How to Practice Throwing

A fast, accurate throw turns singles into run-outs. Throwing is a skill worth practising on its own rather than only during fielding drills.

The basic action

Step towards the target with the opposite foot to your throwing arm. Point your front shoulder at the target, then rotate your hips and shoulders through the throw. The arm follows the body, not the other way round.

Grip

Hold the ball across the seam with two fingers on top and the thumb underneath. This gives a straighter flight than gripping along the seam.

Where to aim

Aim at the top of the stumps for a run-out chance, so the keeper or bowler can take it at a comfortable height. Throwing at the base makes the ball hard to gather and easy to misfield.

Building it up

• Start at ten metres and throw easily until the action feels smooth.
• Increase distance gradually rather than starting long.
• Finish with a few flat, hard throws while still fresh.

Protecting your arm

Throwing hard when cold is a common cause of shoulder and elbow trouble. Warm up first, stop when the action gets sloppy, and give your arm rest days between heavy sessions.