Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Cricket Training, Fitness and Injuries => Topic started by: iand123 on May 29, 2011, 08:57:06 AM
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ANyone got any tips to improve concentration when batting? I tend to get myself in, look comfortable and then do something stupid where i lose concentration and get myself out
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develop a routine. . . treat each ball as an event.
keep talking to yourself to watch the ball closely . . . .
watch the pro's play test/county/odi 's . . .learn from them
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This is a really good question, I too am looking at the answer for this. I am an piss poor form at the moment, couldn't buy a run with Ambramovic's debit card. I get to the crease and I am so focussed on not getting out, I don't play my natural game and go into my shell. I am not the greatest batter around, but more than confident in my ability to play the down on one knee cover drive and play well off my legs and play straight.
I don't think I have a routine out there batting, but watching Trott yesterday and now gets me thinking I should develop a routine when batting, doing something to keep me relaxed and focussed, but not a clue where to start
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i say to myself, bat all the way through for most of my innings and its worked very well for me this season, once ive got to about 50 i start to open up my innings a bit more and by then im seeing the ball pretty much anyway...
the thing with league cricket is you cant score runs when your back in the hut, so as long as your at the crease the runs will come. I used to go out and play my shots early doors and look good for 5/6 overs and get out for 20 odd and then see a rubbish batter in the opposition scratch a ton all because he stayed there..... So now my main focus is not to get out
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I struggle with concentration though. I am too focussed on not getting out, that I don't play my natural game
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sounds like nerves?
how are you getting out
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It's not nerves, well maybe it is, it's more a case of being so desperate to get runs and not get out, I clamp up when I am out there. Caught playing a silly shot as I feel the need to push on, as every time we have gone out to bat I am under pressure to score straight away and keep the run rate up.
At least I am keeping well! But that's not the issue!
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this is my whole point, your thinking about runs too much...... i was doing the same... I was so desperate to get a score i just kept thinking i need runs and i was getting out all kinds of unlucky ways... now i aim to bat time knowing il get enough bad balls to put way....
seriously next time you go to bat try not to think about the runs and just relax and try and bat for as long as you can... i bet you score bundles
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think i am doing the same as captain i was planning to bat but when i feel we are starting to get bogged down & get the scoreboard ticking I find I'm getting out although looking really solid until then.
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thanks for the input guys. sounds like its a common problem, i feel fine when im out there blocking or leaving and never feel genuinely in trouble, but my mind wanders and i play a stupid shot which gets me out
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2 topics here, so there are a couple of thoughts on each:
Concentration:
Even in 20/20 and one day cricket it is vital that you maintain your concentration. Assuming you not some sort of odd ball here are some tips that might help.
1. You cant concentrate all the time, so you need to be able to zone in and out. Between balls relax, as my old coach Kev Sharp used to say "Smell the Flowers"! When the run up starts, zone back in, for spin, start when the bowler gets the ball back - if your not ready pull away, even if you do it 2 times in a row!
2. Get a routine. Watch Alec Stewart or Trott, they have a set of actions they do before each ball. If you make this more constant you'll be more consistent, its called NLP.
3. Practice concentration. If you f##k about at nets and try to smash every ball, or spend all your time working on a shot, or some technical thing, you are missing out practice for the thing that your struggling with most. Practice your routines in the nets.
Getting Out (in stupid ways).
Every batsman that has ever played cricket wants 2 things. To score runs and not to get out, so you are not alone it that regard!
There are 100's of things that I could say but here are a few, sorry if they sound harsh, it's all meant to help ;-).
1. Play the ball and nothing else. Don't care whos sending it down, its just a ball. Don't care it they have taken 100 first class wickets, or if they have just come up form the second team. Its the ball you play nothing else.
1.b. Don't play your self. Its the blowers job to get you out not yours! If you are thinking too much you can't play properly. When you cross the line, stop thinking about everything, no technical thing to work on, not what happen last week, etc, etc. for the first 3-5 over, its just the ball your thinking about (some times this has to change, depending on what's going on in the game, but you get the idea).
2. 50 overs is a long time to bat, so's 40, so's 30, even 20 is quite a long time. Brake your innings up in to 5 over chunks. Dont worry about how many you want to score by the time you out. Think, in the next five overs, I want to still be in and I just want to change the strike over. Next five. I'm feeling in/not in I'll try XYZ. (never try to many things)
3. Know your scoring areas. Left arm spin, right arm fast. I score here, here and here. Know where it is you score, and what shots are your scoring shots. If the ball comes where the 2 can combine your in business, if not, wait for a time when it does. - The longer you bat the easy this gets.
Well just a few tips, hope they help.
Ross
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Possibly the best first post ever!? Will try some of those this weekend, thanks!
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Possibly the best first post ever!? Will try some of those this weekend, thanks!
It certainly beats "Items Wanted: a new bat"...
Getting into your "bubble" when batting can be really tough, or really easy, it depends on how much time you have had at the crease - or how much practice you have had. Having a routine will surely help the process of getting settled and "in".
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RossViper, some great tips there. Thanks very much, im going to take them on board and see if it makes a difference
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In league games I tend to try and play each ball as it comes, after it's gone it's gone there is nothing I can do about it. To try and stay focused and just clear my mind I will probably mark my guard after every couple of balls just to try and retain concentration
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Definitely something I needed to read!
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Good read this guys. Been struggling to focus in the friendlies this season. Will definitely be trying some of these tips in the nets and when at the crease next.
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Thanks chaps,
I wish I was better at writting, just been back through my fist post and corrected some of the spelling/grammar mistakes!
Really enjoying the forum, great stuff.
Ross
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the thing with league cricket is you cant score runs when your back in the hut, so as long as your at the crease the runs will come. I used to go out and play my shots early doors and look good for 5/6 overs and get out for 20 odd and then see a rubbish batter in the opposition scratch a ton all because he stayed there..... So now my main focus is not to get out
Sounds very familiar Canners! I have exactly the same problem and haven't really hated giving my wicket away, mostly through fears of being called a slow scorer. I tend to go out and try to dominate the bowling from an early time - sometimes it comes off but most of the time it doesn't.
I know I've got the technique to score a ton as I have done it before but I'm not scoring big runs anywhere near enough. I'm now going to go out with the intention of not getting out. Like you said, you can't score runs when you're back in the hutch!
1. Play the ball and nothing else. Don't care whos sending it down, its just a ball. Don't care it they have taken 100 first class wickets, or if they have just come up form the second team. Its the ball you play nothing else.
1.b. Don't play your self. Its the blowers job to get you out not yours! If you are thinking too much you can't play properly. When you cross the line, stop thinking about everything, no technical thing to work on, not what happen last week, etc, etc. for the first 3-5 over, its just the ball your thinking about (some times this has to change, depending on what's going on in the game, but you get the idea).
2. 50 overs is a long time to bat, so's 40, so's 30, even 20 is quite a long time. Brake your innings up in to 5 over chunks. Dont worry about how many you want to score by the time you out. Think, in the next five overs, I want to still be in and I just want to change the strike over. Next five. I'm feeling in/not in I'll try XYZ. (never try to many things)
3. Know your scoring areas. Left arm spin, right arm fast. I score here, here and here. Know where it is you score, and what shots are your scoring shots. If the ball comes where the 2 can combine your in business, if not, wait for a time when it does. - The longer you bat the easy this gets.
Well just a few tips, hope they help.
Ross
Sometimes it's easy to forget about these key points. Probably the 3 most valuable points I've read in a long time. I'll be putting this into practice tonight at nets and on Saturday. Thanks Ross
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Our club selector said this to me 2 years ago when I was 17: There are already 11 players out there trying to get you out, don't make it 12.
So simple, but very true.
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I always have a song in my head, normally what was on in the car on the way to the game. But after I've batted I can never remember the song!
Also taken to counting in my last 2 Sunday innings after getting out for 49 and 48 in my previous knocks. Ended up on 63 and 69
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develop a routine. . . treat each ball as an event.
keep talking to yourself to watch the ball closely . . . .
watch the pro's play test/county/odi 's . . .learn from them
You are absolutely spot on mate ;)
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I've always tried to practice as I would play.
If you can create as close to perfect match conditions then you will improve.
I usually focus on the bowlers hand until they release the ball, and then watch the ball for as long as possible. Tell myself to watch the ball as he is running in.
Also try and completely switch off in-between deliveries.
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I've used a lot of these tips recently and have developed a routine between every ball and then totally switch off when I'm off strike.
Also have a routine when I'm keeping. A couple of times I've not done what I normally do and I've taken my eye off the ball or had a rush of blood.
I've never before given much thought to the mental side of the game, but I've realised now how important it is and how my game has improved hugely
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I'd have to agree. Since we've been having these discussions on here, I've been trying to apply the "watching bowler's hand and ball" approach and I am seeing it a lot better.
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Will did you get my pm all that time ago?
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I did mate yes, did I not reply to you?? If not sorry, ill dig it out
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I did mate yes, did I not reply to you?? If not sorry, ill dig it out
I didnt get a reply and wondered if the thing went through ok, no worries mate, get ya head down!
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You cant concentrate all the time, so you need to be able to zone in and out.
its called NLP.
It works, up time and down time
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Had an interesting day ay the crease today...getting chirp off their cover fielder from the off only fueled the fire! Apparently taking 4 balls to hit a bOundary was too slow!
He then called me fat, a cow corner slogger, referred to the salad cart at harvester and the carvery at toby....all of which made me hungry!
Anyway we won and he was silenced
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Got to love it when one of the worst sides in the division are giving that much stick to the table toppers!
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haha tom getting some abuse eh! i didnt get any yesterday was only in for 4 balls!
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Had an interesting day ay the crease today...getting chirp off their cover fielder from the off only fueled the fire! Apparently taking 4 balls to hit a bOundary was too slow!
He then called me fat, a cow corner slogger, referred to the salad cart at harvester and the carvery at toby....all of which made me hungry!
Anyway we won and he was silenced
Did you have a good feed though?.. haha
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I also need help with this and to watch the ball after it has pitched
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well today i mostly did pre meditated shots lol
and got to 101 cant be bad lol
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Good knock lad :D How do you concentrate on the ball, i seem to watch it and just go after it instead of actually playing naturally >:(
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i usally just wait and play the ball on a simple system line/length... if its on off stump ill pat it back if its out side line ill try smash it out of ground. if its on middle and leg ill try and flick it over midwicket. if its a short ill cut or pull unless its to close to my body.
i dont really get the concentration thing i just wait for the bowler to bowl.
however today i was just like ill step across and try and hit this over leg or ill go down track etc
worked out ok today
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i usually feel under alot of pressure to make runs and forget to concentrate
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:D
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Ive got a really intense pre ball routine which I stick to, makes me focus, as the bowler starts his run up, I'll think 'play late, play straight, watch the ball'
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Lost concentration after reaching 100 twice now in Saturday league matches...rather annoyed with myself as both time there was 8-9 overs left to really cut loose after doing the hard yards!