Footwork problems are almost never SPEED problems — they are decision problems that show up in the feet. A batter who reads length early looks quick-footed at half the effort; a batter who decides late looks slow on the fastest legs in the club. The fix is a still, balanced base at release, an early forward-or-back call, and the discipline to commit fully rather than hedge on the crease.
Moving before the ball is bowled. A big early trigger still in motion at release means your weight is committed before you know the length — every ball then looks too quick.
The half-step. Neither forward to the pitch nor back to the stumps: stranded on the crease, playing the ball at the worst possible distance. Half-forward is where edges live.
Feet pointing the wrong way. A front foot planted at mid-on closes you off; the hips can't open and every off-side ball becomes a reach.
Watch a good club batter and count the steps: fewer than you think.
Shadow forward-back on a call. Have anything call 'up' or 'back' (a partner, a metronome app, a wall rebound) and commit fully each way — ten minutes builds the decision habit without a ball.
One-line drop-ball. Drop or bounce a ball on a length, stride to the pitch of it, defend. The measure is whether your head finishes over the ball, not how fast the foot moved.
Tennis-ball wall work. Off the wall, the ball's length varies naturally — read, commit, play. See the tennis-ball practice guide for the full setup.
Speed drills help sprinters; batters need earlier decisions. If your feet feel slow, film one over and watch when your first movement STARTS — almost always the problem is a late or unfinished trigger, not slow legs. Fix the timing of the decision and the same feet look quick.
Against spin, forward (smother the turn); against genuine pace, back more than feels natural (buy time). Against medium pace, no default at all — a rehearsed neutral base and an honest read. A pre-decided front press is fine as a trigger only if you can still push back off it.
Still enough that your head is level and not travelling. A small rhythm movement is fine — plenty of good players tap or press — but it must be FINISHED as the bowler lets go. If the ball is released while you're mid-move, you are choosing your shot before you've seen the delivery.
Sticks watches your net session through your phone and speaks this exact kind of coaching in your earbuds, one focus per ball — in English or Hindi. Video never leaves your phone, and it's free to start.