Fielding Development

CATCHING- PRINCIPLES FOR MOVING TO A CATCH
When moving towards a catch, the fielder needs to be aware of the position of the sun and the direction of the wind, relatives to the path of the ball. The fielder should:
Look and listen to get an idea of the impact of the stroke and to track the ball
Move quickly and smoothly to the line and depth of the ball, keeping the hands and arms loose so they can respond smoothly to receive the ball
Run low, so you can accelerate, change direction or drive to receive the catch if required
For difficult catches, slide so the body provides a more stable base for the hands to softly catch the ball.

CATCHING MOVING FORWARD
For catches where you must move forward, you should track the ball with 'relaxed eyes' and run smoothly, staying low. For the difficult catches, you can slide or drive to give a stable base for the hands. Keep your hands and arms soft.

CATCHING MOVING TO THE SIDE
For catches where you need to move sideways, you should run quickly and smoothly and 'round up' the ball, keeping your hands and arms soft. For difficult catches, slide or use a shoulder roll to keep the body steady and control the ball.

CATCHING MOVING BACK
For catches where you need to move backward, you should turn on your side and run smoothly with the ball, in the direction the ball is moving overhead. Keep your hands and arms soft.

ATTACKING GROUND FIELDING - TRIPOD POSITIONING
For a fielder who throws with the right hand, the tripod position is formed when the right foot is behind the line of the ball, the left foot is to the side and more advanced than the right foot to give a slight side -on body position, and the hands receiving the ball form the third part of the tripod.
To use the tripod position in an offensive ground-fielding situation, begin by tracking a spot on the ball, or the seam of the ball. Run low, with knees bent and hips low, and if necessary run around the ball to round it up, so the ball is received on the throwing-arm side in the tripod position. With hands soft and in front of the body, collect the ball in the tripod position, funnel the ball to the waist and then to shoulder level as the crow-hop os used to engage the whole body in the throw to the target.

Batting Development

TECHNICAL PHASES OF A BATTING STROKE
The distinct phases of a batting stroke are:
BACK-SWING - The back-swing should be guided by the top hand, to establish a foundation for a fluent vertical -bat shot, or both hands can combine for a horizontal or cross-bat stroke to a short or full-pitched ball. The batsman should rely on the senses to guide the movement.
DECISION-MAKING - You should rely on your senses to guide decision-making and your movement.
DOWNSWING - The downswing should be coordinated with the movement of the feet so the momentum of the body can be applied to the stroke at impact, and to allow fluency and generate power.
FOLLOW-THROUGH - During the follow-through, the batsman's balance should be maintained to achieve fluency in stroke-making.

GRIP WITH GUIDING TOP HAND
The top hand on the bat, which is left hand for a right-hand batsman, is important in guiding the swing of the bat through the direction of the stroke. This is especially so with vertical-bat strokes to well-directed balls. With the horizontal-bat strokes, to less well-directed balls, both hands are important and the bottom hand supplies added power.