April has been wet. Very Wet. All the covers in the world wont stop the pitches we'll be playing on at the start of this season being affected by all the rain we've had. They will be slow. Very slow in many cases. Coming from the perfect, fast surfaces of the nets onto the puddings outside means drives and flicks are likely to loop slowly into the hands of mid off as you go through your shot well before the ball arrives. So what scoring solutions are there?
1. The drop and run. Simple and effective in any conditions, let the ball come to you and play it down at your feet, angled bat, classic defensive shot, off front or back foot.. If your partner knows the plan he is backing up and both of you just go as soon as the shot is played, with no calling needed. Not such a good idea if the keeper's standing up but can still work if you can manipulate the angles.
2. The lofted drive. In wet conditions you may well find yourself playing this unintentionally so why not make it part of your armoury? Step forward into your drive, keep going through with the shot, commit to it and watch it fly back over the bowler's head. Don't panic and try to over hit it just because the ball hasn't come onto the bat the way it would do normally. Think Ian Bell (on a good day) and you get the idea.
3. Use your arms. Delicate, wristy shots require pace on the ball and trust in the pace and bounce of the pitch. Put those shots away and look for pulls, cuts, sweeps and pick ups played using the arms. Don't roll the wrists, hit down on the ball by getting your hands up high if you want to hit the ball down, OR...go up and over with an upward sweep of the arms. Keep balanced, commit to the shot and, again, don't try to over hit.
If you go through the process now of working out your best scoring options for the conditions before the time comes you have opportunities to prepare.
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
More Control and Less Bottom Hand in Your Batting
Not so much a coaching tip as a plea to all young cricketers or more specifically their parents. GET A BAT THAT'S THE RIGHT SIZE AND WEIGHT.
The size of the bat is relatively easy to judge and there is an easy way to judge the correct size. When you're in the shop, the batsman takes their stance, puts the bat behind their back foot toe and lets it rest gently into their inner thigh. The top of the handle should be about 3/4 of the way up the thigh. It becomes obvious if a bat is too big if when the stance is taken, the toe of the bat is resting some distance from the feet.
Probably even more important is the weight. There is no standard weight for a bat, whatever the size. If the bat is too heavy, the bottom hand will be needed to support it in playing all shots. A strong bottom hand grip results an angled bat. If the bat does come through straight, control will be difficult and it is likely to push through through early and too far, popping up a catch. Cross bat shots, such as the pull, will be difficult as getting the bat up high and through the shot in time is hard work.
What is the correct weight? Well what can a young cricketer easily handle. The bat may look great with professional looking thick edges, or be made of the cheaper kashmir willow which save a few pounds, but if a young, growing boy or girl cannot control the bat as they swing it around, even with one hand, then it is likely to be too heavy. GET A BAT THAT'S THE RIGHT WEIGHT.
If you can get to a shop where the bat can be tried out, that's far better than mail order. If you go the mail order route, make sure it's returnable if it's too big or heavy when it arrives.
The size of the bat is relatively easy to judge and there is an easy way to judge the correct size. When you're in the shop, the batsman takes their stance, puts the bat behind their back foot toe and lets it rest gently into their inner thigh. The top of the handle should be about 3/4 of the way up the thigh. It becomes obvious if a bat is too big if when the stance is taken, the toe of the bat is resting some distance from the feet.
Probably even more important is the weight. There is no standard weight for a bat, whatever the size. If the bat is too heavy, the bottom hand will be needed to support it in playing all shots. A strong bottom hand grip results an angled bat. If the bat does come through straight, control will be difficult and it is likely to push through through early and too far, popping up a catch. Cross bat shots, such as the pull, will be difficult as getting the bat up high and through the shot in time is hard work.
What is the correct weight? Well what can a young cricketer easily handle. The bat may look great with professional looking thick edges, or be made of the cheaper kashmir willow which save a few pounds, but if a young, growing boy or girl cannot control the bat as they swing it around, even with one hand, then it is likely to be too heavy. GET A BAT THAT'S THE RIGHT WEIGHT.
If you can get to a shop where the bat can be tried out, that's far better than mail order. If you go the mail order route, make sure it's returnable if it's too big or heavy when it arrives.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Batting - Better use of the bowling machine?
The bowling machine is great when we want to groove a particular shot as it sends down the same delivery time after time. However some people will say that its repetitiveness is its weakness as a training tool and they prefer "throw downs" from the coach, who can vary each delivery slightly, to make practice more realistic.
This is a valid argument, although we must not forget why we want to groove a particular movement into a shot in the first place.
There is an alternative way to use the bowling machine. Challenge yourself to find three different scoring shots to the same delivery. For example, if you set the machine for the classic front foot cover drive, no doubt you will soon have mastered that and will feel great about your chances of nailing every that's ball just outside off stump through the covers for four. However you don't have to be Andrew Strauss to work out that if you reinforce the covers, you will cut out the runs when your bowler over pitches.
As a batsman, we need to find alternative scoring areas, which could mean driving the ball straight, playing it later behind square, flicking it through mid-wicket or even trying some sort of scoop over the keeper. Whatever the response, a one dimensional game will allow the fielding captain to keep you tied down but finding different shots and different scoring areas to the same delivery means he is looking for extra fielders and the panic starts to set in.
This is a valid argument, although we must not forget why we want to groove a particular movement into a shot in the first place.
There is an alternative way to use the bowling machine. Challenge yourself to find three different scoring shots to the same delivery. For example, if you set the machine for the classic front foot cover drive, no doubt you will soon have mastered that and will feel great about your chances of nailing every that's ball just outside off stump through the covers for four. However you don't have to be Andrew Strauss to work out that if you reinforce the covers, you will cut out the runs when your bowler over pitches.
As a batsman, we need to find alternative scoring areas, which could mean driving the ball straight, playing it later behind square, flicking it through mid-wicket or even trying some sort of scoop over the keeper. Whatever the response, a one dimensional game will allow the fielding captain to keep you tied down but finding different shots and different scoring areas to the same delivery means he is looking for extra fielders and the panic starts to set in.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Bowlers - Know Your Targets
One of the biggest problems for bowlers at the club net session is that a batsman is down the other end. You bowl the perfect inswinger yet the batsman gets an inside edge and it squirts down to fine leg, at which point he claims it was a legitimate leg glance for four and you get angry. The next one thumps into his pads and you claim an LBW which he claims was missing leg stump by miles.
The fact is, the batsman is a distraction to what you are trying to achieve (and ideally you need will need some practice time without a batsman there). Find the correct line for the ball you're trying to bowl as your stock delivery and practice it. Ignore what shot the batsman plays, imagine the outcome if he wasn't there. For example, an inswing bowler is targeting the stumps for LBWs and Bowleds, so the line must start outside off stump and be full to allow it to swing in. How far depends on the amount of swing you get and any movement you might get off the pitch. Don't get drawn into targeting the batsman as the ball will end up down the leg side.
Once you've sorted out your stock delivery, work on your option balls - variations. That is anything that is different to your stock ball. Perhaps one that just doesn't swing. An effort ball that goes through quicker, a yorker, one that swings the other way, or a slower ball. Then try these out in the nets and don't worry what the distracting batsman down the other end is trying to do.
The fact is, the batsman is a distraction to what you are trying to achieve (and ideally you need will need some practice time without a batsman there). Find the correct line for the ball you're trying to bowl as your stock delivery and practice it. Ignore what shot the batsman plays, imagine the outcome if he wasn't there. For example, an inswing bowler is targeting the stumps for LBWs and Bowleds, so the line must start outside off stump and be full to allow it to swing in. How far depends on the amount of swing you get and any movement you might get off the pitch. Don't get drawn into targeting the batsman as the ball will end up down the leg side.
Once you've sorted out your stock delivery, work on your option balls - variations. That is anything that is different to your stock ball. Perhaps one that just doesn't swing. An effort ball that goes through quicker, a yorker, one that swings the other way, or a slower ball. Then try these out in the nets and don't worry what the distracting batsman down the other end is trying to do.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Batting - Getting back to basics
Most of us have just started the winter nets and getting back into the swing of things can be tough going. Timing the ball is hard work and the ball just seems to squirt out off the inside edge, or flies past the outside edge as we come down late on the shot.
It's always good at this time of year to take the opportunity to remember the basics and look at your grip and stance, which determine so much of what is going to follow.
If you get the grip right, it will allow you a free swing of your arms through the ball; it will allow you to bring the bat through on a straight path into the shot; it will allow you to use your hands to manoeuvre the ball into gaps. Classically there will be two "V"s formed by your forefinger and thumb on each hand, which should align between the splice and the outside edge of the bat. This alignment prevents the bat face from becoming closed. These days, you see a lot of top class cricketers with the "V"s aligned down the splice. I don't recommend that but it seems to work for them.
Next is the where the bat is held. I prefer hands close together and towards the top of the handle. Lots of top class cricketers hold the bat well down the handle. To my mind this restricts the free flow of the bat through the ball as you hit it. However, it is largely a matter of personal preference and holding the bat lower down can offer more control. When I tired later on in an innings, I often used this technique to keep more control in my shots.
Then comes grip pressure. Bottom hand grip pressure is the most important here. Hold the bat too tightly and you are bound to bring the bat through at an angle. Thumb and forefinger basically, with middle finger there in support, a bit like holding a pencil. Top hand is tighter, to lead and control the bat. You should be able to break your wrists and bend both elbows in the backswing.
Next, check out your stance. If you find you are losing your balance, just have a look in the mirror and see where your head is in your stance. If you are too bent over with your head outside the line of your toes, you're off drive may look good but if the ball swings in to middle stump, you could be in trouble. Keep your knees flexed, your hands pretty close to your body and your head over the hands and toes. It will help to slightly open your shoulders i.e. align them slightly towards mid on, which will bring your head comfortably round to face the bowler. It's then your head and shoulders that lead you into your shot, which is a simple step, swing and hit. And away you go into the new season. Simples.
It's always good at this time of year to take the opportunity to remember the basics and look at your grip and stance, which determine so much of what is going to follow.
If you get the grip right, it will allow you a free swing of your arms through the ball; it will allow you to bring the bat through on a straight path into the shot; it will allow you to use your hands to manoeuvre the ball into gaps. Classically there will be two "V"s formed by your forefinger and thumb on each hand, which should align between the splice and the outside edge of the bat. This alignment prevents the bat face from becoming closed. These days, you see a lot of top class cricketers with the "V"s aligned down the splice. I don't recommend that but it seems to work for them.
Next is the where the bat is held. I prefer hands close together and towards the top of the handle. Lots of top class cricketers hold the bat well down the handle. To my mind this restricts the free flow of the bat through the ball as you hit it. However, it is largely a matter of personal preference and holding the bat lower down can offer more control. When I tired later on in an innings, I often used this technique to keep more control in my shots.
Then comes grip pressure. Bottom hand grip pressure is the most important here. Hold the bat too tightly and you are bound to bring the bat through at an angle. Thumb and forefinger basically, with middle finger there in support, a bit like holding a pencil. Top hand is tighter, to lead and control the bat. You should be able to break your wrists and bend both elbows in the backswing.
Next, check out your stance. If you find you are losing your balance, just have a look in the mirror and see where your head is in your stance. If you are too bent over with your head outside the line of your toes, you're off drive may look good but if the ball swings in to middle stump, you could be in trouble. Keep your knees flexed, your hands pretty close to your body and your head over the hands and toes. It will help to slightly open your shoulders i.e. align them slightly towards mid on, which will bring your head comfortably round to face the bowler. It's then your head and shoulders that lead you into your shot, which is a simple step, swing and hit. And away you go into the new season. Simples.
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