Batting grip, stance and backlift

Setup

1. Batters spread out in a line, a big bat-length apart, each with a lightweight bat and a cone to stand beside as their crease.
2. Later, pairs: a batter in front of a set of stumps and a feeder 5–6 m away with a soft ball.
3. Check every bat is a size the player can lift with the top hand alone.

How it runs

1. Grip: lay the bat face down, pick it up with both hands together near the top of the handle, so the Vs between thumb and finger line up down the back of the handle. Top hand is the left for a right-hander.
2. Stance: feet shoulder-width apart either side of the crease, side-on, knees soft, weight on the balls of the feet, head still and level, eyes looking at the bowler over the front shoulder.
3. Backlift: on the coach's 'lift', raise the bat straight back towards the stumps with the top hand in charge, face of the bat opening slightly, then lower it again. Repeat in sets of five.
4. Ball stage: the feeder rolls or bobs a soft ball underarm; the batter lifts the bat and pats the ball straight back along the ground to the feeder. Six balls, then swap.

Coaching points

• Hands together on the handle; the bottom hand holds lightly, like holding an ice cream.
• Head still and eyes level, looking down the pitch over the front shoulder.
• Lift the bat towards the stumps, not out towards point.
• Stay still as the feeder lets go; move only when you see where the ball is going.

Common mistakes

• Hands split apart on the handle, which drags the bat across the line.
• Standing chest-on with the head tilted sideways.
• Lifting the bat with the bottom hand so it swings round the body.
• Feeders throwing before the batter is set.