Calling and backing up

Setup

1. A pitch with stumps at both ends, a bowler (or coach feeding underarm), a keeper and three or four fielders in the ring.
2. Two batters with bats: a striker and a non-striker. Use incrediballs; with a hard ball, both batters wear helmets and pads.
3. Agree the calls before starting: 'yes', 'no' and 'wait', always followed by a decision.

How it runs

1. The bowler delivers at an easy pace and the striker plays a shot into the field.
2. Shot in front of square: the striker calls. Ball behind square (to the keeper, slips, third man or fine leg): the non-striker calls.
3. The batters run only on a 'yes'. Fielders return the ball to the keeper or bowler, aiming to run someone out.
4. Each pair faces six balls. Score runs as normal, minus five for a run out or a mix-up.
5. Rotate batters, bowler, keeper and fielders after each pair.

Coaching points

• Call loudly and early, and use only the agreed words.
• 'Wait' is not a decision: follow it quickly with 'yes' or 'no'.
• Non-striker: walk in with the bowler, keeping the bat grounded behind the popping crease until the ball has left the bowler's hand. Leaving the crease early can lead to a legal run out.
• Back up on the opposite side of the stumps to the bowler's arm, so you don't block the bowler's follow-through.
• Run the first run hard: it makes twos and threes possible.
• Carry the bat in the hand nearest the ball, run the bat in past the crease and watch the ball, not your partner.
• Run on the side of the pitch, not down the middle of it.

Common mistakes

• Both batters calling, or neither.
• Backing up too early, out of the crease before the ball is released.
• Stopping short of the crease instead of running the bat in.
• Ball-watching after calling 'yes' and losing time.