How to Practice Using Your Feet to Spin | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

How to Practice Using Your Feet to Spin

Iain Brunnschweiler, top coach, has a great tip for those wanted to get better against playing spin.

If you want to be effective against spinners, it's really important that you are confident enough to use your feet and get down the wicket. Most spin bowlers know if they are bowling at a player who is confident in their footwork and decision-making, their margin for error becomes very small indeed.

One common fault I see is running down the wicket, shutting your eyes and trying to bash it out of the park! It's easy to end up missing it altogether and getting out stumped, bowled or caught. The reality is that there is no law that says you have to smash the ball.

Moving out is about putting the pressure back onto the spinner, and potentially turning his best ball into a ball that you can score from. It's just as valid to pick up a single from this tactic as it is to hit a boundary. You are showing you are in control and the spinner has no weapons against your scoring.

In order to do this, you need to be able to come down the wicket in a quick yet balanced manner, so that you can make a further decision of whether to attack or defend the ball once you have moved.

Experiment in the nets

This is a skill that takes practice, so have a go at using your feet to the spinners every single ball in a chosen practice or number of practices. Make it your focus and work on nothing else.

Challenge yourself to only hit the ball on the ground. By doing this you will start to feel that you have a better understanding of which balls you are getting close enough to for an attacking shot, and which balls you have to defend. You can still look to score by defending the ball into a gap; be positive!

Naturally, you will make some mistakes along the way. It's a big ask to be perfect the first time you try a skill on for size. Over time, you will get better. You will find that once you look to come down every ball, you start to judge when it is a bit shorter and you can push back onto your back foot and allow you to score once the ball has turned.

How long will it take you to develop the skill?

That's a tough question as everyone learns at different rates. Some people are comfortable with footwork and can pick it up in a session. Other players have to overcome a natural instinct to either stay rooted in the crease, or charge and try and put it into orbit. Don't panic if you are struggling, keep a note of how many you get right and how many you misjudge. You will see that, over time, your performance will improve even if you start from a avery low point.

You can then go into a match situation with more skill and more confidence in your ability to get down the wicket and get out of trouble if you need it.

For more advice, videos, drills and fun, check out Inspired Cricket on PitchVision Academy

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