This is a cracking drill for wicket keepers standing back using equipment that is becoming commonplace within coaching kitbags around the world.

We are presently in a "specific preparation phase" of the programme, so much of the aim of our sessions are build volume into both keepers "catch" and to free up the movement patterns to both right and left handed batters.

The session was for two keepers. They swapped every six balls to simulate overs. We ran the session in a confined net area so I ensured that we maximised the width of the area so the keepers could move freely for offside takes and for simulated outside edges. It's just as easy to run outdoors or in the open, or both.

You can use a Sidearm, bowling machine or bowlers for the drill.

You'll also need Fusion Multi-stumps

The Multi stumps are used as stumps and to simulate edges from a 5th-7th stump line. Both sets of stumps provide deflection and different paces of ball coming through to the keeper.

Here's the drill:

I set the bowling machine up to bowl a length which brings the top quarter of the multistumps into play. This ensures that the deflections are slight and maintain their pace in a realistic fashion. I set the bowling machine to move the ball from the stumps into an off stump/4th and 5th stump line. This brings deflections into play and optimises the space that we had available in the session.

This can be seen in the drill for right handed batters and then the last ball on the edit which is to simulate standing back to a left handed batter.

I worked off a pace of 68-73 mph, which worked for that surface.

Wicketkeeping drill outcomes

The keepers took over 120 balls each in the session. There were 72 deflections.

We looked at the starting line to right handed batters and then the same to left handed batters. Both keepers made slight adjustments to this over the course of the session in order to facilitate smooth movement and to ensure that initial vision to the bowler was optimal.

One keeper is working on getting past the line of the ball and established some good rhythms when doing this on a repeated basis. The other keeper is a relative beginner yet experienced more flowing movement as the session went on.

It was highly relevant to the match situations that they will find themselves in the fast approaching season.

It was great fun!

Variations

I have also used this drill with bowlers as they delivery bowl-through as part of their game day preparation.

Often, a keeper perceives them taking bowl-throughs as "servicing the bowler's needs". Yet by simply placing a second set of multistumps alongside a coaching intention then we instantly engage the keeper. The drill is now specific to them.

Indoors or outdoors, this is a simple and great keeping drill that will keep your keepers smiling!