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SKILL GUIDE / 04 PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES

Cricket wicketkeeping drills

Watch early. Receive softly.

Use soft-ball feeds to practise a balanced ready position, small adjustment steps and controlled receiving. Add a stump target only after the keeper can gather without reaching wildly.

How to use these wicketkeeping drills

Keeping drills need space behind the receiver and a feed matched to confidence. These introductory activities are not a substitute for qualified instruction or protective equipment in hard-ball cricket. Do not introduce a live bat into a close-range beginner drill.

A simple progression

  1. Soft-hands receiving — Receive gentle feeds without stiff or snatching hands.
  2. Lateral shuffle — Move sideways into line before receiving the ball.
  3. Bounce-and-gather — Track a predictable bounce and gather the ball under control.
  4. Gather-to-stumps — Secure the ball before making a controlled movement to the stumps.

Choose the right challenge

Use a shorter, slower feed if the keeper is snatching at the ball or losing their position. When receiving becomes comfortable, change the feed slightly to one side. Leave enough space behind the keeper and keep other players outside the receiving lane.

Make feedback useful

Watch whether the keeper tracks the ball into their hands and stays balanced after receiving it. Ask how the catch felt before suggesting one adjustment. Avoid asking for faster feeds to make the activity look more advanced.

PICK AN ACTIVITY

Wicketkeeping drills

COMMON QUESTIONS

Before the next session

Which wicketkeeping activity should I start with?

Start with gentle, predictable feeds so the keeper can practise getting into line and gathering the ball. Look for balanced footwork and a secure catch before changing the bounce or direction. Move back to an easier feed if the keeper starts snatching at the ball.

How long should I keep the group on one activity?

The card times are starting points, including explanation and rest. Shorten a station if attention or control declines. Bowling workload rules and individual needs take priority over the timer.

How do I know when to make it harder?

Check whether the keeper watches a gentle feed all the way into the hands and can move into line before receiving it. If they snatch or reach across their body, slow the feed and bring it closer to the middle. Only then introduce a small sideways adjustment.

EXPLORE NEXT

Build a rounded practice.

Batting drills ↗Bowling drills ↗Fielding drills ↗Running between wickets drills ↗Warm-up games ↗

Original Cricstars practice activities • Published 17 October 2026

Adapt every activity to the player, space and conditions. Age guides are starting points, not ability tests. Read the safety guide · How to use this library