Anticipation is crucial in the art of wicketkeeping, but it is an often-neglected skill. That said, improving your anticipation as a wicketkeeper may be as easy as closing your eyes.

The principle is simple: As a keeper your eyes and brain work together to judge the flight and bounce of the ball as it is delivered. The quicker you can make this judgement, the faster you can get into position for a clean take.

South African fielding legend Colin Bland is often thought of as the best fielder who ever played.

He is certainly a benchmark for others to aspire to in their own fielding performance.

Duncan Fletcher thinks his skills can be emulated by modern players:

"I've got ten boys at Western Province who are better than he ever was." Fletcher, while coaching Glamorgan, once told Steve James.

Is this a typical practice session for you:

• Everyone has a bowl with a few old balls (even the non-bowlers)
• Everyone has 10 minutes in the net that turns into a bit of a slog
• When the seamers get tired they bowl spin.
• There is very little organised fielding practice.
• Things can feel aimless and get repetitive.

Sound familiar?

Players practice a lot more than they used to, but in many cases the practice is being wasted because there is no goal.

There is a gap in attitude between the amateur and professional games.

Club cricket players, after they have finished in colts/youth teams are left to fend for themselves. This usually leads to players rarely practicing, never correcting their mistakes and never striving to achieve more.

How much are standards kept at 1960s levels in the club game while first class cricket makes great leaps forward in fitness, fielding skills and innovative tactics?

Top coach Duncan Fletcher is a big advocate of making fitness training both cricket specific and fun.

How does he do it?

Combine fielding drills with fitness training.

For example: 'Ten Catches' where the coach hits high and difficult catches until ten are caught. It's designed to leave you gasping but you will be fitter after a few sessions and it's much more engaging that going on a jog.

Questions:

• What do you do if you want to turn a comfortably run 2 into a well run 3?
• How do you reach those chases to the boundary to save a certain 4?
• How do you get more power into your delivery stride?

Answer:

There are many practice drills to improve your running between the wickets. The best drills are hard work, great practice and good fun.

Here are some to try. I welcome your feedback for any other cricket drills that you have found to work.

Run Outs

This drill combines competition, running skills, fielding skills and fitness.

Running between the wickets is both an art and a science. Good alert running not only keeps the score ticking over, but also it upsets the opposition�s rhythm and puts them under pressure. Every player should aim to improve their running between the wickets, even number 11.

Fitness training for cricket is a contentious issue. Should you consider traditional gym work and running to improve your fitness for cricket?

I believe fitness is essential for almost every level of cricketer, but in the interest of balance lets review both sides:

The argument against fitness training