Being able to bowl leg spin well is rare quality; if you do that then you are valuable to any captain at any level.

Good leg spinners seem to need so much; a canny tactical awareness, steely personality, and a phalanx of variations on top of a fizzing, dipping leg break that turns a foot on any wicket.

Leg spin bowling may be an art, but it’s one that can be learned.

Would you cheat when you do your umpiring stint? 

Imagine standing at the bowler’s end, hearing and seeing the slight nick and not giving it out. That’s cheating.

I was returning to the game after a 5-year absence. During the second game, we were in the field, I was wicket keeping and we had appeal after appeal turned down by the opposition umpires. I was convinced a couple of times that the batsman had got an edge, or been plumb in front.

It’s the long awaited return of the PitchVision Academy Cricket Show!

A new series, a new format and a brand new contributor.

This drill is part of the PitchVision Academy fielding drills series, for more in this series click here.

Purpose: To develop chase, pick up and throw skills in a realistic game situation where decision making is important. Also develops the batting skill of running between the wickets.

So you want to take up wicketkeeping but you are worried your hands will be like Teflon and your feet buried in concrete?

Coming soon we will have some exclusive new free content to take you from total beginner to high-class stumper. Get the free newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it.

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

In limited over matches there are times when the batsman is on top and an off-spinner is bowling.

Every year for more than 20 seasons I have gone through the same ritual after Christmas with a variety of club cricket teams.

The kitbag is dragged from the shed, and I find myself in a dusty sports hall trying to reacquaint myself with the faces of my team-mates that I haven’t seen for months.

The bowler’s have a little stretch while the batsmen fight about who is going to go first (or second actually, because no one wants to go first).

Stretching is like drinking more water. You know you should do it, but you never seem to get round to it.

But if you do aim to stretch more in future then why not get a head start with a stretching series from the cutting edge by strength coach Eric Cressey?

This drill is part of the PitchVision Academy fielding drills series, for more in this series click here.

Purpose: To combine outfield pick up and throwing with realistic decision-making for fielding and running between the wickets for batters.

Cricket is not only about skill, intellect is also required to play cricket. It’s not a brainless sport, in fact it is the most ‘scientifically technical’ sport in the world. So if you have to have perfect technique and an intelligent brain to play cricket, you have be to step ahead to become a good coach. Here are some tips you can find useful while coaching cricketers: