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General Cricket => Cricket Training, Fitness and Injuries => Topic started by: ProCricketer1982 on December 27, 2012, 09:57:48 PM

Title: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 27, 2012, 09:57:48 PM
ok. So as background I firmly believe in the mantra of 'train hard, fight easy'. When put into cricket terms that means the harder you train (in fitness, fielding, catching, bowling,batting etc) the easier you will find matches.

However, I have come across some old timers (who have got a lot of runs over their career so in theory 'know what they are talking about') just dismiss nets and say 'I never netted and don't think it's important.

What do you guys think??

I personally have seen vast vast vast improvements in my own ability over the last two seasons as i've trained harder and harder and found better ways to train etc. For me it's a no brainer, the more people train/net the better they will be for it.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: Bruce on December 27, 2012, 10:05:08 PM
For me, last year I trained an awful lot. I was either playing indoors, net with a friend on bowling machine or having coaching.

Yes, I improved my batting technically, however it didn't bring the runs I had hoped it would! My defence was solid, but I came to rely on the ball coming on to the bat to score runs.

So, for me, yes and no.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: uknsaunders on December 27, 2012, 10:12:21 PM
Netting when done with an objective in mind is vital. Turning up and having a gentle net doesn't do much for the player after getting the rust off. I can sympathise with old timers who don't think they need much. After all they have little to gain apart from a bad back! However as a team it doesn't send out the right message if they don't muck in.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: Buzz on December 27, 2012, 10:12:59 PM
my experience has led me to believe that the fitter you are and the harder you work in practice, the better you will play.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: pacman75cricket on December 27, 2012, 10:20:23 PM
I think it depends as we all do nets where there is consistent pace. + bounce. Then we go to play in april on pitches that do a bit due to moisture.

Its about getting your technique right not about form.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: 100 not out on December 27, 2012, 10:43:14 PM
I would say physical fitness comes first.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 27, 2012, 10:46:18 PM
I think fitness is a big one BUT.. If you look around county cricket there are some 'fatties' around so although it makes a difference I'm not sure it's the main thing.

My opinion of course. I aim to be as fit as possible for the season.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: Simmy on December 27, 2012, 10:54:52 PM
i no for a fact fitness is the biggest down side to my game!

when i get tiered i lean over more when tapping my bat and my head isnt level and i start to slog even more than normal...

if i was fit i would feel the need to smash 4's and 6's as much and take the quick singles
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: tushar sehgal on December 27, 2012, 11:42:44 PM
If you play a lot of cricket then maybe nets are not required but if have long gaps nets are very important...
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: tim2000s on December 28, 2012, 01:15:12 AM
As a bowler, nets are critical to allow you to hone your technique, learn how you bowl and establish a normal rhythm. Only then can you learn how to bring in variation which also requires hours of practice. So, yes, nets are critical...
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: Number4 on December 28, 2012, 01:26:41 AM
i no for a fact fitness is the biggest down side to my game!

when i get tiered i lean over more when tapping my bat and my head isnt level and i start to slog even more than normal...

if i was fit i would feel the need to smash 4's and 6's as much and take the quick singles

We must be twins.. Haha
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: joeljonno on December 28, 2012, 03:40:17 AM
For a batsman, nets alone will not get you fit. You will be able to 'get the rust off' as Saunders said, or you can work on a specific bit of technique, but it'll net get you fit enough without other exercise too.

For bowlers, it's a whole different ballgame which can help with by our all round game.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: ammo on December 28, 2012, 10:10:14 AM
Good thing about loving cricket and liking Athletics/cross country get the best of both, though that has led me down hill on the stregnth side of things.

Balance is essential
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: Manormanic on December 28, 2012, 05:05:12 PM
Netting can be good when used sensibly and sparingly.

For example, I love to net for twenty minutes on the morning of a league game - gets my eyes used to teh light, lets me feel the ball in the middle of the bat, lets me work on mental trigers.

But I hate netting in winter.  You either get net bound (ie try to hit everything straight back whence it came) or slog randomly...
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 28, 2012, 05:12:29 PM
This bit is key to winter nets I'd say 'Netting can be good when used sensibly'.

If you just do a typical club net of anyone lining up to bowl and people have 10/20 mins max to bat then yeah, you achieve nothing. If however you actually do specific things like train individual shots, bowlers just bowl to a set line/length (say a circle on the floor and they have to hit it etc). That way you are training individual skills etc. This will then all come together nearer the season when you are then more naturally used to playing said shot at the right time etc.

So if you watch malinga he spends a long while in training training the yorka, just bowls time after time after time the yorka.. hitting a shoe I think it was. Just means when it comes to a game his body and muscles know exactly how to execute. Same with batting.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: tim2000s on December 29, 2012, 12:43:37 AM
To be fair, as a bowler going to nets, you should be taking the opportunity to bowl the same ball consistently and repeatedly. This can be done at any nets session.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: Vitas Cricket on December 29, 2012, 01:11:59 AM
Nets can familiarise bad habits as well as good. Sloppy/lazy technique when batting and my pet hate, bowlers no balling.

You need to have an objective, not just aimlessly bowling or aimlessly having a whack.

I try to work on specific weak areas of my game over the winter with the bowling machine (this year it's the short ball) and any club nets with real bowlers I treat like an innings, ie I value my wicket, I leave the ball, I punish the bad ball but I don't try to murder everything.

As the season approaches and then in the season itself I tend to just use the machine to keep my eye in rather than work on anything in particular, unless I identify a flaw that I've either not ironed out in the winter or have developed in the summer. Over thinking/analyzing the mechanics of batting (unless something is seriously wrong) usually just causes more issues.

Bowling wise I can't help much as I'm a gloveman. But please don't no ball, or bring your special shiny ball that hoops round corners! I'm not using a wider bat or playing in front of smaller stumps!  ;)

In short, I don't think they are required, they are a luxury. I didn't net regularly before vitas cricket existed, and didn't suffer too badly for it. However from a team perspective, I think everyone needs to train together.
From a personal viewpoint, unless you go into a net with a specific objective (ie don't carelessly no ball or aimlessly dig everything in short, and also don't try to cream everything with the bat) netting can do more harm than good, by encouraging bad habits and endorsing lazy technique etc.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: moonball on December 29, 2012, 01:46:45 AM
Nets - indoor or outdoor - are a very personal thing. They can help technique, great with the bowling machine - you get to repeat actions / shots (muscle memory) - can get your feet moving again and provide practice in the winter that wouldn't be otherwise available. Great for getting the lads together again - we net end of Jan to end of March, good for juniors & seniors I find.

As I have managed to get our indoor nets sponsored this year - 10 x sessions at the cost of £880.00 - it's not a luxury as such...

As VitasCricket has suggested, you can work on weaknesses, get your feet moving and just get back "into it". You do need to net on grass, against real bowlers on "sticky dogs" - more akin to conditions last year certainly. Some guys love the indoor nets, some loathe it - down to the player. Using a coaching mat, etc., can help juniors and they enjoy it for sure.

In conclusion, for many (especially those learning the game or less able cricketers), it can be very much required. And great for getting back into the swing of things, knocking one's new bat in, etc.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 29, 2012, 04:03:20 PM
So to sum up most people seem to actually air on the side of the old player.

My response to him when he said it was 'if it wasn't a good thing Pro's wouldn't net every day'.

I can only go off my experience but I'd be a far far far worse player without having spent hours training. I saw a massive jump in stats from 2009 to the 2011 season.. jump in stats against from 2011 to 2012. I expect 2013 stats to be even better.

Anyway, cheers for the opinions guys. Feels like I'm a bit on my own on this one but I'll continue to net hard and regularly.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: thecord on December 29, 2012, 05:12:38 PM
I don't think you are on your own at all mate. I think everyone is just saying that each session should have clear aims rather than just going in for a hit or chucking down a different ball every time you bowl  :)
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on December 29, 2012, 05:27:02 PM
Agree with the aims/objective based training, that's something I've incorporated this winter.
Title: Re: Are nets required or just a luxury??
Post by: pacman75cricket on December 29, 2012, 05:44:24 PM
Players need to take responsibility.

Lots just go in for a whack.

How do we approach our batting in nets I personally try for a tight solid technique e.g playing straight, but sometimes I may feel that i need to get hands going through the ball so will bat out of crease & try to hit straight.

Many others just moo it.

Would I personally do without nets.  NO