Cricket: Front Foot Defensive

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

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

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).

Played to a ball short of a length and wide of off stump. Ball is aimed square of the wicket. Relaxed, balanced stance, head still, eyes level. Back swing and step back towards off side. Base established, weight stays slightly forward. Shoulders rotate towards offside, horizontally. Bat accelerates, hitting from high to low. Ball contact is made level with head, allow for natural follow through.

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.

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 aim 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. 6 feeds per batter rotate clockwise. Drill is best done in nets (2 grounds per net in opposite directions) .Encourage players to wear at least batting gloves when doing this drill.

Drop hands Maintain side on position, achieved by encouraging player to keep shoulders parallel. This keeps batter a smaller target Keep weight forward even when moving back and across, to maintain balance and control of the shot Played to a ball that is rising, usually too high to play Hands are dropped straight down, away from the path of ball Batter must look to go back and across stumps Batter must keep eye on ball all the way.

Played to a ball that at the body, usually head high Batter flexes knees, and aims to duck underneath path of ball. Maintaining balance is essential. Batter must look to go back and across stumps Maintain side on position, achieved by encouraging player to keep shoulders parallel. This keeps batter a smaller target Keep weight forward even when moving back and across, to maintain balance and control of the shot Batter must keep eye on ball all the way.

Played to a ball that at the body, usually head high Batter flexes knees, and aims to duck underneath path of ball. Maintaining balance is essential. Batter must look to go back and across stumps Maintain side on position, achieved by encouraging player to keep shoulders parallel. This keeps batter a smaller target Keep weight forward even when moving back and across, to maintain balance and control of the shot Batter must keep eye on ball all the way.

The defensive stroke should be played to a ball of good line and length. Players stand in a relaxed and balanced stance, head and eyes level. Back swing and step forward to meet the ball. As they prepare to strike the ball the front shoulder dips and the front knee bends. Shoulders rotate vertically and the bat decelerates on contact. The back heel should be raised to help get above the ball and players' bottom hand should be relaxed to avoid over hitting the ball.

Attacking stroke, played to a full off stump line delivery Relaxed balanced stance, head and eyes level Backswing and step forward Front shoulder dips Base established, front knee bends Comfortable stride, with foot next to ball (on the outside of foot) Shoulders rotate vertically, bat accelerates on contact Bat swings through line of ball and follows through the direction of shot (mid off)

Attacking stroke, played to a full, delivery, usually a middle/middle and leg stump delivery Relaxed balanced stance, head and eyes level Backswing and step forward Front shoulder dips Base established, front knee bends Comfortable stride, with foot next to ball (on the outside of foot) Shoulders rotate vertically, bat accelerates on contact Bat swings through line of ball and follows through the direction of shot (mid on)

Drill designed to increase power of top hand, and reduce use of bottom hand in strokes. Attacking stroke, played to a full delivery, using a ‘bobble feed’ Relaxed balanced stance, head and eyes level Backswing and step forward Front shoulder dips Base established, front knee bends Comfortable stride, with foot next to ball (on the outside of foot) Shoulders rotate vertically, bat accelerates on contact Bat swings through line of ball and follows through the direction of shot KEY- don’t lean back and try and hit ball too hard- follow all of the above as of the standard straight drive technique.

Played to a ball fuller quicker ball Batter must be low in their position, with head pushed forwards towards the ball Arms are extended at point of impact. Batter must use pace of ball to guide shot fine Ball should look to be played as fine as possible, Encourage batter not to try and hit the ball, rather use the pace of feed to ‘deflect’ it.

DESCRIPTION Can be done in pairs/ groups of three. One batter, a feeder, and a wicket keeper. 4 incrediballs or cricket balls are recommended, as they have a seam to spin ball. 4 good quality feeds eachPlayer feeds from one knee, throwing ball under arm as a leg spinner, with the key being a looped feed. (If players can’t spin it, a slow looped feed is sufficient). Feeder aims to land ball on a full length, on off stump. Batter looks to play ball straight, through zone 1, to be marked out from between the stumps to cover as shown.NB – Left hander’s will still score through same zone, and should ideally be grouped together. PROGRESSION Make target area smaller, if playing to square of wicket, make target straighter.Introduce points scoring system.Bring in Zone 2 (different scoring area for length balls)Change length of feedIntroduce coming down wicket.

Played to a ball fuller quicker ball Batter must be low in their position, with head pushed forwards towards the ball Arms are extended at point of impact. Batter must use pace of ball to guide shot fine Ball should look to be played as fine as possible, Encourage batter not to try and hit the ball, rather use the pace of feed to deflect it.

Can be done in pairs/ groups of three. One batter, a feeder, and a wicket keeper. 4 incrediballs or cricket balls are recommended, as they have a seam to spin ball. 4 good quality feeds each.Player feeds from one knee, throwing ball under arm as an off spinner, with the key being a looped feed. (If players can’t spin it, a slow looped feed is sufficient). Feeder aims to land ball on a full length, and batter looks to play ball straight, through zone 1, to be marked out from between the stumps to mid wicket.NB – Left hander’s will still score through same zone, and should ideally be grouped together. PROGRESSION Make target area smaller, if playing to square of wicket, make target straighter.Introduce points scoring system.Bring in Zone 2 (different scoring area for length balls)Change length of feedIntroduce coming down wicket or sweep shot.

Can be done in pairs/ groups of three. One batter, a feeder, and a wicket keeper. 4 incrediballs or cricket balls are recommended, as they have a seam to spin ball. 4 good quality feeds each.Player feeds from one knee, throwing ball under arm as an off spinner, with the key being a looped feed. (If players can’t spin it, a slow looped feed is sufficient). Feeder aims to land ball on a full length, and batter looks to play ball straight, through zone 1, to be marked out from between the stumps to mid wicket.NB – Left hander’s will still score through same zone, and should ideally be grouped together. PROGRESSION Make target area smaller, if playing to square of wicket, make target straighter.Introduce points scoring system.Bring in Zone 2 (different scoring area for length balls)Change length of feedIntroduce coming down wicket or sweep shot.

Can be done in pairs/ groups of three. One batter, a feeder, and a wicket keeper. 4 incrediballs or cricket balls are recommended, as they have a seam to spin ball. 4 good quality feeds each.Player feeds from one knee, throwing ball under arm as an off spinner, with the key being a looped feed. (If players can’t spin it, a slow looped feed is sufficient). Feeder aims to land ball on a full length, and batter looks to play ball straight, through zone 1, to be marked out from between the stumps to mid wicket.NB – Left hander’s will still score through same zone, and should ideally be grouped together. PROGRESSION Make target area smaller, if playing to square of wicket, make target straighter.Introduce points scoring system.Bring in Zone 2 (different scoring area for length balls)Change length of feedIntroduce coming down wicket or sweep shot.