Over the years, cricket has become one of the most respectable sports in the world. It has made its way into many nations throughout the world, as a sport that has national importance for some of them. As a sport, a cricket team needs a coach in order to help players develop their specific skills in playing this sport. ?High rank cricket teams have specialist coaches that are experts in batting, bowling or fielding. A cricket coach needs practical knowledge and expertise in the game. They should teach with humor, patience and above all a love for cricket.

A cricket coach needs not only knowledge about the game; he also needs to possess good motivational skills. Practically, a cricket coach will start his coaching career at a low level, such as juniors or club level before progressing upwards. A professional cricketer can also have great opportunities and offers to coach cricket after he retires. The challenge of being a coach is if he can move his team up through the ranks in the game, from the lowest level being village green cricket, league cricket, and country, to international cricket. A coach should innovate creative ways to improve his team and he should keep on learning about the game. If the coach is efficient and effective, the same goes with his players.

How to coach cricket?

• If your recruits are new to the game start with a mix of one-on-one and group coaching. Be patient and flexible when coaching. As much as possible use the players? excitement and don?t let it waste. Use the experienced players to demonstrate skills.
• You should give everyone turns at batting, bowling and fielding. You must teach correct form and method before they can develop skills for the game.

Drills

• Batting:

• For starters, teach them how to hold the bat correctly, and the proper stance and back-lift.
• Make sure of the correct technique in teaching defensive strokes without the ball.
• In pairs, players should learn how to get to the pitch of good-length balls with throw-downs from a distance of 12 to 15 feet away.

• Bowling:

• Start with basic one-stride delivery, side-on to the batsman.
• Teach bringing the arm over high and stiff, above the head. Don?t allow your players to hold the ball because it is not allowed in the game.
• Practice in pairs, bowling gently from 22 yards apart and adding a few run-up steps.

• Catching:

• Start with throwing the ball towards the players, as they learn to catch with soft, giving hands. Hit the ball as hardly as possible. Dropped catches mean starting again at the bottom so the players will eye for the top spot. Spread the players for practice in catching outfield and have them practice throwing back over a stup.

• Fielding:

• On one knee, the players should be able to ground balls to each other. Allow them to practice getting the body behind the ball. By practicing sidearm and over-arm throwing styles, the players should be able to gather a rolling ball and throw in one motion.