Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Cricket Training, Fitness and Injuries => Topic started by: Nothing2SeeHere on April 04, 2016, 12:38:04 PM
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As team nets start I have noticed I have brought last years bad habit of stepping backwards and away from the ball for more or less anything pitched full and on the stumps. Whilst this is providing the bowlers with a good and realistic practice target for their yorkers its taking a toll on my confidence.
Its an unconscious movement. I have no idea that I'm stepping away and would in many cases argue that I wasn't until some phone evidence showed it to be a very common place part of my game. The closer the ball is pitched to middle and leg the more I'm backing away although it seems I also move my front foot (only) back when the ball is pitched on off stump.
I take a guard on middle. Stand fairly tall with only slight bend. Pick my bat up as the batsman is in his run up. My trigger movement is a slight change of weight from front to back foot a couple of times to try and keep my legs loose without moving my head. I do suffer from a moderate fear of breaking toes in my front foot even though the reality is that I only ever get hit on the side of the knee on my back foot just behind the pads (that'll be the front foot stepping away then).
I don't have any footage of me batting so I appreciate there may be other problems that are initially causing this. I'd like to be able to work towards at least a reliable defensive shot for the start of the season. My current intention is to net against full straight deliveries on a bowling machine and try to get the same people to bowl at me during team nets. Is this a sensible plan? Can anyone suggest any further/better drills?
Thanks
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@Nothing2SeeHere or #ToeFracture, i have had a few nets this season, and hard real trouble getting my foot towards the ball outside off. My foot would go forwards but on towards the leg side. :(
After talking to the coach, and told him that i cant get the Bat coming through if i was to do the 'convetional' foot movement, we worked on a different stance.
I was batting at Middle and a straight stance (which it sound like you are), now i am on Middle and leg with an open gaurd, front foot around 6-8 inches towards Leg side. now when i forwards and towards the offside, i can get my bat coming through nicely. Also if i go forwards to a Yoker my foot is already outside of the middle stump, less likely to get a Broken Toe.
May help, may not. Everyone bats differently! look at Willey's Stance!
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Get your confidence back get forward
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Useful things to think about. I'm going to keep an eye on how well I get my head towards the line of the ball.
Thinking back to Sunday, I wonder if I was leading with my hands. Hopefully I can groove a more useful response. I'm not so worried about being bounced as I very rarely see anything above knee roll height (except full tosses) on the pitches we play on.
As for confidence. Do you think practising padding the ball away to slower deliveries would be in any way useful?
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No that could create a bad habit and get you out.
What i would do is stay on middle pick your bat up keep your head still and get forward by leading with your head towards the ball your front leg will then naturally follow towards the ball bring your bat down and brush the inside of your top hand against the top of your front pad to close the gap between bat and pad.
The more you practice getting on the front foot against the quicks the more confident you will become and you will then stop stepping away.
Also there will soon be toe protectors available from Stretton fox.
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After reading this, I think u have a problem with going front to the ball. This can be due to various reasons, some of which are easily changeable and there r some which may be because of the mindset while batting.
1. Make sure distance between ur feet in ur stance is not too low. Keep the standard space of ur shoulders or a couples of inches more.
2. Make sure the weight on both feet is balanced and on the feet, max weight should be on the tows and not on the heels.
3. Trigger movement: start ur trigger movement by moving ur back leg a little cross( u shouldn't cross middle stump, take leg stump stance.)
4. Make sure ur head is on top of the ball at the point of hitting and u meet it correctly. Get some light tennis balls, get someone to throw underarm towards u making u to come front and defend the ball with ur forehead(don't loose ur eyes and take care of ur nose, don't make ur team's pacer throw the balls).
U will find , how ur head is going to the ball after doing this drill(have done wonders for many) and make sure u r in stance when u defend the balls with the head.
5. Make sure ur bat is not coming so far wide towards slips. Maximum u can take it is pointing to second slip and face towards point.
6. Last but main thing, make sure top hand is the main hand and bottom hand is guiding hand. If u cannot do it, try using lighter bats.
6.
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Get some light tennis balls, get someone to throw underarm towards u making u to come front and defend the ball with ur forehead
Does this not hurt after a while, headbutting tennis balls?
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Does this not hurt after a while, headbutting tennis balls?
Starting to think you've taken up a forum apprenticeship with @WalkingWicket37 recently with these jokes ;)
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Starting to think you've taken up a forum apprenticeship with @WalkingWicket37 recently with these jokes ;)
After all the netting with him and @FattusCattus their influence has rubbed off a little it must be said!
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I thank you :)
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A hybrid of Fattus and myself, that is a both beautiful and terrifying thought in equal measure.
Benji, you need to put on a bit of weight to fully fit the bill
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Much as I enjoy their contributions to the forum, I don't think I'd want Fattus and Cam rubbing themselves off anywhere near me, let alone in a net! ;)
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Much as I enjoy their contributions to the forum, I don't think I'd want Fattus and Cam rubbing themselves off anywhere near me, let alone in a net! ;)
'Tis a pairing of minds and bodies that is unequalled'
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As team nets start I have noticed I have brought last years bad habit of stepping backwards and away from the ball for more or less anything pitched full and on the stumps. Whilst this is providing the bowlers with a good and realistic practice target for their yorkers its taking a toll on my confidence.
Its an unconscious movement. I have no idea that I'm stepping away and would in many cases argue that I wasn't until some phone evidence showed it to be a very common place part of my game. The closer the ball is pitched to middle and leg the more I'm backing away although it seems I also move my front foot (only) back when the ball is pitched on off stump.
I take a guard on middle. Stand fairly tall with only slight bend. Pick my bat up as the batsman is in his run up. My trigger movement is a slight change of weight from front to back foot a couple of times to try and keep my legs loose without moving my head. I do suffer from a moderate fear of breaking toes in my front foot even though the reality is that I only ever get hit on the side of the knee on my back foot just behind the pads (that'll be the front foot stepping away then).
I don't have any footage of me batting so I appreciate there may be other problems that are initially causing this. I'd like to be able to work towards at least a reliable defensive shot for the start of the season. My current intention is to net against full straight deliveries on a bowling machine and try to get the same people to bowl at me during team nets. Is this a sensible plan? Can anyone suggest any further/better drills?
Thanks
You need tons and tons of time playing on the balling machine on a middle and leg line. That is just about the only way to fix your issue. In my opinion, having had the same problem, making major technical changes is not required. This is a mental issue.
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You need tons and tons of time playing on the balling machine on a middle and leg line. That is just about the only way to fix your issue. In my opinion, having had the same problem, making major technical changes is not required. This is a mental issue.
Agree this is not a technical problem it is a confidence issue I had the same problem after getting hit in mouth from aquick bowler and had my lip smashed by the seam of the ball ended up in hospital with 9 stitches
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Thanks for the feedback. I think there is both a technical problem and a confidence problem.
Tried the bowling machine last night and came away rather dispirited (okay I pretty much rage quit on the final set).
On the plus side I am getting better at getting my foot toward the ball (and thus more consistently defending the stumps) but on the negative side I was getting really hurt. If it wasn't direct hit by the ball onto my foot, I was striking the ball onto my foot and ankle. The poor consistency of the balls from the bowling machine finally got to me after one came through full and I swiped it onto the back of my heel and then the next one came through short and onto my hip.
Trying to look at it positively, I am 'better' at digging out full straight deliveries. I am quick at judging balls in my scoring zone but I can't break the habit of opening my stance/hips to make room for my bat. I think I struggle to judge the flight of a full ball and so I instinctively leave room for any correction to bat position.
I'm going to try and get a lesson (hey golfers get lessons all the time right). Having someone build up my technique and work at the right pace should help both technique and confidence.
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I had something similar a few years ago and what we came up with, was just putting a few balls behind my heel on the leg side so if I moved away from the ball, I'd knock the ball away and I'd know. Made me a bit more determined to stay in line for a net or two, I realised that there wasn't really anything to majorly worry about and playing the ball in line was easier. Might not work for you but thought I'd mention :)
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I had something similar a few years ago and what we came up with, was just putting a few balls behind my heel on the leg side so if I moved away from the ball, I'd knock the ball away and I'd know. Made me a bit more determined to stay in line for a net or two, I realised that there wasn't really anything to majorly worry about and playing the ball in line was easier. Might not work for you but thought I'd mention :)
I had a bowling machine session with a teammate where I got him to bring his favourite childhood bat and put it behind his heels last year - he didn't back away once!
I'd maybe suggest if you're getting pinged in the foot all the time, you don't need to be taking a step towards the ball? Often people move their foot towards the ball too much when it's full and leg stump line, meaning your front leg gets in the way of the bat and you can't get to the ball - leading to getting hit in the foot/shin like you describe. AB De Villiers talks through the right technique well here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whrZOG5R1zc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whrZOG5R1zc)
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I had a bowling machine session with a teammate where I got him to bring his favourite childhood bat and put it behind his heels last year - he didn't back away once!
I'd maybe suggest if you're getting pinged in the foot all the time, you don't need to be taking a step towards the ball? Often people move their foot towards the ball too much when it's full and leg stump line, meaning your front leg gets in the way of the bat and you can't get to the ball - leading to getting hit in the foot/shin like you describe. AB De Villiers talks through the right technique well here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whrZOG5R1zc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whrZOG5R1zc)
That certainly sounds familiar. I was taking a large step forwards - to try and counteract my instinct to step away - and I was trying to setup for deliveries on middle and leg which would be just on the pads with my guard. Interesting stuff. Thank you.
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I've made a slight change to my technique recently, it's mainly my trigger movement that has changed to help me get forward easier and I've had a slight issue with my front foot too. I'm going forward quite well especially against the seamers but my front foot is pushing towards the leg side a bit leaving a gap between bat and pad. Luckily my hands and timing of the ball have allowed me to get away with it a fair bit. I spoke to my first teams captain who is also the opening batsmen and he said don't worry too much about it as I was hitting the ball really well and if I've made change to my technique then my front foot could sit slightly leg side but as I become more comfortable with the change it should start to come back into line.
I think part of the issue is I have a hatred of batting wearing trainers and have always preferred batting in spikes due to preferring the more solid and locked in feeling of the sole of my spikes. The cushioning feeling that trainers gives me is difficult to get used too but they are fine to bowl in. Can't wait to get outside for a proper session.
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Although you have stated you have had this problem for a few seasons, the timing of this post leads to think (perhaps incorrectly) that you have recently had a pre-season net and felt a bit uncomfortable with the ball pinging past your nose. If I were you, I would take a step back (if you pardon the pun) and maybe analyse the situation for what it is.
If your nets are anything like the ones I practice at then the bounce is far greater then what you get outdoors. Those bouncers which your clubmates so kindly bowl at you would be long hops outdoors that you could comfortably cart around the park. Why do they bowl bouncers? Reason A is because they can pretend to be Mitchell Johnson for 60 minutes, Reason B is that they can see you are uncomfortable with the short ball and Reason C is because anything on a good length indoors will get despatched anyway as it so much easier to play through the line on a quick and even surface.
If I am right about the nets, my response would be next net into bat wearing adequate protection (helmet, arm guard and chest pad) and attack the buggers from ball one. Yes you might wear one or two early doors but the sound of you middling 2-3 pull or hooks is quite disheartening to overweight medium pacers and they'll soon bowl fuller.
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One of our mates had a big problem with backing away when the bowler was in his delivery stride, it was like an early trigger to back away.
To combat this we told him that every time he did it and we saw it in our delivery the ball was coming at his head (made harder to play as he'd already triggered backwards and was planted), he had about 20 minutes of more or less solid bouncers trying to force himself out the habit.
Pretty cruel, but it worked really well. He's now one of the top 5 in the 1's and has absolutely no problem with backing away.
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I remember watching on as some chap who always backed away was in the nets & his cricket bag was on the floor behind him, he tripped & fell over it a few times. Dramatic but it did sort out a new trigger move for him
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I got hit in the nets last year. The mat is not even and the ball shot up from good length and whacked me straight in the ribs. I was out for a few weeks with severe bruising as they used a cheap hard ball in the nets. I have been moving away a lot after that.
To combat that, this year I started taking middle stump guard. And it definitely helps a bit. But the issue is more mental. Maybe you can look to wear all protective equipment, so that the fear of getting hit is lesser.
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I got hit in the nets last year. The mat is not even and the ball shot up from good length and whacked me straight in the ribs. I was out for a few weeks with severe bruising as they used a cheap hard ball in the nets. I have been moving away a lot after that.
To combat that, this year I started taking middle stump guard. And it definitely helps a bit. But the issue is more mental. Maybe you can look to wear all protective equipment, so that the fear of getting hit is lesser.
I tried this when I was around 12 or 13 when I was hit in the ribs pretty hard in the nets. I bought a chest guard and an arm guard to help get my confidence against the short ball back. I liked wearing the arm guard and my last year of under 13s consisted of me wearing an arm guard. However the chest guard wasn't as successful as when I had one it was very bulky and got in the way when I was playing with a straight bat so that didn't get much more use. However the new Aero P1 and Stretton Fox ones look much better.
When I first started netting with the adults at my old club we had a very bouncy floor on the sports hall we trained in, being one of the smallest I used to get peppered but all the seamers and was hit several times but after a while I started to get the confidence to take it on (in fact when I was 14 I did a training session where we had pros come in as guests and give us tips and one session Rob Key and Martin van Jaarsveld were watching me bat and all the bowlers were 3 years plus older than me, they both completed me on my bravery taking on the quicks. Unfortunately I don't bat as much anymore as my main role is my bowling these days). In recent years I seem to instinctively go after the short ball know rather than backing away even though they aren't particularly pleasant to play.
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Thanks for the advice. I haven't discovered a severe problem against short deliveries - mainly as the standard I play at people are not capable of bowling bouncers and partly that the indoor nets the team practices at has a fairly dead surface that keeps the bounce low - much like the municipal pitches we play on.
Looking at some of the recommended videos (AB in particular) I can see many things that he does very differently (to me). Chief amongst them is a shorter forwards stride. My stride is often large (I'm more Tayloresque than KP height) which means my weight isn't forwards - and that my front leg will be in the way of the bat - hence I need to step away for the bat to clear my leg and so on and so on - pick out the foundation block and watch the rest wobble.
Understanding is the key to change grasshopper.