After spending many years working in cricket coaching departments, there are two phrases I hear almost every day that genuinely concern me. At first, they sound harmless. In fact, most coaches probably say them with good intentions. But over time, I’ve seen how these two phrases can actually create confusion, poor habits, and frustration in young players. The two phrases are: “Foot to the pitch of the ball” “Enjoy the game” Let’s break down why both can become problematic if

When it comes to batting in cricket, players often focus on big shots, footwork, or timing. But there’s one fundamental that quietly underpins everything: how you grip the bat. It might seem simple, but your grip can make the difference between clean, controlled stroke play and wild, inconsistent hitting. If you get this right early, everything else in your batting becomes easier. Let’s break it down using a powerful and memorable analogy. The Butcher and the Painter To under

When it comes to batting, most players focus on big things - power, timing, or scoring shots. But one of the most important fundamentals often gets ignored: Your bottom hand grip. Get this wrong, and it doesn’t matter how talented you are - your shot-making, balance, and consistency will always be limited. Why the Bottom Hand Grip Matters For a right-handed batter, the right hand (bottom hand) plays a crucial role in controlling the bat. The correct grip position is simple: T

In cricket, progression is rarely a straight line. For FCCA player Daniel Burton, his recent selection for the Scotland U19 squad is not just an achievement - it’s a reflection of resilience, patience, and doing the right things over a sustained period of time. Daniel, a left-arm seamer who qualifies for Scotland through his Edinburgh roots, earned his place in the national U19 setup after impressing at trials earlier this year. It’s a significant milestone and one that highl

One of the most common phrases young cricketers hear today is: “You need to dominate the bowler.” It’s repeated in sessions, camps, and matches. But very few players are actually taught how to do it properly. Domination in cricket isn’t about swinging hard or playing random, aggressive shots. It’s about controlling the bowler’s length, dictating the game, and applying pressure through correct technique. In this blog, we break down exactly how to dominate both fast bowling an

In cricket batting, players often focus on timing, shot selection, and power. But underneath all of that sits one foundation that determines everything: balance. Without balance, even the best-looking technique breaks down under pressure - and even your power hitting in cricket becomes inconsistent. The challenge is - most players don’t actually know whether they are balanced or not. So how do you check it? A Simple Test That Tells You Instantly There is a very simple way to

When Leading Schools Recognise Your Work: What It Says About FCCA In high-performance sport, recognition doesn’t come from noise - it comes from standards. That’s why it matters when leading independent school programmes reference First Class Cricket Academy (FCCA) within their cricket environments. But the real story isn’t just the mention. It’s why that recognition exists. A Programme Operating at Elite School Level Top independent school cricket programmes are built on: -

Darren Jordan is one of FCCA’s most experienced coaches, bringing over 15 years of coaching knowledge combined with a strong playing background at the Premier League level. Having progressed through the Surrey Pathway , Darren went on to play senior cricket in the Sussex Premier Division , representing clubs such as Dorking and Horsham . An accomplished all-rounder , he developed his game through a traditional pathway built on strong fundamentals and consistent performance. O

In modern cricket, especially in the white-ball formats, power hitting has become one of the most talked-about skills. From T20 leagues to international cricket, players are expected to clear boundaries with ease and dominate bowlers from ball one. But here’s the reality - most young players are getting power hitting completely wrong. In this video, FCCA Head Coach Raj Chaudhuri breaks down the fundamentals of power hitting and explains why chasing sixes too early can actual

Introduction Alex Edwards is a former professional cricketer and high-performance coach at FCCA Cricket Academy . With experience in first-class cricket, international development squads, and over 10 years of coaching , Alex specialises in helping young players develop fast bowling skills, batting technique, and performance mindset . Having played for Sussex County Cricket Club, MCC Young Cricketers, and England Under-19 , Alex understands the pathway from junior cricket to p

One of the most challenging lines for young cricketers to face is the middle and leg stump line. It’s a line that looks simple on the surface; but in reality, it exposes technical weaknesses, poor footwork, and limited game awareness. At FCCA Cricket Academy, Raj Chaudhuri works extensively with players on solving this exact problem. In this session, he breaks down why the middle and leg line is tricky, and how to play it correctly with confidence and control. Why Is the Mid

Fast bowling is one of the most technical and physically demanding skills in cricket. While many young bowlers focus purely on speed, the real foundation of pace, accuracy, and movement comes from strong fundamentals and repeatable mechanics. In this guide, former Sussex, Middlesex and Derbyshire all-rounder - and England U15, U17 and U19 representative - Alex Edwards breaks down the five key phases of fast and medium pace bowling , along with the correct seam grip to maximi

Why Fundamentals Still Matter: Real Stories from FCCA Families At FCCA (First Class Cricket Academy), we have always believed in one simple philosophy: Strong fundamentals build strong cricketers. In an era where young players are often encouraged to play big shots early and focus on results over development, FCCA continues to take a different path - one rooted in technical excellence, discipline, and long-term growth. The results speak for themselves. “Stick With Him - His F

Off spin bowling is an art. It’s not just about turning the ball - it’s about control, rhythm, revolutions, and understanding how your body works through the crease. In this masterclass, former Delhi First-Class cricketer Harry shares his experience and technical insights into becoming a more effective off spinner. Having learned from the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi during his playing days, Harry breaks down the core fundamentals that every spinner - right-arm or left-arm - m

One of the most common questions young batsmen ask me is: “Should I always finish my shots?” It’s a simple question - but the answer separates disciplined batsmen from reckless ones. Let’s make this very clear: You do NOT need to finish every drive. In fact, finishing at the wrong time is one of the biggest technical and game-awareness mistakes I see in young cricketers. The Problem with Over-Finishing Modern cricket, highlight reels, and social media have convinced young pla

In cricket, we often talk about cover drives, pull shots, and big sixes. But long before any of that happens, there is one critical moment that determines everything that follows - your setup . In this session, Raj Chaudhuri breaks down one of the most important - and often overlooked - aspects of batting: the starting position. This discussion is particularly aimed at young cricketers aged 11–12 , who are just beginning their cricket journey. At this stage, habits are formed

In this First Class Cricket Academy (FCCA) discussion, Raj Chaudhuri and Harry share their journey from playing First Class cricket in India to coaching in England for over two decades. Both bring genuine playing pedigree - Raj representing Tripura and East Zone , and Harry representing Delhi in India’s First Class system - before building long-term coaching careers in the UK. Their experience on both sides of the cricketing world gives them a unique perspective on how the

Raj Explaining Top Hand Extension In this video, Raj Chaudhuri explains the correct technique for top hand extension in batting - one of the most important fundamentals for improving timing, especially when playing on the front foot. One of the most common questions young cricketers ask is: “How do you time the ball properly?” Timing isn’t about power. It isn’t about swinging harder. And it certainly isn’t about trying to hit the ball early. According to Raj, true timing com

As our 13-week run of winter coaching comes to an end for 2025 this weekend, we would like to thank our sponsors, SP Commissioning. SP Commissioning have been supporting us for three years now. The aim of their sponsorship is to allow talented state school children from 11 to 18, who otherwise would not be able to practise enough, to improve their skills with us. Each year SP Commissioning have sponsored 26 weeks of a 3-hour group session which benefits 16 youngers chosen by

First Class Cricket Academy has linked up with former ECB Head of Coach Development Nathan Wood and his company CricketMind to provide access to specialist online mindset coaching and sports psychology for our cricketers. As part of this collaboration, for every FCCA player who signs up with CricketMind, they will get 10% off their initial booking. Nathan Wood spent six years working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), initially as International and Specialist Coa