Your Cricket Working on Footwork
- Thread starter Griffo
- Start date
Almost_Austwick
International Captain
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2005
- Online Cricket Games Owned
This is the only drill that I can think of that may help footwork as it forces you to watch the ball, you can change the drill slightly to focus on moving back rather than forwards.
Remdial Batting Drill
Training area: Tennis court or wide net or something similar.
Intent: Have player focus on the ball and the outcome rather than on how to do it.
Equipment
* Soft-ball such as tennis ball or similar, bat and gloves and cones
* If it is possible to get a ball that is a bit heavier and not as bouncy as a tennis ball it is preferable but a tennis ball will do.
Set-up
* Set out the cones, or similar targets, square of the wicket either side and either side of the bowler/thrower.
* If the tennis court has segments of fence square of the wicket to just in front of square between point and extra cover and between square leg and mid wicket each side that will do and between the net post and side fence will do for the straight targets.
Method
* Have each batsman face 12 balls and have them aim to hit each target 3 times in turn.
* The thrower should take a walking step or two to replicate the rhythm and timing of a bowler.
* The thrower should nominate which target to hit and throw the ball to assist the batter to access the ball in that area from front foot initially.
* The batsman should be encouraged to watch the ball and intend to move towards it until forced back by the length and just respond and hit the target. Two-toned balls can be used to assist the focus on the ball.
* As they become more proficient have the player nominate after the event, which colour was facing as it left the throwers hand. As the player becomes more proficient, mix up the throws between full and short with the thrower still nominating targets.
* The further the player progresses they then get to choose which targets to hit. The coach can judge when the player is ready to move to more difficult challenges.
* Once the player has progressed to a satisfactory level with throw-downs it is time to move on to bowling while still keeping targets in place and still encouraging the player to hit to targets or target areas.
* If there is more than one player keep it fun and moving fast and introduce competition to the sessions by giving the players scores for hitting target areas and switch them over 6 balls at a time. The more competitive it becomes and the more fun it is the more of a learning experience it will become.
You can also do drills with one foot tied down by a large elastic band and the use of bowling machine or someone sticking the balls in just short of a length. As you get ready to play a shot it may help to make a little movement forward or backward with your back foot but remember to keep balanced or else you'll just fall through the shot.
Remdial Batting Drill
Training area: Tennis court or wide net or something similar.
Intent: Have player focus on the ball and the outcome rather than on how to do it.
Equipment
* Soft-ball such as tennis ball or similar, bat and gloves and cones
* If it is possible to get a ball that is a bit heavier and not as bouncy as a tennis ball it is preferable but a tennis ball will do.
Set-up
* Set out the cones, or similar targets, square of the wicket either side and either side of the bowler/thrower.
* If the tennis court has segments of fence square of the wicket to just in front of square between point and extra cover and between square leg and mid wicket each side that will do and between the net post and side fence will do for the straight targets.
Method
* Have each batsman face 12 balls and have them aim to hit each target 3 times in turn.
* The thrower should take a walking step or two to replicate the rhythm and timing of a bowler.
* The thrower should nominate which target to hit and throw the ball to assist the batter to access the ball in that area from front foot initially.
* The batsman should be encouraged to watch the ball and intend to move towards it until forced back by the length and just respond and hit the target. Two-toned balls can be used to assist the focus on the ball.
* As they become more proficient have the player nominate after the event, which colour was facing as it left the throwers hand. As the player becomes more proficient, mix up the throws between full and short with the thrower still nominating targets.
* The further the player progresses they then get to choose which targets to hit. The coach can judge when the player is ready to move to more difficult challenges.
* Once the player has progressed to a satisfactory level with throw-downs it is time to move on to bowling while still keeping targets in place and still encouraging the player to hit to targets or target areas.
* If there is more than one player keep it fun and moving fast and introduce competition to the sessions by giving the players scores for hitting target areas and switch them over 6 balls at a time. The more competitive it becomes and the more fun it is the more of a learning experience it will become.
You can also do drills with one foot tied down by a large elastic band and the use of bowling machine or someone sticking the balls in just short of a length. As you get ready to play a shot it may help to make a little movement forward or backward with your back foot but remember to keep balanced or else you'll just fall through the shot.
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hollandcricket
Club Cricketer
Yeah, I'm on ballroom dancing for a year or so now (encouraged by Ramps' preformances at Strictly Come Dancing) and I actually it does help you!
My footwork, especially against spinners, is much quicker and accurate. So get some glittering thights and go dance!
I have quite a good eye but the top grade coach says that my footwork isnt to brilliantI know im a bowler and always will be but i'd like to find a few drills or tips for me to start using my backfoot, im right handed
AA has given some amazing drills, many of which have been tried and approved by many a person. However, one must consider that with a good eye, footwork may hinder your batting somewhat. If you look at those infamous for having a good eye - Gayle; Trescothick and Sehwag, foot movement is not the number one priority.
Some foot movement is needed to be a good batsman though, just don't go overboard. Onto your post, I too have difficulty using the backfoot effectively. Simple tips would be to move it across to lean into a cut shot better, so simply but effective. Also, to a short of a length ball - from right arm over going straight or into you, moving your backfoot back and across helps get your weight behind the ball. This is such an effective tactic that many have back and across as a trigger movement.
As for attacking off the backfoot with drives, I too am flustered and just before reading this was going to post about asking how to do this.
Almost_Austwick
International Captain
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2005
- Online Cricket Games Owned
Manee makes a good point about having a good eye. Some coaches can get caught up in making a player 'correct' whilst forgetting about what makes them good in the first place. Yes, footwork is important but you may only need a small adjustment rather than a more extreme makeover.
As I always say get a video of you batting or bowling and study it. Until you know your action or foot movements inside out its difficult to take on board advice from others and even more difficult to know which bits to adopt and which bits to leave out.
The posts suggesting you learn to dance are well worth considering as is any drill which works on your foot co-ordination (like dropping balls into buckets whilst running and zig-zagging and turning sharply etc).
As I always say get a video of you batting or bowling and study it. Until you know your action or foot movements inside out its difficult to take on board advice from others and even more difficult to know which bits to adopt and which bits to leave out.
The posts suggesting you learn to dance are well worth considering as is any drill which works on your foot co-ordination (like dropping balls into buckets whilst running and zig-zagging and turning sharply etc).
But they're good batsmen despite the lack of foot movement. How many times do you see them getting bowled early in the innings because they're feet aren't moving?
My advice would be to be generally lighter on your feet. It's a lot easier to move them if you're on the balls of your feet, rather than just planting them flat. Practice is the key though, just think about your feet. I'm not saying always think 'go forward' or something, but just think about your feet as the bowler runs in. Personally, I do use a trigger movement to get into position, as it just gets my feet moving as the bowler comes in and I can then adjust depending on line and length. As with most thinks though it's just a case of what comes naturally. Drills like the one posted are good, just to basically make sure that you can play these shots well, rather than just trying them once or twice in a session when you get a short ball.
aussie_ben91
School Cricketer
Problem with a trigger movement is that it is difficult to bat against the bowling machine.
Almost_Austwick
International Captain
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2005
- Online Cricket Games Owned
Bowling machine are great for helping with many aspects of batting. Yes, they fail to replicate the true experience of batting on a grass wicket against a variety of bowlers but thats not what they're to be used for.
You say your problem is lack of footwork and this is something which can be taught but you need to practice it a lot and this is where the bowling machine comes into its own. Get the machine pitching just short of a length and start by going back and playing straight. Do this to your sick to the back teeth of doing it and then do it some more. Have someone check your technique and refine where needed. Then after a few weeks move on to back foot drives etc. You can do this for front foot shots as well. The only way to learn is to practice, mix it up with other drills and time against human bowlers (again get them to concentrate on one area at a time).
Also, peg your back foot to the ground forcing to move your front foot and vice versa. Anything that makes you aware of what your feet are doing. Even play without a bat and just use your pads to defend the ball - it will get you moving and make you think about the line.
You say your problem is lack of footwork and this is something which can be taught but you need to practice it a lot and this is where the bowling machine comes into its own. Get the machine pitching just short of a length and start by going back and playing straight. Do this to your sick to the back teeth of doing it and then do it some more. Have someone check your technique and refine where needed. Then after a few weeks move on to back foot drives etc. You can do this for front foot shots as well. The only way to learn is to practice, mix it up with other drills and time against human bowlers (again get them to concentrate on one area at a time).
Also, peg your back foot to the ground forcing to move your front foot and vice versa. Anything that makes you aware of what your feet are doing. Even play without a bat and just use your pads to defend the ball - it will get you moving and make you think about the line.
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