Striking (Cricket)

Striking is the most complex of the fundamental movement skills. Striking can be introduced in the Foundation year and by Year 2 most children should be able to demonstrate a two-handed strike. Most children will not instinctively know how to demonstrate a two-handed strike. Cricket striking involves reacting to a bouncing, spinning ball with a flat bat, requiring precise timing and varied shots based on ball delivery.
Teaching cues
- Grip – Hold the bat with both hands, one on top of the other.
- Stand – Stand with your knees bent, like a surfer ready to move.
- Bat Lift – Lift your bat back, keeping your hands close to your body.
- Move & Swing – Move your body towards the ball step and swing the bat smoothly to hit.
Teaching strategies
Body Positioning
- Start side-on to the bowler, keeping your eyes on the ball at all times.
Equipment
- Begin having children use their hands to strike soft balls or balloons hanging from trees to get used to the motion.
- Progress to using pool noodles as bats to hit larger, soft balls to help with grip and swing.
- Set up dome cones for hitting balls off the ground, teaching basic bat-ball contact.
- Use foot markers to show where children should stand to ensure proper positioning.
- Practice hitting soft balls off small cricket tees to introduce the motion of hitting while standing side-on.
Power
- Focus on hitting for distance, not accuracy, so beginners feel successful when making contact.
Fun Games
- Play games like Noodle Run and Pirate Treasure to introduce/reinforce striking and running skills.
Equipment
- Use plastic cricket bats to strike soft balls, gradually progressing to harder rubber balls.
- Encourage children to step towards the target with their front foot, use markers to help with this (step & squash the cone).
- Focus on children striking the ball as hard as possible and following through with bat around the body.
- Introduce hitting a moving ball by rolling a soft ball to the batter.
Fun Games
- Introduce games like Rapid Fire (Striking) or Fetch Cricket.
Challenges
- Introduce accuracy challenges with games like Precision Strike.
- Progress to hitting a moving ball that is underarm thrown or bowled by the bowler.
Fun Games
- Try games that employ some strategy - 6 Or Safe and Golden Child or Diamond Cricket.
Skill criteria
- Stand side-on to the bowler, with your knees bent to stay balanced.
- Keep your eyes on the ball the whole time.
- Hold the bat with your hands close together, top hand firm and bottom hand relaxed.
- Step forward with your front foot and keep the bat straight.
- Turn your hips and shoulders as you swing the bat towards the ball.
- Hit the ball with your arms straight, making sure the bat is in front of your foot.
- Follow through with the bat, letting it swing around your body for a smooth finish.
Common errors
- Incorrect grip – hands apart or the wrong way around
- Standing front on to the target
- Not stepping
- No weight transfer
- No follow-through
- Not watching the ball