Cricket: Off Spin - Grip

A Right-armed bowler bowling outswing will move the ball away from a right-handed batsman. The 1st and 2nd fingers are placed on the top of the ball and spread either side of the seam. The side of the thumb is placed on the underneath of the ball directly on the seam. To make the ball swing, ensure that the seam remains vertical and angled away from the batsman.

The index and middle fingers are placed either side of the seam with the thumb gripping the bottom of the ball. The index and middle finger joints wrap around the ball to keep the ball away from the palm. On release ensure that the seam is kept vertical and that the hand stays behind the ball to create backspin.

The practice should be setup as shown. Have one player as a wicket keeper and another as fielder. The bowlers take it in turns to bowl, with the fielder calling if the ball was a good line (pitched in the cones) or a good length (pitched level with the red hoop). If the ball pitches in the hoop then the ball is both a good line and length.

**AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON** Bowler begins with take-off foot on the box. Bowler pushes up with take-off foot into the delivery stride towards the crease. The ball is bowled at the stumpst and follows through straight down the wicket.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Two cones a long stride distance apart. Standing behind one, facing the other, step the leading foot of the delivery stride to the opposite cone Drag through the back foot on the back cone encouraging the back knee to drive through straight towards your target  

All the players need a ball except for the wicket keeper. The first player in line takes a couple of steps before bowling the ball at the wicket. After bowling the player should follow their ball towards the wicket. The wicket keeper should gather the ball and gently throw it to the player who has just bowled before joining the back of the line.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Using a wall, set up a line of cones about a foot from the wall to create a narrow corridor Bowl along the wall (not releasing the ball) Bowl in both directions as one direction encourages front arm to align straight and other direction encourages bowling arm to align straight.   

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* In pairs with a football. Overhead football passes between the pairs, driving through to replicate bowling action. 

A right-arm bowler bowling to a right handed batsman will move the ball into them. The index and second finger should be placed either side of the the seam. The flat side of the thumb should be placed on the underneath of the ball. Ensure that the balls seam remains vertical and is angled towards the leg side.

A leg spin bowler spins the ball from a right handed batsmans leg stump towards their off stump. The bowler grips the ball with the top joint of the index and middle fingers lying on the seam and the third finger bent along it. As the bowlers arm moves forward the fingers are straightened and the wrist is flicked forwards, with the palm finishing facing downwards. The 3rd finger is the one that imparts most of the spin. On release of the ball the bowler completes a full swing of the arm, driving through to the opposite hip. Its important to pivot on the ball of the front foot and make the back knee drive through the ball.

Bowl the ball with leg spin grip back and forward to each other, letting the ball bounce once before catching it.

Player 2 bowls the ball over the front set of stumps to try and hit the back set.

For this drill you need a wicket-keeper and a queue of bowlers at both ends of the wicket. The first player takes their run up and bowls an off spin ball on one side of the cones down the middle towards the opposite stumps. Ideally the spin generated should make the ball cross over the line of cones and bounce up for the wicket-keeper to take. Once the bowler has bowled they continue their run to the back of the queue on the other side and the drill repeats with the bowler at the other end.

The off spin moves the ball from a right handed batsmans off stump towards their leg stump. The spin is generated from the index finger, this causes the ball to alter its direction and bounce through. The ball is held by the joints of the index and middle fingers which are spread along the seam. The spin is then generated by turning the wrist in a anti-clokwise direction.

Place a few cones in line with the off-stump at both ends of the wicket, going down the pitch. Players get into pairs, roughly about the length of a wicket away from eachother. Players use the off-spin grip to hold the ball.  Player throws the ball to their partner and using their wrist and body, they are aiming to spin the ball from the left hand side of the cones to the right - replicating as off-spinners delivery.

Organise the group into pairs and set up the activity as shown in the diagram. Ball is bowled to partner from the coil position. Partner catches the ball and bowls it back. The ball must bounce before reaching the partner.

1 tennis or incredi-ball per player. The targets on the wall should vary in size according to players' ability. Each player has a ball and waits in one of two lines for their turn to bowl. The ball is only allowed to bounce once before hitting the target on the wall. The bowler collects the rebound and joins the back of the line before bowling again.

Each player has a ball. As with normal bowling the ball can only bounce once before hitting the target on the wall. The bowler then collects the rebound, ensuring the rebound does not get past them and then bowls again.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Using a medicine ball, have the bowlers stand in a circle and replicate their action with a medicine ball passing to one another.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Using a medicine ball, have the bowlers stand in a circle facing out. Full squat, pull ball between legs and throw the ball as high as possible using all power from legs.