Sports Skills: Cricket

Batting Stance

• Side on to the bowler.
• Head upright, eyes level.
• Feet approximately shoulder width apart.
• Bat resting behind back foot.

Batting Grip

• Hands placed together in the middle of the handle.
• Vs formed by thumb and index finger to point down the back of the bat between the middle and front edge.

Bowling Grip

• Fingers either side of the seam and thumb underneath.

Action: There are two main ways to learn a basic bowling action.

Pull the String

• Stand side on to the target.
• Pretend your hands are joined by a string.
• Stretch the string with front arm reaching for the sky and bowling arm next to back knee.
• Pull the string down with the front arm to bring the bowling hand up and over to release the ball.
• Follow through with the bowling hand across the body.

Rock and Bowl

• Make a cross with the arms then turn side on with the arm holding the ball at the back.
• Head level and turned to look at the batter.
• Begin rocking from front foot to back foot like a see-saw.
• Once you have a good rock, release the ball as you rock forward.
• Front arm pulls down past hip with bowling arm following across body.

Catching

• Feet should be shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent.
• Keep head still, eyes on the ball.
• Use two hands to create a large catching area.
• Fingers point up, down or to the side.
• Catch with soft hands giving with the ball.

Throwing

• Hold the ball with fingers across the seam.
• Stand side on and point towards your target with the hand without the ball.
• Reach back and high with the throwing hand with your fingers on top of the ball.
• Pull your front arm down and throw the ball.
• Follow through with your throwing hand across your body.

Slips

• The wicket keeping position can also be used when fielding in a slips position.

Wicket Keeper

• The wicket keeping position can also be used when fielding in a slips position.
• The wicket keeper is positioned behind the stumps in a crouched position, feet about shoulder width apart, with bent knees and hands cupped together ready for a catch.
• For spin bowlers, the wicket keeper is close up to the stumps and for fast bowlers, the wicket keeper is further back.
• When catching the ball, fingers should point up, down or sideways rather than straight at
  the ball.