Underarm throws and flicks for close cricket returns

Choose the correct situation

Use an underarm return when the distance is comfortably within control and the receiver is ready. It may follow a nearby pickup or a hand-to-hand transfer toward the stumps. If a longer return requires forceful reaching, use another method rather than stretching the underarm action beyond a reliable range.

Choose among gather-and-return, flick and overarm

The useful comparison is the time until the intended receiver controls the ball, including mistakes. A one-handed flick that escapes the fingers can lose more time than a secure gather followed by a short underarm return. An underarm action stretched beyond its reliable distance may be less useful than a balanced overarm throw or a relay. Begin with the situation rather than deciding beforehand that the most compact-looking movement must be used.

For a close soft-ball drill, try a straightforward gather-and-return from the same rolled feed before trying to merge the actions. Keep the target unchanged. If the second method is faster only on its best attempt but frequently bobbles, retain the reliable method for that task and practise the variation separately. Non-dominant-hand work also needs its own baseline; saving a hand transfer is useful only when collection and direction remain controlled.

Keep the pickup and release connected

Move the feet into a stable line, gather securely and let the hand travel toward the target. Watch the ball into the hand before looking fully toward the receiver. A one-handed pickup is useful only if the player can actually secure the ball; a bobble removes the time advantage.

Aim for a usable result

If a keeper is waiting, a controlled return to the hands can be better than an attempted direct hit. If the wicket is uncovered, a direct-hit attempt may be appropriate, but make sure another fielder can back it up. Read the whole situation, including the runner’s distance.

How do I practise a quick underarm pickup?

Start without a time limit. Roll, approach, gather and release in one controlled sequence. After several clean repetitions, shorten the gap between pickup and release without adding extra force. A partner can watch whether the eyes leave the ball early. Increase speed only while the clean-pickup rate remains stable.

Should I throw with my non-dominant hand?

A short non-dominant-hand return can be useful when changing hands would cost time, but it needs its own controlled practice. Begin with very short soft-ball returns and an obvious target. Do not introduce it for the first time during a pressured hard-ball match situation. A secure gather and accurate conventional return may still be the better choice.

Score a received return differently from a direct hit

For a received return, define a reachable area around the keeper’s presented hands and finish the repetition when the ball is controlled. For a direct-hit task, use the wicket as the target and provide backup; a ball that merely passes close to the stumps is not a hit. Keep these scoring rules separate even if both start from the same rolled pickup. A low return aimed deliberately at an uncovered wicket should not be marked as a failed glove-height throw, and a comfortable throw into the keeper’s hands should not be called a missed direct hit. State which task applies before the feed, then introduce a target choice only after the player understands both results.

A run-out scenario with two different correct targets

Set two clearly labelled receivers within comfortable range and describe an imaginary running situation before each roll. In the first version, the keeper covers the near wicket and the runner is close. Aim for a reachable return that lets the keeper complete the action. In the second, the near runner is safe and the far receiver has the realistic chance. Choose the farther end only if the underarm distance remains suitable; otherwise state and use the alternative return method.

Award separate marks for a clean collection, the correct destination and a usable arrival. The distinction matters because an accurate throw to the wrong end is not a complete success. After the call is understood, delay it slightly while keeping feed pace unchanged. The player must secure the ball while retaining the target instruction. Stop the repetition when the receiver controls the return, then clear the lane before another roll. This avoids the common drill problem of rewarding frantic repeat throws after the original opportunity has already disappeared.

Common errors in run-out drills

Placing the target too far away, practising only perfect feeds and forgetting the backup fielder make drills less useful. Add a slightly angled roll only after basic accuracy is secure. End a repetition after the return is controlled, not after a loose ball has been chased across another group’s practice area.

Reset the drill before it becomes a scramble

After each return, wait until the target area is clear and the next ball is ready. Do not keep feeding while a player collects a miss behind the wicket. A useful set might contain ten rolls with a single target, followed by ten with a choice between two targets. Record clean pickup, correct choice and accuracy. This reveals whether the next step should be better gathering, a clearer decision or more release control. It also keeps the exercise from rewarding a hurried second throw that creates another uncontrolled ball.