Cricket Net Practice Explained: How International Teams Prepare for Matches
How international cricket teams use net sessions — batting nets (throwdowns vs bowlers, specific shot practice, match simulation), bowling nets (line and length rehearsal, new ball practice), fielding drills (catching cradles, ground fielding, reaction drills), video analysis, and how preparation differs for Test vs T20 matches.
A professional cricket team's match preparation is structured around net sessions, video analysis, and physical conditioning. The concept of 'nets' — practising in prepared cage-like areas where bowlers can bowl to batsmen safely — is cricket's primary preparation format. International teams typically have a net session the day before a match, sometimes two days before, and a brief optional hit the morning of the match. The structure and intensity of nets varies by format: Test match preparation is more detailed (longer sessions, specific bowler match-ups, extensive video analysis); T20 preparation is shorter (concentrated on specific shots and match scenarios).
Batting Nets: Throwdowns, Bowlers, and Machines
Batting net sessions use multiple ball-delivery methods: (1) Throwdowns — a coach or support staff member (often the batting coach) throws balls in a high arc, simulating back-of-a-length deliveries at pace the batsman can control. Used for specific shot development (pull shots, cut shots, drives) without the bowler-batsman power balance. (2) Net bowlers — domestic or academy players who bowl to international batsmen in the nets, simulating the opposing attack. Curators prepare net pitches specifically to replicate anticipated match conditions (extra grass for a seaming match; dry, breaking surface for a spinning pitch). (3) Bowling machines — Merlyn or similar spin-simulation machines generate specific types of delivery (leg-spin, off-spin, in-swing) at adjustable pace and length. Useful for practising against deliveries that are difficult to replicate through live bowling.
Bowling and Fielding Drills
Fast bowling nets focus on: line and length marking (a target area painted on the net pitch that bowlers aim for — similar to McGrath's training method); new ball swinging (specific wrist and seam positions rehearsed against a batting net, with the ball replaced every 5 overs to maintain new-ball conditions); and yorker practice (bowling at the batsman's feet under pressure conditions — wide or high delivery). Fielding drills in modern international teams include: (1) Catching cradle sessions (a machine shoots balls at different heights and angles for fielders to catch in a formation, building reflexes); (2) Ground fielding — coaches hit balls in different directions for fielders to field and return to both wickets; (3) Long-barrier fielding for boundary saving; (4) Slip cordon catching (specialist slip catchers practice with a 'slip cradle' — a board that deflects ball edges at realistic angles and speed).
T20 vs Test Preparation Differences
Test match preparation (day before the match): typically 60-90 minutes in the nets, with all batsmen getting 15-20 minute sessions facing specific net bowlers simulating the opposing attack. Bowlers bowl 3-4 overs each at full intensity in the nets (shorter than a match spell to preserve energy). The team meeting includes 60-90 minutes of video analysis on the opposition batting order and ground conditions. T20 preparation: shorter net sessions (30-45 minutes), focused on specific power-hitting drills (catching practice for power plays, death-over scenarios), and match simulation (end-game scenarios where the team bats specific overs 16-20 of a T20 against high-pressure bowling). Mental rehearsal (visualisation coaching, where players mentally rehearse their innings before a match) has become standard in elite teams, following its adoption from individual sports (athletics, tennis, golf).
Frequently asked questions
What are 'throwdowns' in cricket?
Throwdowns are practice balls delivered by a coach or support staff by hand — typically thrown in a high arc from a short distance (5-7 metres) to simulate specific deliveries (back-of-a-length, yorkers, full-toss) that the batsman can practise specific shots against. Unlike live bowling, throwdowns allow the batsman to control the pace of practice, request specific lengths, and focus on particular shots. Most international teams have a dedicated 'throwdowns' specialist on their support staff.
How do cricket teams use video analysis?
Teams use video software (Pitch Vision, ProBatter, DartFish) to create 'wagon wheel' scoring maps (where a batsman scores their runs), 'dismissal maps' (where and how they have been dismissed), pitch maps (where bowlers are pitching the ball), and specific match-up data (how batsman A performs against left-arm swing vs right-arm pace). This analysis informs field placement, bowling strategy, and targeted preparation in the nets against the specific deliveries the opposing bowler uses most.
How long do international cricketers spend in the nets before a match?
Typically 60-90 minutes in the formal net session the day before a match, often with an optional brief session (20-30 minutes) the morning of the match. During long tours, teams also have practice sessions mid-tour without specific match-prep focus. Bowlers typically bowl shorter spells in nets than in matches to preserve energy — fast bowlers may bowl 3-4 overs of full intensity in nets vs 15-20 overs in a Test match day.