Cricket is the pinnacle of a summer sport that requires a variety of skills. Nowadays, everyone is looking for ways to improve their cricket skills on the field. From batting to throwing, fielding to overall mindset, there are numerous skills required to excel at the sport. So, whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your performance, here are a few tips and exercises on how to improve your cricket skills.
Exercises for Fielding:
- Throwing the ball
An important cricket fielding skill is the ability to execute an overarm throw with speed and accuracy. Rapid sprinting, diving, and grabbing of the ball can prevent batsmen from taking singles. Adding a perfect return throw to the wicketkeeper or the bowling end can double the fun. Ideal technique and muscle power are required to throw the ball back like a rocket. It’s no wonder that the ball throwing exercise is on every cricketer’s list of exercises, especially when it pertains to fielding.
- High Catches between players
The ability to make those towering catches at the boundary can make or break a game. The key is to keep a close eye on the ball as it enters your hands and to maintain a firm grip on it. This fielding practise session works best when two teams participate. However, make certain that the players do not simply smack the ball around anywhere. Instead, make the high catches appear difficult but doable. This encourages players to move quickly in order to catch those near impossible catches.
- Practice with a Goal
Directly hitting the wickets from various distances, fielding positions, and altitudes can be terrific cricket fielding exercises. The more you practise, the more likely it is that you will pull off spectacular run-outs that can help shape the game’s outcome. Any object with the height and width of real stumps can be used. Place these stumps in the middle of the field and simply run all around the playground, aiming to hit the stumps from various angles.
- Running Catch
During a match, the batsman will focus on ensuring that the ball is hit anywhere and everywhere. However, it is the player’s unrivalled fielding abilities that allow him to get underneath any type of ball. The key to making a forward or backward running catch is to keep your focus on the ball. Observing and supervising your run in your mind, as well as stretching and diving as well as jumping at the right moment to capture the ball, will require a lot of practise.
Fielding drills:
- Chase and Throw
Place three to four balls at various distances from the stumps. Run towards the stumps at the sound of ‘go,’ field the ball, and return to the keeper, or aim for the stumps. To add variety and amplitude, you can use a bowling machine to make the ball move in various directions.
- Drill for Ladder Catch and Throw
Install an agility ladder or mini hurdles such as cones. Begin running from one end, concentrating on running technique and speed while avoiding obstacles. Take the catch from the other end, aim for the stumps, and run back to where you began. Repeat 5 times for a total of 3 sets.
- Drill for Underarm Throw
When you’re close to the stumps and want to hit them, the underarm throw comes in handy. Two players face each other about 20 metres apart. One player passes the ball to the other one. As soon as the ball is thrown, the other player rushes in to grab the ball rolling on the floor and returns it to their partner with an underarm throw. To create barriers, use an underarm throw and aim for the stumps.
- Drill for Overarm Throw
Power and accuracy are crucial in the overarm throw. The drill may begin with the coach calling out a player’s name & throwing the ball high into the air. The players can be spread out on the field. The mentor will now call another name, and the first player must return the ball to that person. So, the first player runs in to grasp the ball and then turns around and throws it to the second player. The first player will adjust the strength and throwing speed of the throw based on how far the second player is standing to help the second player collect the ball with ease.
Practice is the key to perfect fielding. As a result, good cricket fielding training sessions concentrate on developing muscle memory. Reiterating and practicing the moves several times gets the body used to each one. As a result, they are nearly always carried out without hesitation. This reduces decision-making time and allows for great results in microseconds.
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