Cricket: Running between the wickets relay

Speed and fitness is vital in the modern game. Develop your players athletic ability to take every run, save every boundary and take the best catch they can when the chance comes.

Organisation
Organise a group as shown in the diagram. On the command " Yes " the batsman runs up and down the wicket. At the same time players in Team B throw and catch the ball to each other. As the batsman completes the 2nd run the next batsman sets off. Count the total number of catches made when the last better completes the final run. Teams change over and repeat, the winning team is the one with the most catches.

Progression
Running singles or threes.
One handed catches.
Rebound catching.

Equipment:
2 bats, 2 marked creases a pitch length apart. 1 ball (size and colour may be varied). Lines/cones for catching positions.

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 batsman calls 'yes' to start the drill and tries to run 2 lengths whilst the fielder (player 1) runs out to meet the stationary ball, picks it up and throw it back to the wicket keeper (thus trying to run out the batter).

The coach decides which team has won and both players return to the back of their respective lines.

Drill continues in this way.

5-6 fielders and batsmen will be needed for this circuit.

When the batting side is ready they must try and run to the other end before the fielding side have caught the ball behind the wickets.

When the batting player (1) shouts YES the fielder (1) rolls the ball out to the next fielder (2) and then runs behind the stumps to back up.

If the ball reaches the wickets before the batting players then those players have been run out.

Fielder (2) then throws ball to the fielder behind the stumps and Fielder (2) goes to Fielder (1)'s old position on the cone.

Fielder (1) throws the ball to fielder (2) before joining the back of the fielding queue and the drill starts again.