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.
