, byes and leg byes score 1 and an extra ball (be lenient with younger players/beginners) No LBW and Coach must always umpire and score. Batsmen bat together in pairs (e.g. four or five overs a pair, depending on time available.) A batsman can be run out at either end. Bowlers bowl six balls per over, always from the same end. Batsmen change ends either at the end of an over or when a wicket falls. All players including wicket keeper rotate clockwise after each over, unless you have a specialist wicket keeper.

10-12 players are needed for singles cricket and players should pair up so that they can bat and bowl in pairs. Each pair has 1-2 wickets, once these have been used those players are out. The rules change depending on how many runs are scored. If the batsmen have scored between 0 and 15 runs they are allowed 3 good balls in which they must hit the ball and run, otherwise lose a wicket. If they have scored between 15-30 runs the batsmen have 2 good balls in which they must hit the ball and run, otherwise lose a wicket. Above 30 runs you must play hit and run, regardless of how the ball comes. Above 40 runs the batsmen are awarded a bonus, if not out, of 10 runs and then they must retire.

The practice should be setup as shown. Have one player as a wicket keeper and another as fielder. The bowlers take it in turns to bowl, with the fielder calling if the ball was a good line (pitched in the cones) or a good length (pitched level with the red hoop). If the ball pitches in the hoop then the ball is both a good line and length.

Get a resistance band and put around the player's waist Coach stands behind the player whilst they run towards the crease, pulling for resistance Player drives forward and bowls towards the wicket whilst resistance is applied Take off the band once bowled and quickly bowl again without resistance For progression and to stop players pulling to the off side, add resistance to bowlers off side to straighten the approach Player does six bowling motions against resistance. Then take off the band and bowl without resistance

Players work in pairs with 1 ball. They start very close together and with every successful throw and catch the thrower can take a step back increasing the distance between the players.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Two cones a long stride distance apart. Standing behind one, facing the other, step the leading foot of the delivery stride to the opposite cone Drag through the back foot on the back cone encouraging the back knee to drive through straight towards your target  

Work in groups of 10. Two rows of cones are set up, 5m apart in width and 2m apart. Players get into pairs, opposite each other, lined up behind the first cone with one ball. The first pair must exchange 5 catches before running diagonally to the next cone where they repeat the 5 catches. After this players run to the next cone where they now roll the ball 5 times to their partner. The partner performs an underarm pick up and returns the ball to their partner. upon reaching the end players jog back to the start and repeat.

**AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON** Bowler begins with take-off foot on the box. Bowler pushes up with take-off foot into the delivery stride towards the crease. The ball is bowled at the stumpst and follows through straight down the wicket.

**AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON** Wicketkeeper starts with the ball and rolls out the the fielder in the square leg position. Square leg fielder picks up the ball and aims a throw at the ramp. Fielder at point gets in line with the throw and catches/collects the ball from the throw and then releases a throw at the non-strikers end single stump. Mid-on fielder backs up this throw and gives an underarm throw to the extra cover fielder who has moved im behind the non-strikers end stump. Extra cover completes the drill by throwing the ball back into the wicketkeeper.

3-5 people stand in each net, with one bowler and the others waiting to receive the ball. Each bowler bowls 24 balls with the batsman getting 3 consecutive balls. If the batsman decides to leaves one of the balls then they may have another ball. On receiving 3 balls the batsman must join the back of the queue.

The Coach throws each player 3 balls which they should aim to hit towards the left or right target. If the ball is successfully hit towards the target the batting player must complete 2 runs. If a boundary is hit then the batsman gets another ball. If you leave the ball you get another ball. If you hit behind or outside the coned area you are out (or minus 4 runs)

Batters need to capitalise when bowlers miss their length and bowl it wide. There are a number of different cut shots which can be hit in different areas. In this drill Ian Bell talks through how to get into the correct position with some key points you can use.

Throw a short pitched delivery from (a) kneeling or (b) standing up - depending on the height and age of the batsmen. Throw the ball with pace outside off stump between waist and chest height. In a small sports hall: The shot is hit into a wall and fielders can stop the rebound.