| One of the best ways to learn cricket skills is through | | | | must keep out of the 5m circle. Batsmen retire after |
| game like simulations, so that players can see a | | | | they have scored 5 runs. |
| situation in practice that they're going to see in a | | | | Variations include increasing the number of runs, |
| match. Sure, there are lots of ways to hone individual | | | | increasing/decreasing the number of fielders or size |
| batting, bowling and fielding skills, but the next step | | | | of circle or running area. Again, the best dimensions |
| for a coach is to create practice drills that bring them | | | | are those that make it a close competition between |
| all together. | | | | ball and bat. |
| These drills can be great fun for players, and their | | | | Pairs cricket |
| range is only limited by the imagination of the coach. | | | | Pairs cricket is a great way to develop all cricket skills. |
| So, here's a short selection that always goes down | | | | The batsmen work in pairs, and have a set starting |
| well at my cricket club, though they're equally as | | | | score, perhaps 100. They bat for a set number of |
| good in the garden or on the beach. In the diagrams, | | | | overs - perhaps four, and every run scored adds to |
| the fielders are labelled as F, the batsman as B, | | | | the starting score. If they lose a wicket, 5 runs are |
| wicket keeper as Wk, and the coach as C. | | | | deducted and the batsmen change ends. After their |
| Team catching and run out game | | | | four overs, the batsmen retire and the next pair |
| This is good for developing the cricket skills of | | | | take over. |
| catching, throwing and running between the wickets. | | | | This can be developed into a full scale match |
| On cue, the wicket keeper throws the ball to the | | | | between two sides of 8 players, one batting and one |
| first fielder and the batsman sets off for two runs | | | | bowling. Each batting pair has 4 overs each, every |
| between positions B1 and B2. | | | | fielder must bowl at least one over and a maximum |
| The ball must be thrown and caught by all four | | | | of 4 in a 16 over match. Wides and no balls count as |
| fielders, and returned to the wicket keeper. The | | | | two runs for the batting side, but no additional balls |
| batsman must complete two runs to avoid being run | | | | are bowled. |
| out. The arrows show the path of the ball. | | | | The horse's tail game |
| Variations include using rolling and ground fielding | | | | This is a really fun way to develop close catching |
| instead of throwing and catching, making the game | | | | skills. One end of the arc of fielders is named as the |
| non-stop until the batsman is run out, and turning the | | | | horse's head, and the other the horse's tail. The |
| whole routine into a game between fielders and | | | | coach hits a variety of catches to random fielders, |
| batsmen. The length of the pitch takes some fine | | | | who return the ball to the wicket keeper. |
| tuning, so that its always a close race between the | | | | Each catch taken promotes the successful fielder one |
| ball and the batsman. | | | | place in the arc towards the horse's head, and each |
| Circle cricket | | | | brilliant catch promotes him/her two places. But, each |
| This develops the cricket skills of batting and fielding. | | | | dropped catch moves the guilty fielder down to the |
| Batsmen must use proper technique and strokes, and | | | | horse's tail. |
| learn the right tactics to score more runs - like hitting | | | | The object is to avoid being at the horse's tail when |
| the ball into gaps and only playing balls that are | | | | the coach decides the game is over - this might be a |
| necessary. They will face the ball when turning, and | | | | set number of hits, or a specific time. It's a recipe for |
| slide their bat over the line. | | | | competition, chaos and fun, as well as sharpening |
| The fielders must restrict the number of runs scored | | | | fielder's reflexes. |
| by anticipating where the ball will be hit, and attempt | | | | The rules of all these games can be varied to suit |
| run outs by returning the ball quickly to the in-fielders | | | | the situation. But, this is just a start, as there are |
| or by going for direct hits. They must also back up | | | | many more games that are great for developing |
| the throws. Fielders can surround the batsman, but | | | | cricket skills, as well as being fun in their own right. |