Cricket: Off Spin Throw

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.

*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

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.