Chris Donaldson, a former Olympic sprinter who is now the strength and conditioning coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, believes that acceleration can form a crucial part of a player’s attributes. Sprinting and getting to the ball can give the fielder that extra second to induce a run-out which can prove to be very pivotal in a game. Donaldson’s goal is to make KKR a brilliant fielding side.
“From fielding, diving to chasing the ball to the boundary, doing that runout, all these things contribute a major part to the game. You can make quite a difference in the first two meters of how you accelerate. It is something we work hard on,” Chris Donaldson told Hindustan Times.
Chris Donaldson has prepared some difficult but effective drills for Kolkata Knight Riders players
In order for the players to excel, Chris Donaldson has prepared some difficult but effective drills for the Kolkata Knight Riders players. For a bowler, the run-up is one of the most important factors on which the pace depends, and thus he wants to put a lot of emphasis on that. He is hopeful that he is able to transfer to the players some of the skills that he has learned in his lie as a sprinter.
“It’s not trying to change everything because people here are very good at what they do. (But) Track and field deals with all sorts of movement patterns, the fundamentals of the way people move, and jump. I will hopefully be able to use some of the skills I have learned and developed and help people deal with their running issues. (For bowlers) I might be able to help from the movement point of view, make the run-up more efficient or look at the biomechanics of the way they are landing,” Chris Donaldson said.
Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2020 campaign against the defending champions Mumbai Indians on 23rd September at Abu Dhabi.
