Cricket: Ian Bell - Coming Down The Wicket

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!

Can be done in pairs/ groups of three. One batter and one feeder minimum required. 6 tennis balls per pair/group.Feeder stands 4 meters away from batter, feeding ball as a drop feed, with arm out horizontally, and standing on the batters off side for safety. (adjust height of arm depending on height of feeder, and speed of batter to ball)Batter must use their feet and move down the wicket, meeting the ball on the second bounce, before hitting the ball through the cones.

PROGRESSIONMake target smallerAllow player to hit over the top (aerially) – still keeping shape of shot and not leaning back or hitting to hard/to the leg side.Alter distance batter has to advance to get to the ball.

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.

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.