Cricket: Forward Defence

Ensure your players know how to set up and bat correctly in this batting review session and think about their trigger movements!

Coach delivers bobble feed to the batters. Each player has 3-4 feeds each to try to hit the ball through the fielders along the ground. If the ball is left by batter they may have another feed. The teams change if 4 people are out. If the ball is hit into the air over fieders no score is rewarded.

Organisation: Organise the group as shown. Batsman plays the ball defensively only when it is going to hit the stumps.
1 point is given for every successful call of leave.
5 points are deducted if ball hits the stumps.
2 points are deducted if batsman plays the ball so softly that it does not roll beyond the line drawn 4 metres from the wicket.
Groups rotate after 5 attempts each. Winner is the one with the most points.
Safety: No attacking shots. Aim to defend the ball back between the cones and if you leave the ball you can have another ball.
N.B. An overarm throw will be necessary for this practice.

Equipment: 1 bat and 1 tennis ball per group. 1 set of stumps. Chalk markings / Cones

11 fielders (including 1 bowler and wicket keeper), with 2 players batting and two padded up, waiting to bat.

The 2 batters have one over to chase the target score successfully.

If the players lose one wicket, they have 5 runs added to the required total. If they lose two wickets, they are both out.

Their first over target score is 6 runs, then if successful, this increases by 1 every over. (6, 7, 8 and so on...)

If players are unsuccessful in the run chase, they are out, and the next two batters come in.

Bowlers rotate ends they are bowling from and fielders should be encouraged to get between the overs quickly.

In the first round of 8-10 players must play every other shot with the top hand only. Make the last round competitive: try to survive all 8-10 balls without getting out.

If you are out, change round. On the practice round, players get another ball if one goes wide. On the competitive round, have 8-10 balls whether players leave the ball or play and miss.

If a player deliberately plays an attacking shot he loses that round of 8-10 balls. (Be strict on this point).