In the sixth and final article in the series, former Ireland coach Adi Birrell advises on how to make your team's training sessions more effective.

'Training sessions can quickly become monotonous. Here are a few tips as to how you can make your training more effective and enjoyable.

Divide the Group: Split the group into three groups, batsmen, pace bowlers and spinners and wicket-keepers. Every player should be aiming to become competent in at least two of these disciplines. That way your captain has more options which are vital in match situations.

Spinners and Keepers:  Practising together allows the keepers to practice up to the stumps and when the ball is spinning. Your side should have a backup keeper who can spend valuable time working with and learning from the first choice keeper. A few batsmen should be aiming to provide a support spin option.The spinner should be targeting certain marked areas of the pitch.

The role of the keepers is also to valuable constructive feedback to the spinners. In fact this positive constructive feedback applies to all team members. The idea is to create an atmosphere of constructive support where team members are all the time learning from and coaching each other.

Batsmen: The batsmen should focus on certain specific areas of their game they want to improve. If you want to practice against the short ball, have a team mate bounce a tennis ball at you from a short distance and work on selecting which balls to leave and which to pull or hook. If you want to practice playing straight, place some cones and try to play within the "V" between mid-off and mid-on. There are many ways to work on your game - be creative and have fun.  If you can use a bowling machine, do.The more you practise the shots the easier they will become in a match situation. The aim is that they become second nature.

Mix it up and switch the groups around. Half the batters should stay in the nets and the spinners should come in to bowl against them. The other half of the batsmen can work on their bowling either by working closely with the spinners or pace men. By talking the guys will be able to come up with "win-win" practice where both can benefit. For example if a batsman wants to practice the sweep the spinner can facilitate this by putting it on the spot but preventing the sweep through variations in pace, flight and spin.

Good communication, good feedback is key for effective training.

Pace Bowlers: Pace bowlers should again work as a unit and practice hitting spots on the pitch which should be marked out. Think about the line and length you need to bowl. Practice hitting these spots over and over again.

When you have practiced your stock ball think about a variation such as a yorker or a slower ball. Try to reach a point where you are confident enough to try it in a match.

Again, constructive feedback is key to effective training.

A Two Hour Training Session:

Overall aim is to, within the two hours, have every player have the opportunity to work on two areas of their game in a supportive atmosphere.

• First 40 minutes: stay in the initial three groups and identify and work on areas that need improving
• 40-80 minutes: half the team should move to the next area and work on improving the second strength of their game. For example, one of the two spinners should leave the spinners' practice and start to work on their batting with one of the specialist batsmen and vice versa
• 80-120 minutes: the players who didn't switch the first time should do so now and begin working on their second discipline. The players who have been working on their second specialism should revert to their first to help those who are working on their second skill

Best of luck,

Adi.'