Every cricketer can benefit from being strong. And every cricketer can get stronger.

Unfortunately, a lot of players turn away from the idea of strength because they assume to be strong you need to look like a bulky bodybuilder. It’s a reasonable assumption, especially when you see that most gyms base training around bodybuilding methods made popular in the 1970s and ‘80s.

This drill is part of the PitchVision Academy fielding drills series, for more in this series click here.

Purpose: To develop cricket-specific acceleration skills in a competitive game.

The revolutionary PitchVision Academy Problem Solver has had a major upgrade.

Judging by the number of questions we get here at PitchVision Academy, a lot of players and coaches have a cricketing problem they need solving. Everyone has something; a technical flaw in the cover drive, not quick enough bowling, getting gassed with low fitness levels and a hundred other things.

We also know that there is a frustrating gap for most of us.

For England fans the 2010-11 Ashes win has been a long time coming, but is there anything us humble club players can learn from it?

Clearly, you can’t put in the same time as the full-time contracted professionals. But you still want to do your best.

We all do. It’s more fun when you play well and win.

This drill is part of the PitchVision Academy fielding drills series, for more in this series click here.

Purpose: To develop agility while using the skill of picking up the ball after a chase in a competitive situation.

Stretching is like drinking more water. You know you should do it, but you never seem to get round to it.

But if you do aim to stretch more in future then why not get a head start with a stretching series from the cutting edge by strength coach Eric Cressey?

I hate to break it to you, but elite players are keeping secrets from you.

There is something the professional bowlers and coaches don’t tell you about being a stellar fast bowler.

Despite being in the public domain for all to see, it remains hidden from the minds of fast bowlers at club and school level.

It’s almost like this secret is so simple it can’t be true.

This article is part 5 of the “How to use fitness training to make better young cricketers” series.

The late teens for a player can go one of two ways, and as a coach it’s up to you to know how to respond.

It’s either a race for the first-class game, or something a little more recreational.

Purpose: A drill that incorporates cricket skills into speed/endurance training. Can also be used as a pre-game warm up drill.

Description: Players get into equal team numbers. The first player in the queue at end A runs with the ball, places it down on the blue marker and runs to the back of end B.

This article is part 4 of the “How to use fitness training to make better young cricketers” series.

Some time in a cricketer’s early teens their focus shifts.

No, I’m not talking about the strange attraction to the opposite sex. I mean that the type of fitness training they can bear moves from movement skills to more traditional strength and endurance.