Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: Colesy on April 23, 2011, 09:45:26 PM
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Anyone else put 'too much' pressure on themselves?
I haven't got a 50 since June last year and for an opener that's pretty (No Swearing Please), my team mates say it's because I put too much pressure on myself when all I want to do is be the best batsman at our club. Without being arrogant of disrespectful to my team mates, it is not impossible for me to be the best batsman at our club but I am really struggling for runs recently and because of this, I'm not enjoying batting.....
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Can you remember what brought you success i now it sounds daft but people forget how they scored there runs and why...
I went all shot crazy and played shots were just not me so i went back to my game and it sort of working out...
re trace your steps sorry if it sounds daft
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I know people that do this trying too hard can hurt your batting being relaxed is a big part of it for me
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No, any help or advice is appreciated. I know I need to stick around longer, I score at more of less a run a ball usually but never bat the whole innings. I have 11 50s and 2 100s which speak a lot about my concentration. I just seem to play stupid shots or get out in ridiculous ways like one handed diving catches which don't help.
Thanks roco, might seem a little weird, but unless I'm scoring runs I can't be relaxed. I'm more than happy to see out a maiden or 2 or 3 etc. However if I'm not middling the ball or picking gaps when I play shots I feel tense and 'not myself' and it is normally then when I get out.
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The best advice is to back your game as that's what I do whether I'm going well or not as I know I'm good enough so I know it will come good but confidence is a big part of it
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It's frustrating because I'm hitting the ball sweetly in nets but as soon as I step out in the middle I don't know where my next run is coming. All the shots I'd back myself with before, I'm now getting out with. I have a game tomorrow so will see how long I can stick it out and try and bat myself into some form.
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Try and remember the basics and don't think too much about your form is what I'd say.
Considering I hadn't hit a 50 before last week...I've done well with 72,110* and 39 all from not thinking too much when I bat..
I had pressure on me today with my exploits last weekend, but it's all about keeping a cool head, cause a bad ball usually comes :)
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Thanks for all your words. Will give it a go tomorrow and will let you all know how I get on. Those of you who follow me on Twitter '@JoeyyColes' (;)) may know earlier as there may be some explicit Tweets if it doesn't work :P
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It's frustrating because I'm hitting the ball sweetly in nets but as soon as I step out in the middle I don't know where my next run is coming. All the shots I'd back myself with before, I'm now getting out with. I have a game tomorrow so will see how long I can stick it out and try and bat myself into some form.
Hey bud, best thing to do is try and work out what your strenghts are the shots you play in your sleep type of thing and make the bowler bowl to you
Nothing more frustrating if a bowler runs up with all that effort and you dont play at the ball he will soon bowl at you and you can pick him off
Spend time in the middle I know its said a million times but you can't score runs unless you learn to stay at the wicket, and keep your mind free the more you think the more it will effect your batting because you start thinking about technique and stuff
Plus when you get in mate make sure its a big one, no one remembers the 50s its the tons .................
Good luck
Kaz
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Sounds like you are the club version of Kevin Pietersen at the moment... either trying to hard or having lapses of concentration when you are getting on your way. It isn't that you can't do it more that you just aren't doin it.
My suggestion is that instead of going to nets you go for a 3 mile plus run three or four times in the come in week and get your hunger back for batting. Spend less time in the nets, less time worying about hitting the perfect shots.
When you do get out their just play one ball at a time - you aren't getting your self into the batting "zone" - not quite as intense as Jonathan trott, but you need to be somewhere there or there abouts.
I have beaten myself up about not performing in the past, it really doesn't help you to enjoy batting. The best thing to do is to go out to bat safe in the knowledge that you are paying money to play a game on a village green (regardless of the standard) and you need to enjoy youself.
Remember, each ball, clear you mind and watch the ball, don't think of anything else...
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I had the same problem you had, I put alot of pressure on my self and when I went out to bat, instead of playing to get runs, I played not to get out. As soon as that happens, you are doomed. I always worry about what people think of me, which can be really stressful and would result in me basically giving up in the nets after one bad shot, because I thought I looked bad and people were laughing at me. It didn't help that they would bowl with plastic balls to be fu**heads, but I had to get over this as it was just weighing me down. I am also an opener and had scored 400 runs the year before, but for some reason, this year I batted 6 or 7 and only opened the batting 3 times, which really upset me as I didn't understand why I wasn't opening. Plus I was really a yo-yo in the season just gone, just going up and down and not having a set place in one set team. Not all bad as I got to play 2nd grade, but still really frustrating. It was deffinately the first year, in my 10 year's of playing, that I have not enjoyed my cricket.
In the nets I was always working hard and my goal was not to get out, and I was sucessful at this. But one day one of our older players told me I was being too defensive and told me to just play my shots and swing through the ball to get my confidence back, effectively treat it like a T-20. I did this and I felt so much better, as I was confident if I went hard that I would clear the field even if I miss hit it, which was a big concern for me. This then translated to the pitch, with scores of 65 and 43 in the finals. Not the best scores, but still good considereing I was really struggling. Plus I also hit my 2nd legitimate 6 and it was 89 meters, which was insane considering I have only hit 1 previous to that and it was only around 50 meters
One piece of advice our club selector gave me was "There are already 11 people on the field trying to get you out, don't make it 12", really simple but that helped aswell. My advice to you would be to really have a go in the nets when you bat, as it doesnt matter if you play a bad shot as you are simply trying to get your confidence back. Net form isn't the best indicator for a good game, but it certainly helps with your mindset and confidence, and they are just as important.
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A bit off topic here but remember there 2 pictures.
Your ideal self.....
And your actual self...
I have seen people self implode because there thoughts do not match there ability...
And i have seen people achive more than there ability.....
Most professional sportsman align the two Potential will turn into Performance...
Listen to Chris Akabusi here i have had a seminar with him he makes good points
http://www.akabusi.com/
It a shame more people can not unlock there potential because most have so much...
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http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/sports-psychology-developing-a-positive-attitude-towards-pressure-will-improve-performance-42173
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I find setting yourself goals during an innings is helpful. Be here at the end of the over, see this bowler out, try and rotate strike etc.
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i always put pressure on myself, hate it, and because of it i play bad.
always put pressure on myself to stay in, so i end up blocking, wish i could sort it but i dont know how
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Seems like a lot of people here have the same issue.
Just stick at it. Last season I was the sorta player who had the potential but never delivered. Had one innings and everything just clicked, went on to score 3 tons and 3 50's in the 2nd half of the season.
Form is temporary, class is permanent and all that ;)
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and for people to think this means there thinking about this more than hitting the ball
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An exercise/activity I have done is instead of a net get the bowling machine out on the wicket, and get told where fielders are by placing cones where they are, then change it when the bowling changes, has helped me as time at an actual crease instead of netting crease