Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Cricket Training, Fitness and Injuries => Topic started by: brokenbat on June 16, 2014, 04:43:38 PM
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I usually bat in the top four, and have recently been asked to bat at the top. I normally am slow to start off, and really cash in when the spinners come on to bowl. Would like a few pointers on the following:
1. Should I assume every bowler can bowl both outswing and inswing? I feel that this forces me to watch the ball REALLY closely, and play late.
2. What should I be telling myself? I currently have a motto: “shrug it off…watch the ball”. The “shrug it off” bit refers to the previous ball – whether I hit a cracking shot for four, or get beaten, I have to remove that from my head, and just watch the next ball. I also tell myself to keep my head REALLY REALLY still, and get my head to the ball, and play the ball only if under my eyes.
3. Lastly, I focus on making sure I am seeing the “hawkeye” – I.E, I need to see the ball out of the hand, onto my bat, without any gaps in between. When this is happening, I know I am getting set. When I lose sight of the ball along the way, I know I am not focusing enough, and probably moving my head too much.
Any other pointers you gents want to share?
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The key is not to give the opposition inroads into your batting lineup bat with a tight technique get the feet moving from ball one leave balls you do not have to play play no risky shots think like an opener not a middle order player don't worry about the score your role is to see off the opening bowlers and the new ball assess the match situation after every five overs.
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personally, unless the bowler has either exceptional; pace, lines or control of swing i find playing positively while opening reasonably comfortable. As there is a lot of men behind the bat you will have a lot of gaps in the field. If you dont play positively when opening it is very easy to get bogged down which is when you get yourself out by playing a silly shot. When the loose ball comes (which is bound to come unless you are playing at a very good standard), hit it. Just because you're opening doesn't mean you have to defend every ball. Watch the ball is my personal switch on but try a lot of methods and use what works for you best. I wouldnt advise presuming the bowler is swinging it because this may cause you to play a different ball than is actually bowled but if it then works for you then fair enough.
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keep it simple.
watch the ball.
play the line, keep your shape.
don't over think it.
play yourself in.
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Don't eat big at tea if batting in the second innings.
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personally, unless the bowler has either exceptional; pace, lines or control of swing i find playing positively while opening reasonably comfortable. As there is a lot of men behind the bat you will have a lot of gaps in the field. If you dont play positively when opening it is very easy to get bogged down which is when you get yourself out by playing a silly shot. When the loose ball comes (which is bound to come unless you are playing at a very good standard), hit it. Just because you're opening doesn't mean you have to defend every ball. Watch the ball is my personal switch on but try a lot of methods and use what works for you best. I wouldnt advise presuming the bowler is swinging it because this may cause you to play a different ball than is actually bowled but if it then works for you then fair enough.
Lovely, with a bit of seam, your techniques will have you in all sorts of trouble I imagine?
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Watch the ball for as long as possible is the best advice for batting in any position...but I agree that you need to be positive and still look to put away the bad balls. Commit to your shots when you decide to play an attacking shot and defend with soft hands. Although you need to play on front and back foot, always keep your head forward as much as possible for back foot shots too.
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Think forward, that's my advice. Think about driving and defending on the front foot at all times (doesn't mean do them, just think positive), then you'll see the bad balls to cut and pull a touch more obviously.
Personal thing, when I open the batting I bat on middle and off (right hander). Know where my off stump so I can leave a lot if needs be, it also forces me to play straighter as I know I could be LBW if I start playing across my pads, forces me to play in the V.
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Don't eat big at tea if batting in the second innings.
Especially the carbs - a crash before going out is not great for your concentration!
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no half measures or waving your bat around like you are dusting the tv stand with a feather duster.
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Knowing where your off stump is, is a really key skill to opening the batting.
You do a lot more leaving early and being able to properly judge what lines to have to play and leave set you in good stead to start your innings.
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watch the ball, don't miss a straight one!
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Comfortable stance, eyes parallel looking forward over your leading shoulder, head slightly forward towards the ball, WATCH THE BALL!!!
Practise practise practise until the above becomes natural, your head and shoulder will lean in to the ball, that's when the fun starts:)
Oh and WATCH THE BALL, your brain will react quicker than you can!
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thanks guys - sometimes I find myself jabbing at the ball / playing too early. so to address this, I have tried telling myself to only hit the ball when its under my eyes. has helped to a certain extent.
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Honestly, watch ball, hit ball, don't think about it. The more you think about it the less you are concentrating on the ball. By all means think about it in nets when getting yourself prepared, but once in the middle, see ball, hit (or leave) ball.
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It's important not to have too many thoughts going through your head when you're out in the middle. Do all of your thinking and analysis in the nets.
Keep it simple. Overthink things when you're batting, and your mind will be crowded with a shopping list of thoughts when it should be clear and focused on helping you react to the ball.
Have just one or two things to 'hang your hat on.' Whether it's 'Watch the ball' or 'Head still' it should be something that works for you and keeps you focused.
By all means 'switch off' between balls and then 'switch on' again when the bowler is at the top of his run.
You'll have time enough to assess the match situation between overs.
Play a low-risk, straight bat game in the V at first, get a feel for the bowler and see how the ball is reacting off the wicket.
Be alert for quick singles from the off. Rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Open up your shot selection when you've built up a partnership and a platform for the middle order.
Be positive in both defense and attack. Defend solidly but as has been said, put away the bad balls. Runs will come.
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all great points. one thing that really irks me is that when i score on Saturday, I tend to fail on Sunday. Got 50+ chasing a big total on saturday, and played a loose shot on Sunday. I think what happened was, I took the momentum from sat (where I was hitting spinners towards the end of my innings), straight into the Sunday game. Should force myself to reset and start all over again.
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Nothing wrong with taking that momentum into the next game and feeding on the positives from it.
Perhaps you relaxed just a bit too much and literally and metaphorically took your eye off the ball. :D
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Lovely, with a bit of seam, your techniques will have you in all sorts of trouble I imagine?
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i wouldn't say so. You can play positively with the best technique in the world. Like any cricketer i get some scores alot better than others but being positive is what works for me, it may or may not work for brokenbat but he asked for tips so i told him what works for me :)
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1. Play close to your body
2. If you think the ball is there to be hit, hit/slash hard (new ball travels faster..)
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W.T.B. Watch. The. Ball. I generally say it to myself as the bowlewr is running in, then watch the ball in hand, watch the ball leave the hand and then watch it onto the bat. As I'm quite nervous at the crease and have crisis of confidence on regular occasions I generally don't get off the mark for the first few overs, I leave and block (unlesss there is an absolute gift) to get my eye in and feel confident where my off stump is, after I'm more comfortable I open up a bit.
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Monty, do you go to bed late or get up early? A 5am posting time is hard core!
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good timing on Crowe ... that trick with the wall seems like worth trying:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/753441.html (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/753441.html)
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What I do, (I play the more aggressive opening role) :
1.Take an off stump guard to begin with, find the way I get bowled early on is a good length outswinger that just nicks the bail off the top aha.
2. If its a bad ball I really leather it as with the new ball even a relatively thin edge can fly away
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Haha, neither Pete, I'm in Sydney!
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that's interesting George. this season i've been out cheaply bowled twice; once by left arm over swinging back into me, and once by an off cutter. both just clipping off stump.
i noticed when i was in my coaching session with matt dawson the other week that i start off with a trigger movement across to off stump, but that this disappears as i play myself in.
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I think opening is more down to mental aspect than anything - providing you have some technique as a basic.
I try and prepare myself beforehand, think positive thoughts, think about a couple of aspects of batting you want to focus on (I generally pick foot movement, and something like play with strong top hand).
Then try and turn on and off between balls. Look at something in the distance, then get in position, remind yourself of foot movement/something specific, then watch the ball out the hand and play naturally.
At start of the innings I tend to focus on staying in, picking up runs off bad balls, and seeing off the opening bowlers. If I see them off, that's a victory (their job is to remove the opening batsmen).
From there, get a look at the new bowlers, start attacking when you feel you're seeing the ball well.
If I feel I'm not playing particularly well, missing some balls etc. I might just focus on only playing balls on the stumps to get a feel for bat on ball without taking a risk. Then go from there!
O, and get any advice from your opening partner - either about the bowlers or your batting if he can see anything you might not be aware of.
Just my 2 cents.
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Nice one, Monty, that makes sense now!!
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is it possible to get TOO obsessed with watching the ball? sometimes i'll feel that i'm so intently focused on the ball, my feet/head movement suffer.
is there a bat i can buy to fix this problem? ;)
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No and yes. A new bat fixes any problem...
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if watching the ball is too hard, try watching the seam instead.
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Tried something different this weekend. Normally I have some pre-conceived notions going through my head about what shots to play etc. This time, all I did, was keep eyes level (that Martin Crowe tip that he borrowed from Gavaskar) and focus on the ball, feeling relaxed. Balls were coming at me in slow motion - much easier.
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Sounds like you're away now, broken bat, keeping it simple is always the best policy and relaxation at the crease is so important.