Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: Buzz on August 26, 2020, 11:01:31 AM
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I am not going to lie, I am having my worst season since I averaged about 4 playing against a load of pros in my first season of big boy champo cricket.
I am now playing average village cricket and am pretty hacked off. Not least because I have had loads of nets and feel good at the crease. If a lot impatient now.
Anyway what should I do...
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With the nature of this season I wouldn’t rush to make any decisions. Get through it trying to enjoy it as much as you can then look at it over the winter. What do you actually want to get out of your cricket?
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The obvious answer is to buy another bat but I think 2 or 3 more are required (as a minimum).
I wouldn't get too disappointed. This season I think we are lucky to get any cricket at all. Just enjoy the banter and the laughs with team mates and if you do get runs it's a bonus.
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where are you playing? might be worth looking at a new club.
Im having a shocker with the bat this season but really enjoying being on the pitch, i'd be more worried about my batting if I had started a full season like this
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Most definitely thigh pad issues! Same as me when I’m struggling, batting pad issues!
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Set up a call with Gio :D
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That's cricket for you just go out and watch the ball fo
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Forum remedy ...buy a new bat ;)
You will be fine coach. Don't over think
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If only there was some kind of book you could read about batting... ;)
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This is a serious question- are you truly watching the ball? Even pros forget to do that sometimes
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Or maybe you’re playing at a level that’s TOO low: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29743203/extract-best-how-elite-athletes-made-mark-williams-tim-wigmore (https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29743203/extract-best-how-elite-athletes-made-mark-williams-tim-wigmore)
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I think it’s difficult to mentally get yourself ready for what is essentially a series of friendlies. Personally my season has been up and down but I don’t care as there is nothing riding on it.
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I am not going to lie, I am having my worst season since I averaged about 4 playing against a load of pros in my first season of big boy champo cricket.
I am now playing average village cricket and am pretty hacked off. Not least because I have had loads of nets and feel good at the crease. If a lot impatient now.
Anyway what should I do...
Here are my two cents:
- Sometimes it is just boredom from the game itself. Same people, same routine, and same dramas. One needs a break. I went thru something similar and despite the noise, I took a month off.
- If you don't already, hit the gym or add weights to your prep followed by rest. Do this while away from the game.
- If the malady is actual impatience, work on the "patience" muscle. Don't go the mental route of meditation and other nonsense but do try "physical" meditation. Long hikes or bike rides help. Any physical activity that will instill the "one step or one rev" at a time discipline. My biggest challenge in cricket batting is having the "one ball at a time" mindset. It is not easy - at least for me. :)
- If none of that works and you are still in the season (:D ), see your old mates who play at a higher level. Have them bowl at you and knock your helmet off your head. That will wake you the hell up. :D
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Scrap the bat, invest in 5 or 6 one to one coaching sessions instead and see how it goes after that! Even decent players can do with a touch-up from time to up. Crawley and Rob Key's relationship is a good example!
Skills over kit.
Alternatively, do both.
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Try that chap who does the videos in his kitchen on Youtube. See if he can do a few coaching sessions
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Eyes checked first
Then definitely a new bat
Make sure Jnr Buzz comes to watch you play
Above all, try and enjoy it,
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I am in the same boat. I am still training but not playing to get ready for next season. Whatever it is, mind isn't in the game this season
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I’m in the same boat mate. Having an awful season with league scores or 7,35,0,5 and just feeling awful at the crease. But sure if it’s because for the first time I’m not opening the batting on a regular basis due to supposed rotation but our new skipper for this season has decided he wants to open so I seem to be the one to drop down despite avg of 50+ for the last 4 seasons and a ton every 7 games. Think this is just my ego that’s upset more than anything.
Worst thing is at the moment I just don’t feel like I can score runs. Iv tried being a bit more aggressive when Iv batted this year as despite scoring well over the past few seasons my strike rate is in the 40’s which is often spoken about as being selfish but it’s just how Iv always batted and at my age it’s hard to change and I value my wicket.
Not sure what the winter will bring but at the moment I just don’t know what I want to do playing wise. I was always told your a long time retired but I just don’t have any love for meaningless friendly Sunday cricket I like competitive cricket.
Maybe just maybe golf and bat making will take over. Probably a small maybe but for the first time ever it’s a maybe
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^ I hear ya.
That's tough to be dropped down in the order when you are used to opening. I can relate. If you are not getting the opening position back, negotiate a permanent spot in lieu of rotation - rotations I feel are a butt-plug-dumb idea. A permanent non-opening position will at least take the guessing out and you can create a game plan that suits your style.
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^ I hear ya.
That's tough to be dropped down in the order when you are used to opening. I can relate. If you are not getting the opening position back, negotiate a permanent spot in lieu of rotation - rotations I feel are a butt-plug-dumb idea. A permanent non-opening position will at least take the guessing out and you can create a game plan that suits your style.
Or just move to a club where you can open ?
I’ve never overly had massive enjoyment from the format (50 over win lose) we play down here a si was spoilt by draw cricket back home. It’s getting harder and harder to ‘get up’ for the the tired routine of win lose games as they are rarely interesting games in thr last 10-20 overs .
For you Phil, is it the “Competitive” part that’s missing ? I know some here and outside talk about that but being competitive in ones self is entirely self motivation. This clat trap people use for being competitive to mean verbals, sledging etc is just an excuse to abuse people. If that’s ok, then maybe it’s jut something in thr mind over setting yourself targets during the innings ? Break it down so actually, thr game itself, the oppo etc become meaningless as you’re almost playing your entire own game of cricket
Failing that, take the season off.. it’s a nothing season anyway and is nearly over .. any ‘league’ is tripe and winning or losing it means nothing. Just go play some golf and have fun .. get the smile and happy feeling back
We are. Along time retired and that’s what I keep telling myself now and have for a season or two.. I just don’t get thr enjoyment from win lose short format cricket to keep it interesting . Same old routine game in game out with little to no change from game to game or season to season
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I’m in the same boat mate. Having an awful season with league scores or 7,35,0,5 and just feeling awful at the crease. But sure if it’s because for the first time I’m not opening the batting on a regular basis due to supposed rotation but our new skipper for this season has decided he wants to open so I seem to be the one to drop down despite avg of 50+ for the last 4 seasons and a ton every 7 games. Think this is just my ego that’s upset more than anything.
@SOULMAN1012 Bit a a trek but as most games are (normally) in Essex or around Ipswich you are very welcome to come and open with me for Mildenhall. At least we can talk about our bats during the break between overs :)
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Thanks everyone, lots of good thoughts.
Not sure what thigh pad I will use tomorrow, but my plan will be to bat for 12 balls and keep it simple. Then bat for another 12 balls.
Having had to pay out a fortune for school uniform for the kids there is no money for a new bat or new thigh pad and I have given up my golf club membership. Plus there is no way I am retiring.
So that leaves suck it up. I probably will get an eye test over the winter.
As for moving clubs, that is an interesting one, my kids are playing for a new club this summer and I have now made a couple of outings for their mid week team.
The problem there is that their 3rd team plays in a pretty grim league and their second team is well stocked with talented young players. The first team is top of the Surrey prem and way out of my league!
My issues are entirely mental, I have been very impatient at the crease, which is unlike me.
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Thanks everyone, lots of good thoughts.
Not sure what thigh pad I will use tomorrow, but my plan will be to bat for 12 balls and keep it simple. Then bat for another 12 balls.
Having had to pay out a fortune for school uniform for the kids there is no money for a new bat or new thigh pad and I have given up my golf club membership. Plus there is no way I am retiring.
So that leaves suck it up. I probably will get an eye test over the winter.
As for moving clubs, that is an interesting one, my kids are playing for a new club this summer and I have now made a couple of outings for their mid week team.
The problem there is that their 3rd team plays in a pretty grim league and their second team is well stocked with talented young players. The first team is top of the Surrey prem and way out of my league!
My issues are entirely mental, I have been very impatient at the crease, which is unlike me.
so many nice clubs around the Guildford area, best thing to do is work out which ones sell the best beer and draw up a shortlist
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Always be mindful of factoring in the following...
1. We've had an unprecedented year that none of us have experienced before. The mental and physical effects of covid and lockdown will have created mental and ohysical wellbeing issues, any of which van affect anxiety, concentration, focus levels. All of which impact sporting performance
2. An often overlooked aspect of professional performance is the ability to self motivate. Some comments on this thread allude to not being motivated for meaningless seasons. Consciously or otherwise that can seriously affect performance. I'd suggest lockdown, the bubble and the fatigue of alien environments and rules significantly affected West Indies and Pakistan players in both series. Their performances in their final tests seemed to drop substantially.
3. We haven't been able to net with teammates or a bowling machine since March. That lack of lead in to a season that started months after it should will affect performance and mindset
I've had three bats, yielding scores of 16, 14 and a first ball of our innings duck. Admittedly affected as I've been skipper as usual captain has returned from France to quarantine. Setting up, dealing with visiting teams, sorting our team affects my focus but I'm not oretending the issues listed above haven't affected me. My head is scrambled at the crease and i can't pretend this season is unique and affecting my performance significantly.
Don't be too hard on ourselves.
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Well one decision is a a bit easier, I snapped my new thigh pad when trying to reshape it.
😂😭😂😭
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I have had new pads for about a season now. They’ve never quite felt right (too big and stiff) so I decided to use my slightly broken old kookaburra pads at nets on Wednesday and felt a notable difference. Find it so much easier to get my pads out the way and also don’t feel like my legs are in a brace! Remarkable how something as small as changing pads can completely change how you feel at the crease