Cricket: Ian Bell - Taking Guard v Spin

**AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON**   Players split up into pairs with a cone in front of each player Players start square on to their partner The heel advances, steps over the cone and goes towards the target Receiving player will gather the ball and throw the ball back  

Ian Bell was famous for having the best cover drive in world cricket. Batters should always be looking to score runs. When a bowler delivers a half-volley, it should be scored off and the best way of doing this is by playing the cover-drive. Watch this drill to see how you can coach your players to drive like Bell!

A forward defense is played to a good length delivery. It's a defensive type of shot and therefore the amount of runs scored from it is irrelevant

Similar to the forward defense, this shot is played when the batter feels a good ball has been bowled and no runs can be scored from it. A good defense is needed for batters to bat for long periods and to score runs.

Batting against spin is hard and without an effective game plan spinners can tie down batters, reducing the run rate and taking wickets. This masterclass video shows you how Ian Bell sets up against spin to prevent this from happening.

Coming down the wicket is an attacking option which puts pressure on the (usually spin) bowler and can force them to change their length. It takes confidence to come down the wicket but from this drill you'll be able to teach your players how to do it effectively.

Batters need to capitalise when bowlers miss their length and bowl it wide. There are a number of different cut shots which can be hit in different areas. In this drill Ian Bell talks through how to get into the correct position with some key points you can use.

Defending against spin has changed a lot over the past few years. This is particularly notable at the top end of the game where DRS has been introduced. Umpires generally give out more LBWs when bat and pad are next to each other. 

The pull shot is a counter attacking shot to a fast delivery generally pitched half way down the wicket. Often played incorrectly but if executed well can score your players a lot of runs and force bowlers to pitch the ball up which will be easier to face.

It's common for batters to change their stance depending on whether they're facing a right handed or left handed bowler. Whilst there is not one method that suits everyone in cricket, in this video, Ian Bell talks through how he sets up.

If a batter can set up correctly then they will give themselves the best possible chance to face the delivery that comes down at them. But how should their guard change when facing the different types of spin?

Having the correct grip allows batters to feel comfortable whilst batting for long periods. It also enables more control, power and better execution.

This is a shot which has come into the game as a result of T20 cricket. It's one of the more fashionable shots to play, with every young player wanting to play it, however it remains one of the hardest to execute.   In this drill, Ian Bell will simplify the shot so your players can start to use it.

How does Ian Bell make batting look easy? Well in this drill he emphasises the importance of making sure his stance is repeatable, relaxed and straight forward.