Cricket

Cricket: Key teaching points: Batting: General batting KTPS: • ‘Step, Swing, Drive’ • Watch the ball from Bowler’s release until contact with bat • Protect wickets at all costs through correct shot selection and stance • Dominant hand responsible for majority of power while other hand guides direction and follow through Stance: • Stand with back foot perpendicular to crease and front foot on a diagonal • Knees bent, and upper body slightly crouched over with 35-45-degree angle at hip • Weight on balls of the feet, placed shoulder width apart • Head up straight with chin and eye-level parallel and looking towards opposite stumps • Solid base of stance with centre of gravity low to the ground for stability Running: • Batter on strike calls “no” or “yes” after striking the ball as good communication is essential for a successful partnership • Keep body bent and centre of gravity low for efficient movement when running between creases • Grip bat with both hands and run with it outstretched and slide bat when close to crease • Lean forward and arch back when taking off to increase acceleration whilst taking large steps • Grip bat at the end of the handle to maximise reach Holding the bat: • Dominant hand positioned at base of the bat’s handle and non-dominant hand directly above, with fingers spread evenly • V-shape made by thumb and forefinger with thumb of non-dominant hand positioned on the leg side of handle • Bat held with handle anterior and superior to bat’s toe Front-foot drive: • Weight is forward on ball and toes of front foot, feet shoulder width apart • Step, swing and drive are performed in or close to a parallel line with bat finishing above chest height • Non-dominant elbow leads the shot with dominant elbow the last body part to pass the waist • Shot is performed when ball is short to medium length and moderately central or on the offside

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Step into the ball to generate momentum during the swing and follow through to maximise shot accuracy and power

Back-foot drive: • Feet positioned shoulder width apart and body in straight position with centre of gravity higher than usual • Bat vertical on impact with ball • Weight placed on back foot, deep in crease • Back foot drive is ideal full medium to longer pitched balls Cut-shot: • Ideal for any delivery short and wide outside off-stump • Back swing and step towards off side. Base established, weight stays slightly forward to maximise accuracy of shot • Arms free and shoulders rotate toward the offside, horizontally as shot is played from high to low • Follow through after the ball strike to maximise accuracy and power of shot Pull-shot: • Ideal for short deliveries middle of square or slightly leg-side • Arms must be extended fully, and bat should start high and end low • Fast footwork is needed to bring the feet back to square before rotating to the legside of the heels of the feet • Feet and bat should face the direction of strike post-follow through Cover drive: • The perfect shot for straight or offside deliveries pitched short to medium • Batter must step across the line of the ball with the front foot before playing the shot across the body and toward the covers • Keep head down while striking the ball to ensure ball does not go high in the air • Bottom hand should be loose on the handle while top hand is firm without ‘choking’ the bat Hook-shot: • This shot is played when batsmen is deep in their crease or ball is delivered short and down the leg-side • Arms extended with elbows locked and wrist cocked • Shot is played late and quickly, moving bat across body and shifting momentum • Follow through continues on rotational axis to the leg-side Sweep-shot: • This shot is usually used for deliveries with length including yorkers • Bat is horizontal at contact with ball to keep the ball low • Feet about a meter apart and weight on the front foot and shot is executed • Centre of gravity close to the group

On-drive: • Played on square deliveries and medium length • Step forward and keep front leg and bat parallel as shot and follow through are completed • Head down and bat swung towards the on-side • Shoulders rotate to almost square just before impact Off-Drive: • Played on square deliveries and medium length • Both body and bat must cross line of the ball prior to contact • Lead and following shoulder become parallel just before impact and weight is transferred forward into the front food • Head remains down to keen the ball low and fast across the ground to minimise chances of being caught out Reverse sweep: • Keep head forward over front knee • Wrist inverted, and bat held almost parallel to the ground • Used to manipulate fielders and find gaps to maximise run scoring potential • Arms must be fully extended at time of strike

Bowling: General KTP • Step, reach, roll and release • Straight arm, window and follow through • Point, step, release towards target • Fore finger and index finger on top of ball and use seam for grip/spin • Body side on, shoulder pointing towards target Off-spin • Forefinger and index finger medial to seam of ball prior to release to spin ball • Short angled run up • Shoulder, wrist and hand externally rotates • Aim to left hand side of batsmen • Exaggerate follow through Leg-spin • Grip forefinger and index finger on the lateral to the seam on the ball • Rotate shoulder, wrist and hand internally • Flick wrist on release to exaggerate spin • Follow through and transfer weight onto front foot

Pace Bowling • Long, straight run up • Use momentum of run to increase speed of delivery • Follow through post release • Release ball on 45* angle for optimal trajectory In-swing Bowling • Index finger positioned on seam of ball to swing ball in towards off stump • Momentum transferred onto front foot prior to release • Run up slightly angles to increase swing • Ball released slightly to the leg side of the batsmen Out-swing Bowling • Ball released slightly to the off side of the batsmen • Ideally used on left handed batsmen by right handed bowlers • Released at maximum height of 45* • Slightly angled run up Fielding Underarm Throw • Step, stretch and swing • Lean forward and push weight onto front foot prior to release • Throw ball at low trajectory to minimise time spent in the air • Look at target before releasing the throw Overarm Throw • Step, point, release and follow through • Generate momentum through stepping forward onto opposite leg to opposite arm • Follow through to maximum distance and accuracy of throw • Face the target Catching • Track, reach and give • Create ‘M’ shape with fingers for low shape • High catch, create ‘W’ shape with fingers • Absorb velocity of the catch, by giving • Position behind the ball • Keep eyes on the ball • Fingers spread apart to maximise surface area Fielding • Foot behind the ball to minimise chance of missing it • Fingers spread to increase size • Body low and centre of gravity close to the ground • Watch the ball

Wicket keeping • Positioned appropriate distance behind wickets depending on type of bowl • Crouched positioned with low centre of gravity • Fingers in diamond shape ready to catch the ball • On the balls of the feet ready to dive in the direction of the ball • Watch the ball into the gloves and ensure it is wrapped up quickly