Fielding Drills: Colin Bland’s game
Purpose: To practice picking up, backing up and shying at the stumps under the pressure of competition.
Description: Two stumps are placed between two teams. The coach rolls the ball out and calls which stump should be aimed for. The fielder picks up and shys at the stump. The other team back up the throw then attempt to hit the stump as called by the coach. Score 5 points for a direct hit, lose a point for a misfield.
Are you using the World Twenty20 to improve your batting?
As a new event, the World Twenty20 in South Africa has shown us how international players can score at 8-10 an over. I reckon club batsmen take a leaf out of the top guys book by watching the way Pietersen, Hayden and Smith bat.
One of the key aspects I have noticed while watching the games is the adaptability of the top order players. They are able to play more than one shot to different deliveries and work the ball around for singles when they are not hitting boundaries.
Fielding Drills: Boundary Stopping
Purpose: The practice running/diving to stop the ball on the boundary and saving a four.
Fielding Drills: Pick up, back up and return
Purpose: To practice a clean pickup and return on the run and backing up.
Fielding Drills: Court ball
Purpose: A competitive game to practice stopping under pressure.
Fielding Drills: Attackers vs. Defenders
Purpose: To add a pressure element to stopping and picking up the ball
Description: The attackers aim is to get the ball over the goal line by passing it to each other along the ground. The defenders must intercept the ball only moving sideways or backwards. If the attacking team fumble the ball or the ball is intercepted they must return to the start line.
Fielding Drills: Fielding circle
Purpose: Practicing stops, pickup, shy and backing up.
Description: An even number of players jog in a circle around a stump with a coach (c) in the middle. The coach rolls/hits the ball out to a fielder who picks up and shys and the stump. The throw is backed up by the opposite fielder and returned to the coach.
Fielding Drills: In goal diving
Purpose: To practice diving and stopping the ball on the boundary
Fielding Drills: Stopper in the middle
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.
7 ways to creatively train when you think you can’t
Do you have trouble motivating yourself to train for cricket? Everyone has trouble from time to time, but consider the plight of an Indian coach who emailed me recently:
"I am training a senior cricket team and we are preparing for a tournament in another 15 days. The rains have started and net sessions are impossible. We don't have indoor nets. The only places we have is a small gym and a concrete car park. I have to take care of 50 players who are in the camp. Please suggest me something to keep them involved."
