Throwing- Grip
When using a real cricket ball you will see a seam on the ball. These tips teach you the best method of throwing a cricket ball.
- Grip the ball across the seam. You will find this to be a more comfortable grip and when the ball is thrown it will stay in a straight line to help the wicket-keeper and to help the ball not swing in the air as a ball with a vertical seam position may tend to do.
- Grip the ball with 2 fingers on top of the ball and your thumb directly underneath, resting on the seam. Do not grip the ball in the palm of the hand for easy release.
Throwing - Technique
This is a useful exercise to get the actions of your wrist, elbow and upper body and the effect they have on your throwing technique and to improve the accuracy and power of your throw. (Good to do with a partner.)
- Wrist Flick - hold your wrist with your non-throwing arm. Using a flicking motion throw the ball, bouncing it towards your target, which should be about 3 metres away. This exercise uses only your wrist to generate the pace of throw.
- Elbow Flick - this time holding underneath your elbow, flick the ball, bouncing towards a target of around 5 metres away. This exercise uses only your elbow and wrist to generate the pace of throw.
- Upper Body - this time you are kneeling on one knee (your throwing knee). Ensure your throwing elbow is nice and high (at shoulder level). You should throw towards a target around 10 meters away, ensuring you have a full follow through with your action.
Overarm Throw
The standing overarm throw skill is required when fielding a reasonable distance from the batsman.
- Ensure you have a wide, balanced stance with your throwing arm back, gripping the ball as described above.
- Your throwing elbow should be at or above shoulder level.
- Use your non-throwing arm as an aid to the direction of the throw. Try to aim just above the stumps in an imaginary box to make it easy for the wicketkeeper to catch or one bounce. In a fast run out scenario try to directly hit the stumps.
- Look at your target at all times to ensure the direction of the throw is accurate.
- Your back leg should trail after the throw and there should be a full follow through, with your body rotating.
Underarm Throw
This skill is usually used when the ball has travelled slowly and when a short accurate throw is required to stop a single or to attempt a run out. This can be a very attacking skill, putting the batsman under pressure, therefore a good technique is essential, especially if the ball is travelling quickly or spinning.
- Attack the ball remaining balanced and low, watching the ball at all times.
- Pick the ball up on the outside of your throwing foot. So, if you pick the ball up with your right hand, the ball should be on the outside of your right foot.
- Your fingers should be pointing down and brush the ground on pick-up.
- Stay low during the pick up and release to prevent a mis-field.
- When releasing the ball, the throwing arm and your body follow through towards the target. This is essential to ensure an accurate throw towards the stumps or wicket keeper to insure a clean run out.
Crow Hop & Throw
This skill is usually used when the ball has travelled into the outfield and a long throw is required in order to stop a second run and an accurate throw may result in a run out. You will notice by the images that before the ball is thrown, that forward momentum is achieved by the Crow-Hop and a strong base is established. This is the key to a strong and accurate throw.
- Attack the ball remaining low and balanced, watching the ball at all times.
- Pick the ball up between your feet in a slight side-on position. Your back foot should add as an extra barrier just in case the ball is not picked up cleanly.
- Your fingers should be pointing down and brush the ground on pick-up.
- Stay low during the pick up to prevent a mis-field as you are close to the ball.
- The crow-hop allows you to create some forward momentum towards your target before throwing the ball. This will generate more distance in the throw. With this skill your throwing foot (back leg) passes behind your non-throwing foot (front foot).
- Bring your non-throwing foot forward to create a fairly wide, but stong base before releasing the ball.
- Use your non throwing arm to direct your throw and to release the ball at or above shoulder level.