Wicket-keeping Drills

Train Ride
- Students are split into groups of 3-6, with students having a hoop each, and one ball per
team
- Students line up in a line, all standing in their hoops
- When signalled, the student at the end throws the ball to the person in front of them and so
on until it gets to the front
- The front player holds onto the ball while the
other students pick up their hoops and run in
front of the player with the ball
- Once a line is formed again, the ball is thrown
again
- This is continued until students make it to the
other end of the field/area
Stage 1
Progression
- Increase distances
- Make students balance on one foot
- Remove hoops
KTP
- Palms facing ball, hands pointing down
- On toes, staying agile
- Accurate throwing to receiver

Stuck in the mud

- An area 20x20m (approx.) is created
- 2 students are nominated to be the catchers and the rest are instructed to get a ball each
- Once the teacher calls ‘start’, the runners must try and get away from the catchers, while
the catchers have to try and tag the runners
- If the runner is tagged/goes out of bounds, they are
to stand with their legs apart and their hands on
their head
- A free runner can free a stuck runner by throwing
the ball between the stuck person’s legs – aiming
similar to that when wicket-keeping
- Progress to having to have another free player on
the other side of the students’ legs, so that have to
stop/field the ball that is thrown through to free the
player.
Stage 1/2
Progression
- Change size of area
- Change number of catchers
KTP
- Aim with non-throwing arm for accurate throw between the legs
- Crouched and low body position with receiving a ball
- Eyes up

Clean your cricket backyard

- Students are organised into two teams, positioned in a line parallel to each other,
approximately 10m apart
- Teams are given the same number of balls
- On ‘go’ students from both teams are to roll or throw to the opposing team’s side
 - Students must correctly stop, in crouched position,
oncoming balls and throw it back to the other side
- Balls are thrown continuously until whistle is blown
- The team with the least number of balls is the winner
Stage 2/3
Progression
- Change distance
- Add stumps on either side which students must stand
behind and wicket-keep
- Add bowling
KTP
- Crouched body position to receive ball
- Hands cupped and fingers pointing down
- Fast release of ball from hands

Rapid fire bowling with wicket-keeper

- Organise students into groups of 3
- A set of stumps is set up for each group, in a straight line, 2m apart
- A crease is marked out with cones approximately 10m away from stumps
- One student from each group stands behind
the wickets acting as the wicket-keeper, one
is the bowler and the other student lines up
waiting to bowl
- The bowler bowls the ball at the stumps,
aiming to get the ball just to the side/in
front, causing the wicket-keeper having to
collect the ball
- The wicket-keeper retrieves the ball and aims to hit the stumps
- Once the bowler has bowled, they move into the wicket-keeping position and the next
bowler bowls (previous wicket-keeper lines up ready to bowl next)
- Once students get the hang of it, a competition can be introduced, with the quickest team to
all have 2 bowls winning
Stage 2/3
Progression
- Increase distance for bowling
- Encourage bowler to make it difficult for the wicket-keeper
- Add a fielder that has to retrieve the ball and return to the wicket keeper
KTP
- Hands cupped and fingers facing down to receive ball
- Crouched positon behind wickets
- Staying on toes, agile to be able to move to the ball

(Play cricket, n.d)