How to lose a friend immediately? Run them out....

BEN SCOTT: The former Middlesex wicketkeeper talks through the best way of preventing run outs

Turning Mechanics

Many sports have turning requirements but none quite as important as in cricket! Some players can deal in boundaries but for the nudgers and guiders like me, turning singles into twos or twos into threes is vital.

So how can we improve our turning? Let’s look at some of the turning mechanics first and think about the physics.

The way in is the fastest way out! 

We have all heard the phrase “he turns like the QE2!” or “cheese turns quicker than him!”. Often the reason we turn so slowly is because we actually add an extra step to the run by taking a lateral step (step sideways) once we’ve reached the line and put our bat in instead of efficiently pivoting on our inside leg.

This extra step could could see you trudging back to the pavilion. Some people even do the run in an arc and can add even more distance to their run.

Prepare your turn early, slide the bat in, pivot on the spot and run straight back the way you came.

Deceleration 

Why do Formula One drivers slow down into a corner? So they can get the maximum acceleration out of the turn. This plays a very important part in allowing you to pivot on the spot and return in the same direction.

If you approach the crease too quickly, your weight and balance will become increasingly difficult to shift and make it harder for you to hold your line. So what helps us slow down?

As with most agility-based movements, keeping your centre of gravity low to the ground will help control the weight of your head, so as you approach the crease, start to get lower, not higher, as you slow down to pivot.

Drive the leg to generate the power 

Once the legs are positioned you are now ready to explode into the next run. This is the time to ‘drive’ your outside leg through and high, creating momentum and power heading back the way you came in. Driving the leg forward in this fashion requires strength throughout the glute, quads and hip structure.

What drills can I do to help with my turning?

For some people this would be complete re-structuring of the way they turn and can take a bit of getting used to but it will dramatically improve your speed and agility. Therefore I want to keep the drills simple to start with. Give these two exercises, leg swaps and foot slams, a go and see if you can start to turn your turn around!