Cricket: Cut shot

This is an attacking stroke, played to a full, wide of off stump delivery.

Keep a relaxed, balanced stance, with your head and eyes level.

Using your normal backswing, step forward; your leading foot should have a comfortable stride to the pitch of the ball.

When playing the stroke the front shoulder dips, front knee bends.

Your shoulders rotate vertically, bat moves in an arc (3 o'clock to 9 o'clock) and continues  through the line of the ball in the direction of shot (through the covers - on the on-side).

Bat handle close to body, inline with and underneath shoulders Bat is taken back vertically (and straight back) Hands close to back hip Maintain top hand control at this early stage

Played to a ball short of a length, roughly stump high Relaxed, balanced stance, head still, eyes level Back swing and step back Front Shoulder Dips Base established, weight stays slightly forward Shoulders rotate vertically, front leg drawn back Bat accelerates, follows through straight Ball contact under eyes

Can be done in pairs/ groups of three. Feeder drops ball in front of batter (with arm out horizontally, standing on the off side of the batsman for safety purposes).

Batter steps towards the ball, and aims to drive the ball on the second bounce/ half volley, driving the ball on the ground through the target zones.

Each group needs 6 tennis balls and each batter gets 6 feeds.

Drill is best done in nets (2 grounds per net in opposite directions).

Encourage players to wear at least batting gloves when doing this practice.