The Rise of Solo Cricket Practice in the UK

For decades, cricket training in the UK has come with multiple barriers. Annual club memberships, seasonal fees, and fixed training commitments can be inaccessible for many, especially young players, casual cricketers, and families balancing multiple expenses. Add to that the cost of coaching, travel, and equipment, and regular participation can quickly feel out of reach. Solo cricket practice is emerging as a response to this reality: short, pay-per-session or flexible membership-based training that lowers the financial and commitment threshold to play.

Rather than asking players to commit upfront to a full season or programme, solo practice allows them to train when they can afford it, when they have time, and at an intensity that suits them. It’s a shift from “all or nothing” participation to something far more inclusive.

Why solo cricket practice is growing

The growth of solo cricket practice reflects how modern life intersects with sport. Time-poor adults struggle with fixed midweek sessions. Young players want more frequent, high-quality repetition outside scheduled coaching. Lapsed cricketers want to return to the game without pressure or judgment.

In the UK, the weather and daylight only compound the issue. Outdoor nets are seasonal, and indoor slots are often limited. Solo practice removes these constraints by offering consistent, year-round access, with focused sessions that fit around work, school, and family commitments.

This is why formats like HiTZ Cricket, powered by BatFast’s Cricket Simulators and automated training technology, are seeing strong, sustained usage across the calendar year.

Clubs as the engine of access

One of the most important aspects of this shift is that it’s happening within clubs, not away from them. HiTZ Cricket operates across 11 UK venues, including Chigwell, Bethnal Green, East Molesey, Guildford, Birmingham, Manchester, Doncaster, Bristol, Bradford, Bolton, and Southampton.

Each venue partners directly with grassroots clubs, helping them repurpose underutilised indoor spaces into automated, operator-less training cages. This creates a new revenue stream for clubs, while giving players affordable, year-round access to high-quality practice. It’s a model that strengthens clubs financially while widening participation.

Who solo cricket practice serves

HiTZ Cricket has been designed around three core audiences:

• Developing cricketers looking for accessible, repeatable training
• Established cricketers maintaining form around busy schedules
• Lapsed or occasional players reconnecting with the game for enjoyment and community

Sessions are bookable online, require no coach or second player, and start at 30 minutes. Players train inside BatFast-powered cages that track deliveries, store performance data, and build individual player profiles, turning independent practice into measurable progression.

Usage levels highlight how embedded this has become. HiTZ venues average nearly 45,000 balls delivered per month per venue, sustained throughout the year, a clear signal that solo practice is now part of players’ regular routines.

A quiet but meaningful shift

Solo cricket practice isn’t replacing teams, nets, or coaching. It’s filling the gaps between them, lowering costs, reducing friction, and helping more people stay connected to cricket on their own terms.

As participation models continue to evolve, club-based, technology-enabled solo practice looks set to become a cornerstone of how cricket is trained, sustained, and grown in the UK.

FAQs

What is solo cricket practice?
Solo cricket practice allows players to train independently without a coach or second player, using automated systems like a cricket simulator.

Is solo cricket practice suitable for beginners?
Yes. Short, self-paced sessions make it ideal for beginners, building confidence and basic skills.

How is HiTZ Cricket different from traditional nets?
HiTZ offers automated, data-driven training in indoor, all-weather environments with flexible booking.

Do I need a club membership to train at HiTZ Cricket?
No. Sessions are available on a pay-per-session basis, with optional flexible memberships.

Who powers the technology behind HiTZ Cricket?
HiTZ Cricket is powered by BatFast’s cricket simulators.