Purpose: To practice stopping the ball under pressure.

Description: Player 3 tries to roll the ball past player 2 reaching player 1. The ball must stay within the marked area. Player 2 scores a point for stopping the ball or if player 3 misfields. After 6 points players change positions.

Success on the cricket pitch, like in any sport, is directly related to how well you plan your preparation. Or in other words, to get to where you want to be you need a map to follow no matter what level you play at.

Traditionally, cricket planning has followed a periodisation model. This is an old system that was popularised 20 years ago in Communist countries. In modern times, we continue to follow the rules of periodisation but times have changed and we need to adapt it to meet the needs of the club cricketer.

I'm not a big fan of jogging in the winter to improve your cricket fitness.

Do you have any questions related to cricket fitness or nutrition? If so, drop me an email and I'll answer it on harrowdrive for you.

I'm lucky that I get contacted a lot with questions about tactics and technique (Especially from bowlers who want to bowl faster). I love getting those so please keep sending them, but I can't remember the last time I got a question about cricket fitness or nutrition.

Have you noticed the way kids involve themselves totally in the moment?

Fear of failure, injury or any other consequence is nowhere to be seen.

It's something a lot of cricketers can learn from. Being able to get into the moment or the zone is a skill even the top professionals have trouble achieving. Yet to a five year old it's the most natural thing in the world.

You might suffer from this if you have ever:

I found myself in a dilemma this weekend on the cricket pitch. I'm interested in know what you would have done in these circumstances.

I was playing for my club 2nd XI in a league match of no importance. There are no appointed umpires at that level but the opposition had their own 'home' umpire. Unfortunately it seems he was deliberately trying to give his own team the advantage.

Have you noticed how much more top wicketkeepers are standing up to seamers recently? It's a useful skill because it will get you more dismissals than standing back. This is especially true at club level where the pace of bowling is slower and the wickets are not as quick. You just need to be sure it is being done right.

When to stand up and when to stand back

Standing up is generally the best option at club level.

I'm looking for a couple of people to help harrowdrive write about club cricket in Australia and India.

Are you a club player with some good stories to tell or tips to pass on?

If so, I'd love you to get in touch. I realise that sometimes I have a UK perspective on things and would love to get views from other countries.

1. It kills a whole day. Most games are finished, showered and changed in 2 hours or less. Cricket bucks the trend of modern society and meanders at its own pace. An evening game is crammed into around 3 hours and weekend matches are at least an afternoon. Who cares if you have better things to do? Playing cricket is like a tiny holiday every weekend. Except you get to play a game as well as top up your tan.

How many more games a year would your team win if you could be sure of an extra 50 runs per innings?

In the traditional 50 over format you see in most English leagues that would only be an extra run per over. Follow this guide and can be achieved with the minimum of fuss or risk. If you are alert to the opportunities.