Drills | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

Fielding Drill: Captain America Catching

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Here's a simple, fun drill you can use to help improve your reaction catching in areas like the slips, short leg, gully or even in the ring behind square.

You can view the drill here:

It's named after the comic book superhero, Captain America because someone uses a Katchet as a "shield" to deflect the ball in random positions from one side to another.

Video: How to Practice Bowling Under Pressure

There is a world of difference between bowling in practice, and bowling under match pressure. If you are going ot be a good bowler, you need to be able to handle the latter. So, here's a simple drill you can do to add pressure to your net sessions.

Here's the video so you can see it in action:

If you can't view it above, click here.

How to Bowl Line and Length with This Accuracy Net Drill

Even today, where there are a hundred different types of ball, good old-fashioned line and length bowling is an incredibly effective way to bowl: Hit the spot, do a bit off the pitch or in the air, take wickets. Simple.

Yet it's also a world of pain to do consistently.

Sure, you bowl in nets as much as you can. You put up with slogging batsmen and you take time to work on your action.

Then you get out into a game and bowl two four balls every over, wondering where it all went wrong.

What's going on?

It's not the puzzle you think, but it does take some work on your part. It's easy improve your accuracy (and pace at the same time) with a simple process.

More Run Outs with This Fielding Drill Upgrade

Iain Brunnschweiler has a simple drill upgrade for you to get more direct hits.

Matches can be turned when you complete run outs: Direct hits will result in a wicket.

So it is important that you get your throws as close as possible to the stumps as often as possible. The problem is, when doing a throwing at stumps drill, we often simply use a 'hit or miss' outcome to gauge the success of the throw. This can result in a lot more misses than hits, especially in younger players. It's disheartening.

The good news is there is a simple way of setting more of a gauge to help understand progress and guide development.

How to Use Matches to Inspire Awesome Cricket Solutions

It's been an exceptional start.

Millfield School started the cricket season this week with two unbeaten Festival wins in the Under 15's and Meyers XI (U18's). We have seen lots of evidence of the winter work paying dividends. A number of players have hit personal best scores or wicket hauls.

However, the rigours of match play exposed a couple of glaring holes in the U15s bowling attack from both a mental and tactical perspective. This forced Steve Wilson (Assistant Coach) and me to think on our feet.

In the first game of the festival, our bowling attack conceded 22 wides in only 50 overs.

Batting Drill: Picking Length

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In this exclusive video, IPL Talent Scout and Academy coach, Monty Desai has a drill to help young players work on picking length without premeditating.

In the video you will see him work with a player who makes a small technical error, and then corrects it through some focused work.

You can view the video here:

Video Coaching from One of England's All Time Wicket Takers

PitchVision Academy are delighted to announce JIMMY613, the video-based coaching guide from English swing bowling hero, Jimmy Anderson.

Click here for full details.

In the online course, you'll find the most comprehensive guide to fast bowling available.

We are delighted that Jimmy has chosen to let PitchVision see how he has become such a high class and long lasting bowler. Now you can join the ride.

OUT NOW: Exclusive Online Coaching with Graham Gooch

From today, Runmaker, the cricket coaches guide to developing high-class batsmen and runmakers from Graham Gooch , is available exclusively on PitchVision Academy.

Click here for full details.

The man with over 67,000 professional runs has - for almost 30 years - coached batsmen for both Essex and England to emulate his technical knowledge, powers of concentration and incredible work-ethic. Now, through his streaming video course, he will show you how to develop the next generation built for scoring reliable, "daddy" innings in all situations.

To do this, Gooch has developed a system of player development that brings out the best technical skill, attitude and concentration in each individual. If you coach batsmen at any level, the Runmaker system shows you how to get the best from them no matter what their personality and individual skill.

All the streaming videos are split into chapters to make it totally relevant to your needs, and the accompanying eBook lets you take the advice anywhere:

  • Batting drills used by Gooch
  • The technical "non-negotiables" of batting
  • Ways to deal with talented but difficult players
  • A systematic coaching method that covers the four most important aspects of coaching runmakers
  • Ways to coach a better work ethic into batters

The course was filmed at the Essex County Ground, with detailed streaming video demonstrations of techniques and drills alongside an insightful interview that taps deeply into Gooch's thinking as a coach.

Unlike a traditional coaching manual or DVD, you can interact with others on the course, take on the advice and video tips and apply them immediately. The eBook can be downloaded and read anywhere, any time.

It's a coaching masterclass.

Out Now: Monty Desai Reveals How To Become A Cricketer In Exclusive Online Coaching Courses

How to Become a Cricketer, the total guide to achieving your cricket dreams from respected coach Monty Desai, is out now, exclusively on PitchVision Academy.

As you know, recently we announced the Rajasthan Royals Talent Scout and Academy Coach was revealing his methods in his first ever online coaching courses. Tody you can get your hands on three courses that teach you how to become a cricketer

Get them now. Click here to buy the online coaching courses.

Wicketkeeper Standing Back Drill

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