Cricket drills
Cricket batting drills
14 free Cricket drills for batting, each with the setup, how it runs, what to coach, and how to make it harder or easier.
14 drills
BattingBack-foot defence and punchFeeds just short of a length: get back and across to defend, then punch the shorter, wider ball through a cone gate on the off side.15 min · 3–6 players · U11+
BattingBatting grip, stance and backliftSet up the grip, a balanced side-on stance and a straight backlift, then test them against gentle underarm feeds.12 min · 2–12 players · U6+
BattingTactics & match playDeath-overs batting scenariosBatting pairs chase small targets in the final overs against a death-bowling field, planning where to score each ball, hitting the gaps and running hard twos.40 min · 10–16 players · U16+
BattingDecision-makingFront-foot defence and the leaveThrow-downs on a full length: block the ones that would hit the stumps and leave the ones outside off stump.15 min · 2–6 players · U10+
BattingFront-foot drive off the teeBatters drive a ball off a tee through the covers, working on the stride and a full face.10 min · 2–10 players · U8+
BattingHitting off a feed with a straight batBatters drive underarm feeds back down a coned V, swinging the bat straight from high backlift to high finish.15 min · 3–8 players · U6+
BattingGameMiddle practice with batting pairsPairs bat for a set number of overs in the middle against real bowling and a set field, building partnerships while bowlers and fielders rotate.45 min · 10–16 players · U12+
GameBattingPairs cricket gameA small-sided match where batters bat in pairs for a set number of overs, losing runs instead of their place when they are out.40 min · 8–16 players · U7+
BattingDecision-makingPlaying the short ball: duck, sway or hookBatters learn to get out of the way of the short ball first (duck and sway), then decide when to take it on with the pull or hook, starting with tennis balls and building up slowly.25 min · 2–6 players · U16+
BattingPull shot off a short ballBatters play the pull off underarm or dog-stick short feeds, keeping the ball down.12 min · 2–8 players · U11+
BattingRange hitting and powerBatters practise clearing the boundary with a stable base and a full swing through the line, hitting fed balls into a cleared arc with scoring zones in the V.25 min · 3–8 players · U16+
BattingRunning between wicketsRotating the strike: finding singlesBatting pairs score only by running, so they learn to place the ball into gaps with soft hands and call early against a set field.25 min · 8–14 players · U12+
BattingSweep shot against spinSweep full balls from a spinner fine of square on the leg side, and learn which balls not to sweep.15 min · 3–6 players · U12+
BattingUsing your feet against spinBatters read the spinner's flight, move down the pitch to reach the pitch of the ball and hit straight, and learn when to stay home instead, with a keeper standing up ready to stump.25 min · 3–6 players · U16+