Picture the scene; its cricket practice day and you pull back the curtains to see the rain tumbling down. It’s natural to shrug and call the session off.

But you don’t have to be so hasty. There is plenty you can do in the rain to practice your game. It’s tough to motivate players at the best of times. When rain makes practice irregular it gives people an excuse to “forget” to come. So tell players that practice is on every week come rain or shine and then use these four wet weather cricket tips for something to do.

Play something else

If there is one place that has to deal with rain more than anywhere else it’s Scotland. Last year PitchVision Academy went to Edinburgh and saw firsthand the Watsonian players train for a hour in the rain.

They didn’t pick up a bat or a ball either. They played football as the drizzle persisted. Everyone was soggy and muddy by the end of the session, but they also had done some work.

Not only had they helped develop team spirit by getting together, they had also worked on transferable physical skills like sprinting, changing direction, endurance and coordination. It wasn’t perfect but they were out there working together and being committed.

Watch the IPL

Watching the IPL or any top level cricket on a laptop in the changing room isn’t mindless activity. You get to see the best players playing under pressure.

As you watch the game, talk through the tactics being used, discuss other tactics that may also work and look at player’s techniques and methods. Chances are you will pick up something you can practice in your next session in the nets.

Work out your tactics

Speaking of tactics, we all know how important defining roles are for any cricket team. Wet weather is a good time to talk through these roles as a team.  Make sure everyone has a say in how the team stitches together and keep discussions open and honest. Arguments are OK if it leads to clearing the air!

It’s also a good time to plan for different situations. Plans don’t always work out so also spend time thinking about how  you will respond as a team to big batting stands by the opposition or collapses in the top order. You can’t stop errors, but the more you think it through, the better you respond.

Regular readers will know how we take any opportunity at PitchVision Academy to improve fitness. In the wet we have already discussed running. You can also work on your mobility, which is important for injury prevention and, for the pacemen, bowling faster.

Spending an hour working on foam rolling, stretching, mobilising and activating will help you feel fresh, keep you on the park and help with performance.