Ravi Bopara - Twenty20 skills

With the ICC Twenty20 World Cup taking place this month in the West Indies we will be entertained by moments of flare and athleticism from a new breed of cricketer. The demands of Twenty20 call into question the traditional coaching techniques.

Regardless of the format being played there are clearly some non-negotiables. Many of the skills tested in longer formats of the game are still relevant, but some skills have evolved with the growth of Twenty20. Should we be teaching cricketers switch shots, a variety of sweep shots, slower balls and diving stops? Speaking to current international players the answer seems to be an emphatic “yes”.

It is not just new techniques, either. To the untrained eye Twenty20 may look like a slugfest, but successful teams and players tend to be the cleverest. Those with tactical acumen will win at this form of the game. Players need to be taught how to execute a game plan before reaching the pressure cooker atmosphere of international cricket.

One player who has taken to Twenty20 cricket more successfully than most is England batsman Ravi Bopara. Speaking exclusively to the ECBCA website he told us how it is important to encourage youngsters to try out Twenty20 skills from an early age.