Cricket: Front foot defence - leaving the ball

10-18 players required. (Note diagram for accurate lay-out of drill.) Five stumps required for drill. Three stumps are set up on a diagonal line, 10m apart from each other. The other two stumps are 20m away from these, again on a diagonal but this time they are 20m apart. The Coach stands at the top on the middle stump. The drill begins when coach rolls the ball out as shown. Player 1 must sprint around the first stump, change direction and then underarm pick the ball up, aiming to hit the third stump. Player 2 must anticipate the ball coming towards them, and moves forward off the cone to back the ball up. Player 2 then throws overarm at the base of the next stump. Player 3 anticipates this happening, and backs the throw up, before throwing the ball over the top of the final stump. The next player now returns the ball to the coach, and then continues to run around the first stump. Drill continues, and players follow the ball, moving clockwise to the next station.

Players work in groups of 5, in a grid with 5 cones set up in a zig-zag formation, roughly 7 metres apart. Each player stands on a cone. All players, except for those queueing behind the first cone require balls. On the coach's call player 1, on the first cone, aims to get to collect the ball that has been dropped from shoulder height by the player on the cone in front of them, before the ball bounces twice. This is one pick-up. Player 1 then gives the ball back to the player on the cone, and sets themself before the coach gives the next call. Again the working player aims to get to the next ball before second bounce. This process is repeated until all players have performed 4 pick-ups.

The player at the front of the 2 players runs to the middle to collect the ball on the cone and roll it to the player on the opposite side. This player collects the ball and runs to the middle to put the ball on the cone. The next player then runs to collect the ball and rolls the ball for next player waiting.

Batsman 1 calls YES, Batsmen 2 then starts to run on the call. Fielder 1 feeds from an angle, fielder 2 runs in and flicks at stump. Player 1 backs up the flick. When 3 lives are used up the team is out, then batters change with fielders.

When the batsman (1) calls Yes the coach rolls the ball towards the fielder stood by the stumps. Fielder (1) runs across, picks up the ball and then tries to run out the batsmen. Repeat with the next fielder and batsman. Each batting team has a certain number of wickets (eg. 3 wickets). The teams change over once the batting side have lost all their wickets.

The drill starts when the batsman calls Yes . At this point the batter must run with the bat in hand and try to complete two runs. However, the batter is racing against the fielders. Fielder 1 rolls the ball out to the player waiting in line who must then use a two handed pick up before returning the ball over the stumps to the wicket-keeper. After the ball is thrown player 1 joins the back of the queue and player 3 takes their place on the cone. After this the race can start again, this time repeated on the other side for the fielding team.

Teams are competing to bounce the ball (via overarm throw) into the small square. In order to score a point a team mate must catch the ball on the other side of the coned off area..

4 to 8 players per group. Player 1 rolls the ball out to player 2 who shys at the stumps, meanwhile player 1 has moved behind the stumps (backing up), ready to collect the ball. Player 2 then runs to player 1's original position. Player 1 then throws the ball to players 2. Player 1 now joins back of other group on the opposite side. Group B do exactly the same.

Ask the players to spread themselves and have 1 ball for the players to throw or roll the ball to each other. The player in the middle has to try and catch the player in possession of the ball. or get to the ball before a player does if it is badly thrown.

Make a grid with cones. Teams have to try and throw the ball 10 times to their team mates without having the ball intercepted by the other team. VARIATION 10 feeds along the ground to team mate. 10 one bounce catches to team mates.

Player 1 rolls the ball out for player 2 to run onto and catch. Player 2 flicks the ball back to 1 who catches it and puts it down. Player 3 then rolls the ball out towards player 1, who runs towards 3, flicks the ball at 4 who catches it and puts the ball down. Drill continues in this way...

Player 1 runs out to a stationary ball and throws it in to player 2. Player 2 then rolls the ball back out to 1. Player 1 then replaces the ball and runs back to the group, when he tags player 2 , 2 then goes and so on.

8-10 players per group (set up two drills if coaching a large group) Set up: Player/coach stands between the two stumps, that are 20 meters apart (length of a wicket). One cone is placed 25m in front of the two stumps, in line with the coach and two cones are placed 2m ahead of these, acting as a 'gate' for the players to walk through when it is their go. Two further cones are placed 10m behind the two target stumps, where players will be backing up. The coach will name one end the bowler's end and the other stump the keepers end. Let's play: First player walks through the two cones as the coach rolls the ball out. As the coach rolls the ball, they must shout either "bowler's" or "keeper's". The player must then process this instruction, make the decision, and throw the ball accordingly. The player on the cone backs the ball up and returns it to the coach. The player who has just thrown then replaces the player who backed the ball up, and the player who was backing up moves around the outside of the drill and joins the back of the queue of players. Drill is continuous.

**AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON** Wicketkeeper starts with the ball and rolls out the the fielder in the square leg position. Square leg fielder picks up the ball and aims a throw at the ramp. Fielder at point gets in line with the throw and catches/collects the ball from the throw and then releases a throw at the non-strikers end single stump. Mid-on fielder backs up this throw and gives an underarm throw to the extra cover fielder who has moved im behind the non-strikers end stump. Extra cover completes the drill by throwing the ball back into the wicketkeeper.

1) rolls ball out towards 4), 4) runs in picks up the ball and flicks to stumps with 3) backing up. 4) takes up 3)s position, 3) then rolls out towards 2) who runs in and flicks ball towards stump with 1) backing up and runs to take up 3)s position. Soon as ball is feed out by 1) or 3) they run up the side and join the back of the queue.

With between 5-8 players on each team. Each batsmen must drive on one out of 3 deliveries and run on the driven one, then complete two runs. The fielders must stay behind the boundary until the ball is hit. If a boundary is hit the batsmen gets an additional 3 balls. If the ball is hit out of the grounds then 6 runs are awarded. 1) Bat until all out or 2) Bat until teams wickets are used up i.e. 4 wickets per team.

Two lines of players facing each other. Player 1 rolls out ball for player to run and do an underarm flick back to player 1 who catches ball and puts down. Player 2 joins back of queue. Player 3 repeats the exercise from the other side. Aim: 10 catches after receiving the flick throw, if ball gets dropped go back to 0.

Player 1 rolls the ball out for player 3 to intercept before throwing to the Wicketkeeper. The coach then throws a catch to player 2. Player 3 takes up the position of player 1 and then goes to the back of the queue. Repeat from the other side.

6-12 people needed. Player (6) starts by rolling the ball out to (5) who runs in and throws ball to the (WK). Coach now throws (5) a flat catch as he runs towards the stumps where (6) was feeding from. (6) now joins back of queue.

12 players per group. One stump placed in the middle of a rectangular shape marked out by cones (20m by 30m). Each cone has same number of players at it. All stations are live every time coach rolls ball out. Coach may roll ball out anywhere they wish. The nearest player at the cone must call for the ball, pick it up, and throw at the stump. The players from the opposite group in the rectangle are responsible for backing the throw up and returning to the coach. If the coach rolls the ball down the middle of the two cones the player must decide who goes for the ball as early as possible, to allow the group backing up to adjust accordingly. Drill continues...