Direct-hit run-outs

Setup

1. Stumps at both ends of a pitch. The coach stands at the striker's end with a bucket of balls; throws only ever go at the stumps at the other end.
2. Fielders queue about 25 m out at midwicket. A runner stands in a lane marked by two cones on the off side, about 5 m wide of the pitch, so they are never in the line of a throw.
3. A collector stands well back and wide of the stumps, out of the throwing line, and only moves once the ball has passed.

How it runs

1. The coach rolls the ball into the space in front of the queue. As it leaves the hand, the first fielder attacks it and the runner sprints from the near cone to the far cone.
2. The fielder picks up and throws at the stumps in one movement. If the stumps are broken before the runner reaches the far cone, it is a run out: two points.
3. A throw that misses but passes within a bat's width of the stumps scores one point.
4. The fielder jogs to the back of the queue, the collector returns the ball to the coach and resets the bails. Swap runner and collector every eight throws.
5. Talk about the Law: in a match the batter is out only if the wicket is put down while no part of the bat or body is grounded behind the popping crease.

Coaching points

• Approach slightly to the throwing-arm side of the ball so the pick-up and throw flow together.
• Pick up beside the back foot, eyes switch straight to the target, front shoulder lines up the stumps.
• Short, quick arm for the closer throws; a low flat throw that would bounce once is better than a looping one.
• Aim at one stump, not the whole set: it narrows the focus.
• Look before you throw: nobody should be standing in line with the stumps.

Common mistakes

• Slowing down to pick up, which gives the runner time.
• Throwing off the wrong foot and spraying the ball wide.
• Taking eyes off the target to watch the runner.
• Teammates drifting into line behind the stumps; stop the drill and reset if they do.