Cricket · Batting

Using your feet against spin

Batters 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.

BwBtWk
Start / 5
Time
25 min
Players
3–6
Age
U16+
Area
Net or centre pitch
Equipment
6 hard cricket balls2 set of stumps4 conesbatter's helmet with faceguard, pads, gloves and boxkeeper's helmet with faceguard, gloves and pads

Setup

  1. A spinner bowls, or a coach gives spinning throw-downs from a shorter distance. The batter is in full kit with a helmet.
  2. The keeper stands up to the stumps in a helmet with a faceguard, ready to stump if the batter misses.
  3. Mark a straight 'V' with two cones about a third of the way down the pitch from the bowler. Drives that pass between them score.
  4. Optional: a flat marker about two big steps in front of the popping crease shows how far the batter needs to travel.

How it runs

  1. Shadow first: with no ball, the batter practises the footwork to the marker and back: front foot, back foot closes behind it, front foot again, head still.
  2. Six balls, all flighted: the batter goes down to every one, gets to the pitch of the ball and drives straight. 2 points through the V cones, 1 for any controlled drive.
  3. Six balls, mixed: the bowler mixes flighted balls with quicker, flatter ones. The batter decides each time: go down to the flighted ball, stay home and play back to the flatter one.
  4. If the batter is beaten and stumped, it costs 3 points. Swap batters every two sets.

Coaching points

  • Decide early. Read the length from the bowler's hand and the height of the ball, and move as the ball is released.
  • Small, quick steps with the back foot closing behind the front. Don't cross the feet, it unbalances you.
  • Get to the pitch of the ball with the head over it, then hit straight. You are trying to smother the spin.
  • Hit with the spin or straight down the ground. Trying to hit against the spin brings the edges into play.
  • If you've been beaten in the flight, don't swing. Get bat and pad together and defend, or play it with the pad outside the line.
  • Staying home is a choice too. Moving deep in the crease to a shorter, flatter ball creates room to cut or pull.

Common mistakes

  • Committing too early, so the bowler can see you coming and drop it short or fire it wide.
  • Head falling away and slicing the ball in the air.
  • Crossing the feet and arriving off balance.
  • Coming down the pitch and then playing a half-shot with no commitment.

Say it: “Read it, go early, head over it, hit straight.”

Make it harder

  • The bowler sees the batter move and changes length or line on purpose.
  • Set two fielders on the straight boundary so lofted hits must clear them or stay on the ground.
  • Count the dots: three dot balls in a row and the batter is out.

Make it easier

  • Spinning underarm throw-downs, slower and higher.
  • Use a softer ball and take the keeper out.
  • Fewer steps: the batter just moves one step forward and drives.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.