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PERFORMANCE GUIDE

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In this All Out Performance Guide we bring you a selection of coaching articles from previous issues of All Out Cricket magazine to help you improve and enhance your coaching sessions this summer. Here’s what you can find inside…

BATTING • – How To Bat (And Coach ) • – Opening The Batting In 50- Cricket • – The Mental Side Of Batting • – Grooving Your Technique • – The Classical Off-Spinner BATTING • – Leggies! The Principles • – In One-Day Cricket • Oliver Hannon-Dalby – Moving The New Ball • Richard Johnson – Making The Most Of Training KEEPING & • – Standing Up To The Stumps • Chris Taylor – Fielding In The Ring • – Short-Legging

For more articles like this head to www.alloutcricket.com or for the very latest tips from the top subscribe to All Out Cricket’s monthly magazine at www.aocsubs.com. MORE! Drills, advice and SKILLS video demos at PERFORMANCE alloutcricket.com

siDe-on BAcKLiFt GUARD… AnD when to chAnGe it eYes LeVeL I think it’s very important that players maintain side-on AnGLe AnD heiGht shoulders. We see some players to seAmeRs who slightly withdraw their I used to take middle as a guard and Supposing you have an front foot to ‘open’ their stance. I did that because I wanted my bat orthodox , the bat face Doing that just slightly can help to be able to come down on the line may open slightly when you you to get the bat at the ball, of middle-and-off to have access to bring it up. That means that and, whereas you might get the ball. If the ball was keeping low by the time it comes down it your front foot too far across against pace or there was inswing HOw tO bAt will be full on, flush towards to the off-side (and therefore I might shuffle a bit more towards the ball. It goes back over bring the bat across to the leg leg- – that would show more [ANd COACH bAttINg] UpRiGht around off-stump. In terms side and risk getting out lbw) of my stumps but it allowed me to of height it might be just on this method can allow you to get my bat at the ball and hopefully top of the off-stump. You’re bring the bat down straight take out the lbw , which wItH MARK looking for these things to be Knees at the ball. Some coaches could otherwise be a threat when Bent consistent and repeat. If you advocate opening up the front the ball is keeping low. If the bring your bat up very high, RAMPRAKAsH foot to face cover rather than is bouncy, it might be you have to you may lose control – there’s point, for similar reasons. get further over to the off-side to more that can go wrong. If get in behind the ball. A scorer of 114 first-class hundreds, you don’t lift it up and keep I’m big on being side-on Mark Ramprakash is now batting coach it on the floor, you don’t have because I think it helps you for and . Here he as much time to hit the ball because when the ball is released hold your shape (a side-on shows AOC how to build a run-maker. you’ve got to lift it up and then bring it down again. to spinneRs shape) whether playing off Against left-arm the front foot or off the back spin I would back foot, allowing the bat to come hAnDs out onto leg-stump oFF-siDe LeG-siDe down the line of the ball. Each to open up the I’m quite keen that you keep your individual will have to find what off-side and play hands quite close to your body. We works for them, but in essence, with the spin. Then the GRip stAnce see some guys on the TV whose I’d be pretty much side-on from I knew that if the L

hands get out away from their e I see a lot of young players who UpRiGht my shoulders through my hips bowler followed me, G/L body. If they’ve practised and they have a poor grip – that puts As a simple start, I’d say: ‘Head up, eyes level.’ and down to my legs. he’s pitching outside e F

feel they can be consistent, go for t them in trouble before they’ve If you can maintain a still head while the ball’s leg-stump which -AR it – I’m all for individual difference. started. being delivered and when playing your shot, gives me a free hit m - But in terms of orthodox coaching, spinne it shows us you’ll be well-balanced. We like Feet to leg. what I would advocate for I recommend an orthodox grip, to see the upper body upright so that there’s would sometimes R youngsters is that having your R aligning the two ‘V’s of your less danger of the batsman ‘falling over’ to get his weight back on his heels For the off-spinner hands out away from your body hands down the shoulder of the off-side. to stop himself falling over, and it was the opposite. spinne could lead to problems. If they’re the bat. [impoRtAnt!] each individual will have his I would look to get FF- tucked in close, you can control the o own way of doing things. As an over to off-stump and bat face, playing the ball late, tight We see a lot of kids who have orthodox way of doing it, most again play with the Knee BenD to your body, under your eyeline. that bottom hand much further A little bit of knee bend is very important. of your weight will be on the ball spin to the leg-side. round and become very bottom- That will allow players to move – and move of your foot – not on the toes or handed. You can see signs of quickly and athletically. Against quick bowling the heels, but on the ball. this in their back-lift – if the bat you need to be able to transfer your weight how to tAcKLe spin face is closed when they bring it either forward or back quickly. Think of it as back, it might well be that their being similar to the way a boxer would move. I want to make it difficult for the bowler to bowl his bottom hand is too dominant. This is particularly stock , which is on a good length. So I don’t important in really want to be playing a forward defensive to a Whether they hold it at the England – because spinner. I want to be able to move him off that length. I dON’t wANt end or down the bottom of the sorts of To do that I’ve got to have quick feet at the ; I’ve “ I’m not too worried about, pitches we play got to be able to get down the wicket quickly to get as long as they can present on, with the ball close to the ball, or push right back towards my stumps tO bE PlAyINg the full face of the bat seaming and and watch the ball off the pitch. That takes practice. through the hitting zone, swinging around, A FORwARd bringing the bat back it’s important to A lot of players when they come down the wicket are straight and then delivering get forward, but of Against most bowlers my feet trying to hit it for six. That is a mistake – you don’t dEFENsIvE tO the bat face through the course against the would be shoulder-width apart have to do that. Yes, you come down with intent, and line of the ball. quicker bowlers you and I would advocate that for you have to have quick feet so by all means come A sPINNER have to be able to most batsmen and to most down with energy and intent. But if the ball’s not My grip was in the middle – with a little gap at push back as well. bowlers. Although of course, there to drive along the ground, you may defend it. each end, with both hands working together. there are exceptions. It’s still sending a message out to the spinner.

478 AOC | AOC PERFORMANCE | AUGUST 2014 GUIDE www.alloutcricket.comwww.alloutcricket.com | AOC | 79 5

p79-85_Performance_AOC118-jp.indd 78 24/06/2014 17:02 p79-85_Performance_AOC118-jp.indd 79 24/06/2014 17:02 MORE! Drills, advice and SKILLS video demos at PERFORMANCE alloutcricket.com In my 275 last year against Derby I was facing Mark Footitt and I drove him through straight mid-off for four as my off-the-mark shot. That’s memorable. It sets the tone in your own WHY AREN’T I AS QUICKLY AS HOW DO I BALANCE ATTACK AND DEFENCE? mind and the bowler’s – it says they’ve got to be on it or you’ll punish them. If you’re THE PROS? hitting the ball down the ground then In the first three or four overs I’m trying not to hit square of you’re in a pretty good place technically For 50-over cricket in the leagues, I think it’s a crossover the wicket with a straight bat. Although in one-day cricket and mentally; if I could get off the you’re expected to play 360 degrees, I think it’s key that you between our four-day cricket and our 50-over cricket. mark every with a The white balls we use generally don’t swing for very give yourself a chance to assess the wicket before you start four down the ground then I’d playing bigger shots. You might get a wicket that seams be pretty happy. long, whereas league cricketers on a Saturday might around and you’ve got to be more cautious. The key with get a red ball that swings for 20 overs, like in our four- OPENING THE day cricket. So I think a crossover between the two any innings is to give yourself the opportunity to assess the conditions. For me, unless I feel really good, it’ll be approaches is probably ideal. You’re probably looking to three or four overs. Then I’ve assessed the pitch and I’ll feel play more of a four-day innings at the start as an opening BATTING IN 50- batsman, and then when it gets slightly easier play in comfortable playing all around the wicket. Some people feel like they can whack it from ball one, but I always like to have more of a one-day style. Don’t necessarily go out and OVER CRICKET a look at what the wicket’s doing and then take it from there. expect to play like people do on TV in ODIs, unless the WITH ALEX LEES conditions allow you to. Yorkshire and England Lions left-hander PARTNERS! LEES & LYTH Alex Lees has been hotly tipped by I TRY TO MAKE SURE I’M LOOKING TO How do two openers develop a , and his success across SCORE. I FIND THAT PUTS ME IN THE settled ? all formats in 2014 has gone a long way to “ Getting on well off the field is a good starting point. showing why. Here, the 21-year-old opener BEST POSITIONS... MY DEFENCE IS THEN Then it’s just keeping each other going. When one of you gives some great advice on how to go A LOT TIGHTER AND MY JUDGEMENT ON is maybe under a little bit of pressure and there’s a few about your business at the top of the order. dot balls, it’s just going down the pitch, talking to your LEAVING IS A LOT SHARPER partner, just reassuring him that he doesn’t have to play PLANS ACTION: IN GETTING OFF THE MARK a big shot and that we do have time to catch up later on. That’s probably the basis of a partnership. Enjoy each other’s success when you’re out there and then just keep WHERE SHOULD I LOOK TO SCORE IN WHEN SHOULD I LOOK TO UP THE RATE? each other ticking along. THE FIRST FEW OVERS? In 50-over cricket, as a Ideally you’ve got to have a bit of a game-plan, batsman you have a lot, lot THE LEFT-HANDER: WHERE TO TAKE GUARD? looking at the areas where you are actually going to more time than you think. If I’m facing a right-arm over seamer, I’ll have my back score to start with. I find that trying to hit through Even if you feel under a foot on middle-and-off and my front foot on the inside of point and driving through cover is quite risky as an bit of pressure, all it takes middle, so that my head is nice and level and I’m facing opening bat, so my plan at the start of an innings is is a couple of boundaries back towards the bowler. to score straight and on the leg-side. and you’re flying again. So If he comes round the wicket or left-arm over, I’ll move If the ball is straight I generally look to hit straight trusting yourself and giving to have my back foot on off-stump and my front foot back down the ground. If they then drift onto your yourself a bit of time is onto middle-and-off, and I’d face towards the , then as a left-hander that’s quite a big scoring always a good thing. and stumps to make sure my head is nice and level. If you area. For me, playing a leg-side ball to leg is a lower- The situation can dictate just decide to bat on middle for both, your angles will risk option than trying to drive a ball that has width, how you’ll play. For change and it’ll be harder to line the ball up. Just a slight in the first few overs. example, in a game when adjustment can help get you in much better positions. you’re chasing a low total and there’s no scoreboard pressure, you can just WHAT’S THE RIGHT MENTALITY FOR play normally as if it’s a AN OPENER? Championship match. If you’re chasing over 300 I try to make sure I’m nice and positive and that I’m you might have to play looking to score – I find that puts me in the best a bit more aggressively in the powerplay. But even if you’re positions. I want a good mental state where I am chasing a huge score – 350 or more – you still have a lot more actually looking to score runs off the bowler, which time than you think, which is probably the current trend: give is obviously what batting is about! I find my defence yourself the chance. is then a lot tighter and my judgement on leaving If you’re ‘in’, you’ve spent a bit of time at the crease, you know the That also affects which balls you will choose to leave. is a lot sharper than if I’m thinking ‘Just look to bat pace of the wicket, back yourself to catch up with the run-rate. It’s a As an opening batsman you need to know where your time at the crease’. It doesn’t necessarily mean that lot easier for a player on 70 to hit boundaries than it is for someone off-stump is, so you need to be in a position to judge that you’re looking to play more shots, but you’re looking in single figures. If you’ve got players in you can put the opposition and I think it’s easier if you’re closer to off-stump than for that opportunity to score. That sharpens up the on the back foot. Even in 20-over cricket, you’ve got more time just batting on middle, where you might not be quite as defensive areas of my game. than you think. sure where your stumps are.

686 AOC | AOC PERFORMANCE | OCTOBER 2014 GUIDE www.alloutcricket.comwww.alloutcricket.com | AOC | 87 7

p85-91_Performance_AOC120.indd 86 03/09/2014 11:41 p85-91_Performance_AOC120.indd 87 03/09/2014 11:42 COACHING BATTING COACHING

THE PRO: NICK COMPTON AGE: 29 PART 1: HEIGHT: 6ft 2in ROLE: right-hand top GrooviNG order batsman THE WORD: technically your sound run-machine. THE PRO TIP started at middlesex before TEChNiquE moving on to somerset. ’s leading dUCKINg IN tHe dArK run-scorer in 2012 at an How do you push yourself when average of just under you’re training? 90. pushing hard for One of the things I do is to bat international recognition. against the bowling machine in Former England great dark conditions with the lights dimmed. I fi nd it’s a really good Graham Thorpe on AD pArt 2: tHe meNtAl sIde Of bAttINg way to prepare – you have to keep run-scoring does not seem to be a problem for Nick Compton this season. pushing the boundaries. THE PRO: GRAHAm THORPE the importance of Here he talks about his mental approach to batting. AGE: 43 showing adaptabilty Dangerous? ROLE: Left-hand batsman; What’s been the key to How do you deal with there are times I’ve been really anyone in terms of trying batting coach your success this season? diff erent things. I feel like I drops in form? scared, I’ve been hit a few times so in your batting. I’m more specifi c in my practice went through that and came I think form is an interesting there is a fear factor. I don’t know THE WORD: A counter-attacking about replicating what goes out the other side with a word; people look at runs and what the bowling machine is going strokemaker with a rock-solid on out in the middle and what belief that I had to stay true say someone is in form but to do because the guy operating it is defensive technique; a mainstay As a batsman you were known for I am trying to do, and that is to myself and my strengths, I don’t really look at it like quite clever. the balls are short and of England and Surrey’s being able to adapt your game to suit bat for six hours – so how can and those strengths have that. I’ve found periods this very uncomfortable at times. middle order throughout his the situation. But what were the biggest I replicate that in the nets? been batting for long periods year where it has been very playing career, averaging challenges you faced to get to the point Instead of just going in and of time and setting my stall diffi cult, there have been So the idea is that you where you were comfortable playing facing a few half volleys, I bat out to be a Test cricketer, a games where I’ve been on an become comfortable being 44 in with 16 different ways? for three hours and get someone bit like Trott and Cook in the uncomfortable track, the ball uncomfortable? tons. Now works with the Once I got to the highest level, the biggest to come in with a new ball and current Test side. is fl ying around and I’ve not Yeah, the fi rst time is horrible; the ECB as a specialist batting challenge was coping with pace. That bowl a six-ball over, make it At Somerset we have guys been feeling good. I had a great second time too and the third! but coach, developing the was undoubtedly the toughest. My whole as pressured and as hard as I like Trescothick who are so chat with who eventually it gets easier and you country’s most promising training changed once I got to the highest can and tell the bowler: “Right, prolifi c. I can’t match him said one of his greatest innings get better at dealing with it. Outside youngsters, including the level. I don’t know if there was enough get me out.” I feel that it’s the stroke for stroke but I know was at Headingley in 2003 I’ll get balls that will seem to be too awareness of coaching at times. Certainly England Lions squad. anxiety that is the diff erence that if I can stay with him, and he said he got 14 runs in a quick, but how comfortable can I there are a lot more coaches and better between getting out and I’m doing a great job. In one whole session with Harmison become with that? coach education out there now. Pace was staying in, so if you are really game, I was wearing down and Flintoff bowling and he the main thing that I had to get to grips calm and composed and you are the new ball, he was scoring said he felt he couldn’t even It sounds horrendous! with, especially short-pitched bowling. I doing things in your own time, lots of runs, I was scoring a buy a run. But instead of Yeah, but if when I’m batting I’ve changed a lot of my batting programme, then that can be the diff erence. few runs. Suddenly I looked saying: “I’m good at the pull got this anxiety going around in pretty much flipping it on its head. Almost Watching and up at the scoreboard and I’d shot and the cover drive,” he my head then I’m not going to give 80 per cent of my work was on playing on recently, there been batting for two hours, I just thought “I have got to stay myself the best chance. It’s about the back foot. Once you are more confident are no frills, they walk out and already had 45-50 runs and in here” and he got through working hard between balls to against it, not being worried about getting immediately look in control. suddenly my confi dence and two sessions and then in the get emotionally back in that place hit and being able to attack the short ball, those foundations developed. third session, he got 70 runs where all I’m focusing on is what you end up playing better off the front foot What’s changed? You should spend as much and got through to what he I can control, which is the next as well, because you’re more confident. If I think the awareness of time in the middle as you can, regarded as his best hundred. ball coming down and how that you’re not confident, your heart rate will what sort of player I am you’ll develop more shots. Get If the mind is right, you can threatens my stumps and my tick much faster and you’ll find yourself has changed. I have been in, stay in, and see how long still make a hundred batting outside edge. drawn into playing poor shots – your through the mill as much as you can do it for. terribly. decision-making falls down. w

8 AOC PERFORMANCE GUIDE www.alloutcricket.com | AOC | 87 www. alloutcricket.comwww.alloutcricket.com | AOC | 81 9

p82-89_Coaching_AOC95.inddAOC95-full.indd 87 87 31/07/201218/05/2017 14:0716:09 IAIN BRUNNSCHWEILER ENglANd dEvElopmENt progrAmmE uNdEr 17 coAch; Ecb lEvEl 4 coAch, Author of thE InspIred CrICket COACHING BATTING Manual ANd aOC’s coNsultANt coAch

And it wasn’t just pace – How do you coach young to work on pulling it hard and there were some pretty good players to deal with the hitting it in front of square, THE PRO TIP slow bowlers around at the short ball? through mid wicket. You are time too… With youth cricket in this able then to make decisions. I For sure, playing spin was the country the ball won’t bounce like batsmen to be armed with Not succumbiNg to spiN other big thing– in terms of as high. It will predominantly tools in their back pocket. If reaching that total confidence be front foot shots, so the they don’t want to attack the What steps do you take to help young in what you are doing in Asia, volume of practice against short ball, but are very good players deal with ? being confident enough to the short ball will be a lot less at getting out of the way of it, i always go back to the start with it. And know that you can survive when you’re growing up. Then, then that is fine. The more you start with footwork. that means and not worry about a turning from a coach’s perspective, options you have available to getting players to come out of their crease pitch. And I haven’t even it’s about raising awareness you, the better when you go out confidently, and also pushing them back so mentioned ! of what’s going on at the to face the quicker bowlers. they use the depth of their crease. once a I had to be able to deal with highest level. Players need to Developing hand speed is also player understands that, his decision-making both conventional and reverse know how to cut and pull. It important. When you take improves. At a young age i think footwork is swing. Generally against all is very important to be able on a quick bowler you have to the most important thing. As they progress, swing bowling you have to play to hit the ball square of the realise that within a click of a they have to bring in the ability for the feeder it late. wicket off a shorter, faster finger that the ball is on to you to be able to spin the ball. i like a lot of footwork bowler. That means knowing and you have a split-second to drills to start with, to make them confident, You’re now working with where to execute your cut make a decision. I like players and that can be done without a bat. i like guys at the highest level, and run down and hit the the ECB. What are the shots, whether that is up and to sometimes experiment to be able to have what i call ‘power positions’ spinner over the top – just the same as if you main areas of batting you over gully or down in front with what I call ‘anticipatory against spinners. ultimately though you’ve want to hit a fast bowler off your nose – then work on with the England of square at point. That will techniques’ where you look got to read spin well, and picking the length is coaches have to allow mistakes to be made Performance Programme? always depend on the pace of at the bowler and think ‘if the the key thing when playing it. in practice. that is all part of the coaching We try to look at the gaps the bowler. It is the same with ball goes into a certain area, process. there will be a time for being firmer, which we have to fill. If we look the pull shot. It is always good I will look to play certain i like batsmen to be but there is definitely a time when a player at the domestic game and the shots’. For me, this is all done encouraged to hit the ball needs to experiment and feel what the shot jump to the next level, we look in practice so that a player can feels like when a risk is taken. pretty closely at what makes start to break down their own over the top the difference between that strengths; how quickly they How can you introduce that ‘risk’ element big leap. and you can focus on pick up the of How“ can you teach ‘picking length’? to practice? a few things: The pace and the Players need to know the ball. A lot of it is volume. it comes down to volume again. mixing up We will use half-bats against the turning intensity of pace bowling is how to cut and pull and length against a young player will get them ball to improve their decision-making and quicker, it puts you under more “ Thorpe was a fearless For young players, is it about to recognise the length that they will be able sometimes take out the cavalier attitude pressure and decision-making be able to hit the ball hooker and puller against facing top level deliveries to come down to, which length they should to batting, to make them concentrate on is tougher. But also, you’ve got square of the wicket off the quicks even if they’re not facing go back to, and which length they should footwork, footwork and footwork. With a to have certain shots in your a shorter, faster bowler them in matches? defend. i like batsmen to be encouraged to hit much thinner bat, you have to do that or you locker and be able to handle You have major deliveries the ball over the top. it is important are going to miss the ball a lot, so we use the certain deliveries at the top coming down at you at the top from a coaching perspective that thin bats against the turning ball. that can be level. So pace will be one thing level: the 90mph throat ball, you encourage that. if you used indoors, with mats flipped over to help that we work very hard on, DRILL IT! the , , want to be able to play the ball turn. specifically the shorter ball turning in and turning and being confident against away. If you break it down it. It won’t always be the short boxing clever Strauss and Bresnan go at it on an there are five deliveries ball that will get you out, it England training camp which you have to be able to PLANS IN ACTION will be the fuller ball after gaining confidence against first, then move on to having handle at the highest level. the roughing up process has the short ball from a young objects thrown at the head. If you are working towards messed up the footwork. The age is very important. So to This can start with under-arms that, from a coaching or england v , other area is playing spin. If build confidence you might or lobs with a tennis ball, and playing perspective, you are second test, Headingley, 1994 you’re going to try and be in introduce boxing games. then develop as you start to on a pretty good pathway. that top bracket, as a team or if you were boxing against build up confidence.e very Technique is so key. The Thorpe comes out fighting as a batsman, you have to be someone your feet would be time a ball comes down to stronger the technique is, the able to play well in Asia, which enough apart to be able to a batsman he has to make a more confident you are and After a debutt est hundred the previous means being good against move out of the way and you decision. You then have to the more chance you have of summer, thorpe returned from a period on spin bowling. If you’re going would watch your opponent’s increase the intensity of this scoring runs. But confidence the sidelines armed with a more dynamic and to perform well all over the every move, while practice. At some stage of the and belief is also crucially expansive game. After watching lara make world, you have to also be good punches would replicate the development you are going to important. As is hard work. 375 that winter, thorpe introduced a higher against pace bowling in South back-and-forth movements be working with cricket balls Taking yourself out of your backlift and greater fluidity into his game; and Africa and . These of trying to play a few shots. and you need courage and comfort zone is key. The against south Africa’s pace attack that summer, are the two areas which we look at the body movement skill to back it up. earlier you do the tough stuff, he showcased his modernised technique with really try and get the guys up to the more likely you are to make a pair of scintillating seventies, full of cuts, scratch on. it further along the line. pulls, hooks and aggression. he had arrived.

1082 AOC | AOC PERFORMANCE | november 2012 GUIDE www.alloutcricket.comwww.alloutcricket.com | AOC | 83 11 COACHING No.2 THE CLASSICAL OFF SPINNER BOWLING GRAEME SWANN In the second instalment of our series which taps into the minds of the country’s most skilled technicians, it’s a man with more than 400 for his country, England and ’s irrepressible twirler Graeme Swann. Here, he compartmentalises his cra into bite-size chunks and talks us step-by-step through the routine that has made him the world’s leading traditional nger spinner.

PACE YOURSELF When I was growing up my spin coach at , Nick Cook, always said that you should bowl as quick as you possibly can on a wicket while still getting turn out of it. That makes sense to me, but of course it changes depending on which batsman you’re up against. If you’ve got a rank tail-ender who you know is going to try and hit you for six, you bowl as slow as possible. You don’t mind him hitting you for one six but if you keep throwing it up there he’s going to hit one up in the air. But if a good player is looking to use his feet, you’ve got to have more pace on the ball and more dip so he’s not getting to the pitch of it. 

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My pace is pretty constant. It’s normally about 52 or 53mph, at times GET A GRIP a little bit more. I only go on what the scoreboard says; I’ve never videoed myself, recorded the pace and thought, ‘Right that’s the pace I want to bowl’, but that’s what works for me. Sometimes Matty Prior behind the stumps will just say to try and slow it down a bit or fire them down a bit quicker. That’s just a feel that you get for individual batsmen. 1. THE OFF BREAK This is my standard grip. I spin it o two knuckles: the fi rst knuckle on my forefi nger and the second knuckle on my second fi nger. Some spinners go o the fi rst knuckle on the second fi nger There are a lot of but you tend to fi nd the guys who spin it more go o the second knuckle “ because from there you can fl ick the coaches who say ball and at the point of release it rolls you should work in o the top of your fi nger. Turning dead straight lines. wicket Nonsense! If you want Non-turning to be a decent spinner wicket don’t listen to that

THE ROUTINE 2. THE You can hold the ball like this and 1. MARKING YOUR RUNUP the batsman will think it’s an arm HOW TO SNARE A SOUTHPAW Your run-up should be the optimum ball and you can either bowl it with distance and number of steps that give the seam up or you can spin it. If it’s Of Swann’s 248 Test wickets, 48 per cent have been le -handers. So what you the momentum you need. I walk spinning it may hit the seam, it may makes le ies such attractive prey? back nine spaces and then take three not. For the under-spinner you hold steps to the side. It’s a rough science it almost exactly the same but rather I love bowling to le -handers because there’s just more ways of getting them though. Sometimes you’re running up than fl icking over the top you fl ick out, with lbw coming into play a lot more. To get a right-hander out lbw on hill, sometimes down, so it’s on feel underneath so the ball basically goes a turning wicket he’s got to either misjudge the ball horribly and not play a on the day. Some spinners have a lot down the wicket like a fl ying saucer shot, or you’ve got to bowl a straighter delivery. Whereas for le -handers, shorter run-up and tend to walk to the and skids on. That’s what I use as my because I come quite wide on the crease and can get the ball to dri , crease but I need that momentum. arm ball. hopefully that means their head and their feet get planted early where they think the line of the ball is going and then it carries on dri ing in. 2. PREPARATION I’ve got this weird thing that I do I’m always looking to bowl a ball that’s hitting about middle and o stump so with my hands that my teammates where I pitch it depends on how much it’s turning. Early in a game that might take the mickey out of me for. I don’t mean pitching on o stump or even outside the stumps because with the know why I do it. It’s just a habit. angle I’m coming in from it can still pitch outside, turn and hit the stumps. Then I spin the ball in my hands a couple of times, just to get a feel lines. Nonsense! The worst thing that a 4. THE RELEASE In the second innings of a game or on a lot of overseas pitches like in of the ball. Sometimes balls are a spin bowler can do is work in dead straight For me, it’s all about getting side on. I can aim to pitch on middle, middle and leg, even leg stump bit tacky, sometimes they’re dry, lines – it’s dreadful. If you want to be a You’ve got to get your left shoulder round 3. THE TOP SPINNER sometimes, knowing that if I get enough revolutions on the ball it’s going to sometimes they’re wet; it just gets decent spinner don’t listen to that. If you the front so you’re looking back over your Move the ball down your fi ngers from turn. The batsman has to use his bat because if it straightens and hits his you used to how it’s going to feel at run up in straight lines you won’t spin it shoulder and automatically that’s going to the standard grip, so rather than being pad it’s lbw and then you hope that it turns and either beats the outside edge the crease. very much or you’ll need a very dry wicket bring your foot across and your whole body against the second knuckle of the and bowls him, or takes the outside edge and gets him caught. So you’ve got to spin it. That’s why I take the three steps has to pivot over at the point of release. second fi nger the seam is against the three major ways of getting a guy out there: lbw, and caught behind. 3. THE RUNUP to the side when marking my run; you need That will give you the torsion you need to fi rst knuckle. Then you bowl over the There’s just more ways of being dangerous to a le -hander. There are a lot of coaches who say that angled run to create the torsion in get spin, drift and then it’ll turn. Then I top of the fi ngers so that the ball spins you should work in dead straight your action that you need to spin the ball. just land it exactly where I want it! directly towards the batsman.

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TACTICS CHANGE-UPS! At first you want to bowl dot balls, land the BE BRAVE ball in a good area and bowl maidens. As you As a leg-spinner it’s hard and you go into your spell you change your pace, you My first change-up is the googly which have to accept that people will want change how much you want to spin it. You I bowl with a scrambled seam to make to come at you and you’re going to want to find the pace of the pitch. it harder to pick. It’s exactly the same bowl bad balls. The biggest thing action, but instead of bringing your is to be brave, have a big heart and Ideally, if you’re spinning it you want to arm round, it just flips out of the back accept that you’re going to have pitch it on middle-stump so you can take of the hand with the thumb finishing good days. And when you do have the edge, although if it’s spinning more then it off. good days, try and make them very you can re-adjust. If it’s not spinning much good days, as they might not come LEGGIES! then pitch it on off-stump so you can still round that often. THE PRINCIPLES take the edge. Durham and England leg-spinner Scott Borthwick has worked with many of the world’s best spin bowling coaches in the last few years and is beginning to blossom as a cricketer – he made his Test debut down under over the winter. Here he shares some tricks of the trade. IDEALLY YOU WANT YOUR “BACK FOOT ON THE LINE OF THE GRIP STUMPS, AND WHEN Try and spin the ball with the third finger. The third finger is the most important. It’s tucked in behind the ball but it YOU LAND YOUR BASE comes over the ball when you bowl. Some leg-spinners have the thumb off the ball; I rest mine on it. SHOULD NOT BE TOO RUN-UP CLOSED Bowling a googly, it’s natural to fall away but you want to try and make Every leg-spinner has a different run-up. had THE BALL your action look as similar to your You want it to be hard as the harder ball the walk in and the bound which I try to do. My run-up is sort leg-spinner as you can. Your front arm might spin a bit more. In the subcontinent of eight steps, and after I’ve had my walk in I try to get my needs to be as strong as possible to the ball tends to get soft quite quickly which energy from the crease. FOLLOW THROUGH FIRST BALL Ideally you want to get your right I just want to land it on a good stop you from falling away. You can’t actually doesn’t help us spinners. try to spin it too much, which is the I take four or five steps then jump off my left leg just before leg coming through and be set on length and spin it and make the natural tendency, because then your the crease. Ideally you want your back foot on the line of the crease facing the batsman so batsman think. For the field, I shoulder goes back too much and it’s the stumps, and your base when you land should not be too you are ready for the ball coming wouldn’t go too attacking. As PACE AND LINE easier to pick. closed, so that you’re facing towards the leg-side, but not back to you and maybe a return a young leggie you can go too You want to try and make your pace as too open, because you need to use your shoulder to spin catch. You don’t want that leg too attacking if one spins and throw in different as possible so the batsman can’t You want to get that line right outside the ball. wide otherwise it means you’re not a , a gully and a short leg. settle. The slower one is also likely to completing your action. You have a slip and an off-side off-stump and above his eye line so spin more, which is useful. With your line, FRONT ARM ring with a point, and to start with, you can get the batsman driving and sometimes as a leg-spinner you want to bowl him through the gate. chuck one wide so the only option is to clip The front arm is important, a deep cover, in case somebody it for one, but if they do try and slog it, it’s you need that in front of you drives you. That way they only get spinning away so it’s hard to control. – rather than to the side, and one for it rather than a boundary. TOP SPINNER to get it coming through so You then have an extra cover, mid- Again, a similar grip to the leg spinner that you can follow it, and off, mid-on, mid-wicket and man but instead of coming around you go finish your action off. back for the sweep shot. Leggies do occasionally bowl bad over the top. The seam is pretty much balls so you want that protection straight, and if the ball’s got some on the leg-side. You need either a shine on it then it might curve in. short leg for the ball which pops The length is key – you want him up or a drive man on the off-side, coming forward so if it does bounce which I tend to have. With a drive you might get a catch – or if the ball man it tends to make you bowl at a skids on, an lbw. length which is a wicket-taking ball, ie bringing the batsman forward.

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THE DEATH DRILL IT! FAST BOWLING IN • You need to adapt your bowling in the final overs, but how you do that still depends on the state of the game. If the tail’s in you might look ONE-DAY CRICKET to go heavy, bowl the odd to keep them England’s man for all occasions Tim Bresnan honest. On the other hand, if you’ve got a batter in who’s striking it well, you’re looking to go shows us how to bowl and set the field more obvious ‘death’ bowling, with straight during each stage of a one-day game. fields (straight fielders on the boundary), bowling it full, in the blockhole, and if there’s a boundary one side or the wind’s blowing a gale, you’ll be protecting one side more than THE OPENING SPELL as well, so you can get through your the other. The death is where you’re looking to overs quickly. Before he knows it the out-think each other a bit. • The first delivery of the innings is batter looks up and there’s another six • Deciding which balls to bowl when in your always tough, but you have to back or seven overs gone and he’s got to try over is mostly down to gut feeling. You’d yourself. It’s a new ball, and it might and do something. usually save your bouncer for the middle not swing for long, so you need to use • You’ve got one man on the boundary because that’s usually a dot ball. You it as well as you can. on each side, third man, fine leg probably wouldn’t bowl it up top because • In general I’m aiming as straight as and maybe mid on or mid off back, then the batsman can set himself because he possible, giving the batsman no width, depending on the situation. If the first knows you’ve had your one for the over and bowling as heavy as possible into the four balls are singles or dots you might everything else has got to be pitched up. You’ve wicket. If it’s really swinging then you throw mid off back for the last couple got your two different slower balls and then a can be a touch fuller, bowl a bit more just to get out of the over. You can heavy ball over the top of off stump. It’s a case of an attacking length, but the basic is bowl fairly full and hopefully he’ll just of working out the batsman and making it as nAIlIng THE just to bowl as heavy as you can over knock it to long off for one, and then hard for them as possible.. off stump. you’ve just gone for four, say – you’ve “David Saker [England bowling coach] set up this drill when we were in Sri lanka • Setting the field in those first overs you bowled five overs for 15 or 20 – and the for the World – all the bowlers had a bit of a Ryder Cup going on. He puts have to go for two catchers, so you’d squeeze is really on then. two bricks on the popping crease and lays a bar on top of them along the crease probably have two slips, then a third • When there’s a wicket and the new line. Every ball you get under the bar it’s a par, under and hitting the stumps is a man, a square fine leg. Then just a ring: guy comes in you can attack more birdie, and over the bar is a bogie. The bar is probably a ball and half’s width above point, cover, mid off on the off side, at that end, bring a few more men in If the tail’s in you might the ground, and it’s quite hard to get it underneath, but it helps you nail that skill.” square leg/mid wicket and mid on on and not give any easy runs. If they’re the . not getting anything to score off then bowl“ the odd bouncer to • You don’t necessarily need to be they’re more likely to make a rash keep them honest tim Bresnan uses the V100 ultimate bat, part of the new 2013 slazenger cricket Slazenger’s Tim Bresnan celebrating range which is available to buy at store.slazenger.com varying things too much in these decision and get out. the succes of the squeeze opening overs if you’re getting plenty out of the conditions by bowling normally. In places like India we POSSIBLE FIELD SETTINGS THE PRO TIP often want to be bowling slower balls from the off, but in England, OPENING OvERS MIDDLE OvERS THE DEATH particularly the early starts, you SloWER BAllS: THE off CuTTER AnD THE lEg CuTTER can use the conditions to your advantage, bowl fuller and more The one out of the back of the hand is in its if it’s a left hander I’ll bowl the off cutter orthodox for longer, and look to get infancy for me! I do practise it but it’s not so that it’s-going away from him, too. “ something out of the wicket. ready for a competitive match yet. I’ve got a leg cutter and an off cutter. Aim: “You’re trying to spin it out of the hand enough not only to slow it down but THE MIDDLE OvERS How: “I use the same regulation grip for actually to make it move off the pitch. both, and roll my fingers down one side You might just get a bit of bounce too, if • By this stage your slips have gone out or the other.” you get a bit of purchase off the seam. It’s – you might have one, depending on still a decent delivery even if it doesn’t the situation. You’re trying to squeeze When to bowl which: “The leg cutter move that much, you’re bowling it length the batsmen to try and make them is naturally slower than the off cutter; in general, so the batsman has to slow make a mistake or go for a big shot. but you get a bit more purchase on the off down his swing if he’s trying to hit you Just try to keep the runs down; go cutter. Either way, I like the ball spinning out of the ground. And aim just outside for less than four an over and you’re away from the bat, so for a right-hander, off stump – there’s more chance of him winning. You’re building pressure, unless there’s a big boundary one side, I’ll hitting it up in the air if you make him the fielders are hunting on the single, predominantly go for the leg cutter, and reach for it.” you’re squeezing. It’s a time when you’re usually bowling with a spinner

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MOVING THE NEW BALL THE PRO TIP MAKING IT TALK: It’s all in the wrist OLIVER HANNONDALBY’S “It’s a common misconception that you have to angle the seam a lot across your fi ngers in your hand (towards the slips for an FIVEPOINT GUIDE TO MAXIMISING outswinger, towards fi ne leg for an inswinger). If you do that too THE NEW CHERRY much the seam will come out scrambled, and the ball won’t swing. The important thing is the strength and angle of your wrist. Rather than point the ball towards the slips in your hand – 1 hold the seam upright (using the grips outlined below) and then angle your wrist accordingly. That’ll mean the seam’s THE TALLER THE BETTER not scrambled, but the ball is still set up to swing.”

Aim to stay nice and tall in your action and keep your bowling arm straight. You want your bowling arm to come over in line with your DRILL IT! front leg as this will ensure you are in an ideal IN FOCUS: position to release the ball, and for it to swing. SHINY SIDE Move it sideways with this practice exercise OUTSWING GRIP ROUGH SIDE Hold the seam upright, with your index and middle fi ngers on either sides of the ball. Tuck your thumb 3 under the ball so it holds the seam WRISTY BUSINESS in an upright position. Hold the shiny side of the ball on the inside (on the right-hand side as you look at it) and Wrist position is key when trying to aim your wrist towards fi rst slip (this swing the ball. Make sure you keep should be made easier by having tucked your thumb under the your wrist in a good, upright seam). Try to hold this position throughout your run-up and position throughout your action. action, then aim for around middle and o stump to enable the The seam needs to stay in an upright 5 ball to swing away from the batsman. position if the ball is to swing. MOVE IT OFF THE PITCH

SHINY SIDE Even on days when there’s no ROUGH SIDE movement in the air, it’s important to get your release spot on. If you present the ball 4 angling towards the slips, as INSWING GRIP for an away swinger (see For the outswinger the thumb is GET YOUR RUN UP RIGHT opposite page) the ball will tucked underneath. The only come out in a way that gives it di erence for the inswinger is to move the best chance of hitting the your thumb slightly onto the shiny side of Keep your run-up simple and attack seam when it lands – seaming the ball (for the inswinger the shiny side will the crease. Tuck your elbows in to 2 away off the pitch even when be on the outside) – that naturally relaxes your wrist, allowing your body and focus on running there’s no swing. you to point it slightly more down the legside of the batsman. TARGET PRACTICE towards a target. As an example, KEEP IT STEADY Again, if you keep that wrist position throughout your run-up, as Place four cones in a small rectangle on a good length watch running in to bowl, you bring your arm over the top, the ball will be presented with (as a general rule, around three large paces from the he is really rhythmical and the seam angling to the legside, and swing in. You’ll need to bowl batsman – this obviously varies according to your age generates a lot of pace from his Don’t try to bowl too fast as this tends to make a slightly di erent line – set it o about a foot outside o stump group) and aim to hit this area repeatedly. This will run-up. The run-up is a key part of you lose the ability to swing the ball. You will to enable you to shape it in and hit o stump. make you focus on pitching the ball up, giving it the your action, so keep it simple, run also lose your body shape if you are only best chance to swing. You could also place four cones properly, and use it to your focused on trying to bowl quickly, which is a REMEMBER: The ball will always swing towards its rough side! on a short length and aim to bowl five full-pitched advantage. key component in being able to move the ball. balls and then mix it up with a bouncer. Keep score of how many times you manage to hit the designated areas in each over and challenge yourself to improve this number each time.

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TARGET PRACTICE bowlers, who all put money into a pot, This is one of my favourite drills to do with winner takes all. Do this over three rounds, our bowlers. Here, we’re looking for them with each bowler getting six goes in each. to practise hitting those di erent lengths For the fi nal round, make things more that you’ll have to hit on a Saturday. You di† cult by calling the target as the bowler can have has many as two to six bowlers in enters his jump/gather, so they have to a net doing this. There’s still no batsman. react and adjust instantly to the call. This Set up target discs, or even sheets of also replicates when a batsman moves in or paper, on a good length, wide yorker and around his crease as the bowler’s running yorker length, and a bouncer length. For in, trying to disrupt his length and or line. the yorker, you can use the base from a This enables them to practice making snap set of stumps. It makes it decisions on where they are going to put a larger area, but any ball in that area is the ball and still do it with quality. always going to cause trouble. Also, it’s important not to make these drills too hard because you want your bowlers YORKER/ leaving these sessions with confi dence. WIDE YORKER Standing as the umpire, call out a target for the bowler to hit (good length, yorker, wide yorker or bouncer) when the bowler is MAKE THE GOOD LENGTH at the top of his mark. He or she will then run MOST OF in and attempt to hit the designated target. After a bit of time, introduce a bit of BOUNCER HOW I TRAIN TRAINING competition into the session by keeping score, which will in turn create a bit of Middlesex pressure. Get each bowler to remember Bowling their score – or note them down if you seamer Toby In the  rst of a monthly don’t trust them! I did this drill the other day with a few of our young second team Roland-Jones series that sees professional LEARN YOUR GAME coaches recommend These days you have a responsibility the optimal approaches WARM UP  THE MEDICINE BALL WALKTHROUGHS BATSMAN COMPETITION di† cult one because sometimes you have to for how you’re feeling and some days The biggest mistake made at club level You can warm your arms, shoulders Now we introduce a batsman and set up have a few bowlers in your net. But provided you might not want to do too much to practice, Middlesex is bowlers going immediately into a net and legs up, but ultimately, there are match scenarios which he and the bowler you can all keep score, there’s no reason why because you’re in great rhythm and bowling coach Richard without warming up. But even when you muscles you use when bowling that have to play out to see who comes out on top. this won’t work. just turning your arm over is good do a warm up, it’s important to do it as you only use when bowling. It’s very A net can often be crowded, especially at Turn this into a consequence session if enough to keep that good feeling going. Johnson talks us through a quickly as you can. hard to loosen these particular areas club level when you only have two or three you like; if the batsman gets the runs or the On other days you might get quite genuinely e ective bowling More and more bowlers incorporate the individually – bowling is the best way lanes. The best way to ease congestion is for bowler restricts the batsmen, they have to technical, if you feel it’s not quite medicine ball into their pre-net and pre- to do that! Start by bowling off one two bowlers to work in tandem for one over, do a forfeit. It’s usually a physical challenge. clicking and you want to work at a workout when preparing match routines. Slamming the ball down pace, then five, gradually working then two others swap in, giving the fi rst two Generally, the more tiring the better! specifi c side of the game. If you’re being for one-day cricket. on either side activates your core and side yourself into your full run-up, without a rest period. Within the pair, each bowler By this time, you’ve bowled about 10 inconsistent, then just try di erent muscles in anticipation of the pressure going all out. bowls six balls each – when the fi rst bowler overs. This is perfect for match preparation, things out to see what works. Feel what and force you’re going to exert on them. At Middlesex, we do this on the has bowled, he will walk back to his mark, by especially when you take into account how is producing the right results and then Club training sessions generally last for outfield into a baseball mitt, but it can which time his partner would have already focused each of those overs were. repeat, repeat and repeat that again, around two hours. As a coach, you will SIDE SLAMS also be done in a net. It’s important gone through. Therefore each bowler’s six and try to make that a natural feeling. get nothing from making your bowlers Holding the medicine ball above your that if you do use this drill in a net that balls are being bowled in the same amount WARM DOWN bowl all the way through them. If you tell head, with your legs shoulder width apart, there’s not a batsman at the other end. of time as a normal match over. As well as your normal cool down, elastic ADAPT a bowler they’re supposed to bowl for even slam it down to your left so that it hits the As soon as you put competition down Start o with the fi rst fi ve overs of a game Therabands are a great way to stretch Adapting to the right length for a certain an hour, they’ll just try to get through ground about a foot away from your left the other end, a bowler will start to and bowl in your pair with a new or newish out the muscles, especially your pitch is important, as is target practice, it and bowl within themself instead of foot. Pick up the ball and repeat to your over-exert themself. ball – if the batsman allows it! Inform the back and shoulder particularly for one-day cricket. Having focusing on honing their skills. right. This is one “side slam”. Do the whole Start with just one pace before going batsman of the fi eld set, and he will try and muscles. Another the coach shout out what length to hit Bowlers get most out of short, sharp thing five times. into your . Do this two get the target you set. key part of at the last minute and having to adapt sessions. You want your bowlers to give or three times and then extend to half Afterwards, move to a death situation, recovery is is very useful and will help you deliver you 100 per cent all the time, rather than FRONTON SLAMS the length of your run-up and repeat. bowling with an older ball, again in your pair, rehydration. Make in the crucial moments of a match out just bowl for an extended period of time Adopt the same start position with the ball Then three quarters and, finally, your changing the fi eld setting to one that’s a bit sure you have a in the middle. In all your preparations, without any aims. but this time place one foot forward, with full run-up. Gradually increase the more spread out given that it’s the latter overs. water bottle at you’re trying to make sure that when it The following session is one of my your head above your knee. Slam the ball intensity as the drill goes on, but you Keep score by setting targets that have to hand throughout training comes to performing in a game you’ve favourites and is designed to get our in front of your front foot then repeat with should only be going 100 per cent in the be defended and try and make it as realistic and continue to use it after got a clear head and are confi dent about bowlers at Middlesex to prepare properly your other foot forward. This is one “front- final walkthrough. to a match situation as possible. This is a the session is over. bowling to any particular plan. for a one-day game. on slam”. Do the whole thing fi ve times. Now you’re ready to bowl.

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LOW-HIGH CROSS-HAND CATCHES DRILL SHIRT SUBLIMATION SUBLIME IN THE SHIRES • You’re using one hand to catch the ball here, with the other hand placed behind your back. If the ball’s to the right, you use the left and vice versa.

• With your coach or a mate a few yards away on one knee, get them to throw underarm on the full: one at shin height on one side, the next at shoulder height on the opposite side, and so on. We all want to wear gear that • If you can catch it with just the opposite hand makes us play (and look) our best. in practice, then standing up to a spinner or a Now there are clothing options seamer – using two hands – when there’s turn that can help make your club a and bounce, will be much easier. whole heap of cash, too. Director at teamwear specialists Romwear, Paul Hutchison is a WICKETKEEPERS: former Yorkshire, Sussex and Middlesex seamer, and also chairman of Bradford League STAND UP giants Pudsey St. Lawrence CC. More useful glovework drills for And his desire to raise money for all levels with Paul Nixon. his beloved club institution gave him an idea about how to produce the playing shirts. He tells AOC: “With a standard cricket shirt you’re buying the garment, there’s an extra cost to add your club badge and then an extra cost to add a centre-chest print and then additional charges if you want any other prints. So if you’re lucky to get two or three sponsors, the costs just spiral out of control. If you do manage & to get £400 or £500 out of a KEEPING sponsor, it all gets sucked into the production of the garment. “This way (sublimation), the whole shirt is designed by you before production, so you can add as many sponsors to the one OVERARM THROWS UNDER CHAIR DRILL design as you like and the cost doesn’t change.” • Place the chairs at half-volley length and have your That means that clubs FIELDING thrower kneel a few yards back, throwing overarm under who work hard to generate the seats. sponsorship income can keep a lot more money for themselves. • You need to keep your head low to watch the ball bounce “I really believe that this will under the chair and try to see it early. become the norm in the next five years, because it is a vehicle for • The half-volley length is hard to take when you’re standing clubs to generate money.” And all up and this drill is a good way to develop the simpler work clubs are looking to raise a buck you’ve been doing in the build-up to the season. these days, that’s for sure. If your fundraising committee • This drill adds a bit more bounce, because the throws are really nail their brief, your biggest overarm, and it’s preventing you from viewing the ball for problem might be finding a patch just a second, so it’s creating a bit of mystery and putting of white space between the logos… you under pressure. Check out shirt sublimation • Sometimes, your thrower can send one through the other www.romidateamwear.co.uk chair, forcing you to move quickly down the leg-side.

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p81-86_Performance_AOC115.indd 84 19/03/2014 10:25 MORE! Drills, advice and SKILLS video demos at PERFORMANCE alloutcricket.com

CATCHING With a variety of aerial and POSITIONS SHORT-LEGGING WITH IAN BELL fl at catches in this region, A position “saved” for the young and it is important to adopt an IN THE CORDON supple – ie the debutant tossed into the athletic position. Be in a stable front line by the elders – short leg is more position with your head and STANCE than just a rite of passage. England’s bat- eyes level, whether at slip, in Like batting, if your stance is fl awed, your ability is pad for many a year, Ian Bell gives us the the inner ring or taking a catch hampered. In the slips, we talk about adopting a posture lowdown on how to succeed in the line of fire. on the boundary. If you’re as position similar to that of a wicketkeeper standing back, stationary as possible then with your hands out in front. This position enables you to you’ll give yourself a chance to move quickly, cover your zone and still be ready to dive. GET YOUR HEAD AROUND IT set yourself. It’s not a great position – some people like it but not many – so FIELDING you have to get your head round it. It’s something that you’re not WHAT TO WATCH Often, catches come fl at and As a general rule of thumb, the wicketkeeper and fi rst slip should doing for yourself but for the team and your mates. IN THE RING quick, so you’ll have to take watch the ball from the bowler’s hand. But, from second slip to gully, them outside your body, while you should be watching the bat, as the ball will have to take a sizeable POWER POSITION A lot is asked of the club cricketer, on the move. In this instance, deviation to reach you. Similar to wicketkeeping, especially when they’re at cover one focus on moving your head fi rst, you need to get into week and point the next. Thankfully, especially when taking a catch CONCENTRATION a ‘powerful position’. Surrey and England fielding coach away from your body, because A lot of it is conditioning, actually. The position you need to adopt is a That means having quite Chris Taylor is on hand with his handy then your legs will follow. hard one to sustain; as a , people get lazy and don’t maintain their a wide base and your guide to fielding in “the ring” to posture and that’s when they drop catches, 10 or 11 overs into the match. chest in a reasonably prepare you for wherever you might If you can, get your hips and Just like batting, have your routines that help you relax between balls upright position. If find yourself on Saturday. shoulders in line with the ball and then switch on for those two seconds for the delivery. you’re in a slightly and aim to take the catch in crouched position that’s front of you. Try not to throw not very athletic and it’ll your hands at the ball or give POINT take you longer to react. unnaturally – let the force of If you only have to move the ball determine how far STANCE slightly then you can get THE BASICS TECHNICAL there nice and quickly. back your hands move on From walking in, get into a crouched yet athletic position, EXPECTATIONS THROWING impact. Repetition of these so that you can react to whatever’s happened. My view is The most important thing in the inner ring is to sorts of catches in training don’t think about setting, just walk through the shot and LOOK FOR SIGNS You generally find when someone dives that In terms of being aware of the bowler delivering the ball, it’s a release the ball as quickly as possible. It’s a race will help all these movements react to what you see. The more you practise it, the better everyone says ‘great effort’ and there’s applause. rhythm thing. If, say, Swanny was bowling I wouldn’t be looking between the batsman and the fi elder. become second nature. you’ll get. For me, you expect people to throw themselves at him but I’d be aware of when he was about to deliver. You around in the field. So the standards are: get the pick up a lot of information from the batsman, whether he’s A lot is made of players throwing with their arm WHAT TO WATCH ball in your hand all the time, to not just stop playing forward or back, looking to defend or attack. However, at a lower angle and, while it is quicker, the injury Always the batsman from here; when you see them setting up for a cut the two but maybe even stop the single. And can not all batsmen give you the right information: , for implication (elbows and shoulders) and the lack shot, you automatically get “set” to either try and take a catch or stop a you turn saving a run into a opportunity? example, has a huge backlift, and would block from the same of accuracy mean it is not worthwhile. Instead, ground ball. If you see them ready to play a defensive shot and drop the Then, slowly but surely, the language the players position as attack! use with each other starts to change. persist with the over-the-shoulder throw but work ball, you will fi nd yourself running on to it in a bid to stop the single. on your speed of release, without compromising your technique. To do this, you will need to work on getting your feet realigned as quickly as possible. EXTRA COVER HALF-VOLLEY DRILL STANCE THERE’S GOING TO BE A BIG QUICK RELEASE DRILL Just as when fi elding at point. For here, As coach I stand with a bat and a bag of balls – using IMPROVEMENT IF A TEAM ENJOY GETTING Get a coach or teammate to roll you’re in a very specifi c position in incrediballs allows you to do lots of catching without “ the ball to you three or four metres front of the bat, in an area where the hurting your hands – and hit half volleys to the fi elder. STUCK IN. YOU SHOULD HEAR A LOT OF away. While you will fi eld the ball as batsman wants to hit. Treat walking NOISE THROUGHOUT THE SESSION you normally would, you are NOT into position as you would if you were This way you get used to seeing the shape of the allowed to move your feet until you marking out your run-up. Figure out batsman and the way the ball comes off the bat. It have the ball in your hand. your fi nishing point and determine really recreates what happens in the middle. I’ll stand where you start walking in from, there with a and bag of balls and just hit ENJOY IT As soon as the ball is in hand, use depending on the bowler. drives to them. And maybe even use a Katchet board There’s going to be a big improvement if a team short, fast movement of your back- ramp to simulate diff erent deviations. enjoy being out there and getting stuck in. The foot to set yourself. Then release the WHAT TO WATCH players are responsible for that to a degree but ball, over-the-shoulder, at one of the Watch the batsman but be aware of With the cover region, you can add goals that the so are the coaches. You should hear a lot of noise targets set up on your left or right. where the bowler has delivered the fi elder has to defend. Maybe even throw two players throughout the session. Maybe add some kind Make sure you focus on getting in ball. Generally you can tell by the shape in an area and tell them to take catches or stop balls of competition into the drills – teams or players line with the target as quickly as the batsman is making before he plays going past them. It inevitably turns into some kind of against each other, so they get involved and get you can. a shot but, if you can, try and pick up competition with the coach! into the spirit of it. the length that the bowler has bowled.

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