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[samsam2]

Hi guys,
I've found myself in a bit of a pickle recently with the bat which is new to me. At the start of the season I was batting very well, and up until my holiday a couple of weeks ago I was averaging 135 playing U15 and U17 colts cricket. However, after a week out of the game in Italy, I have come back and have had to play 7 games in 7 days as a part of "cricket week" at my club without a chance to get in the nets once to find some touch. I've scored 5, 0, 1, 5, 23 and 0, all playing senior cricket this time.

As a relatively young cricketer (15) who has always had great success in colts cricket, I haven't found myself in this situation before, where I simply can't put together some runs.

I have another match tomorrow (U21) and then nothing until the next Friday (so I have time), so my question is: how should I approach this new situation with regards to both practice and my time in the middle.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading to the end!

Sam

[LEACHY48]

essentially, my advice would be try to make some really gritty runs, stay in, whatever it takes, if you get to 15-20 then try to hit the ball a bit more, but ensure you play straight and look for ones and twos rather than boundaries early on.

[Manormanic]

also don't read too much into it.  You seem to have been doing okay before so there must be something good about your game, just wait out the bad run and enjoy it ll the more when the good stuff comes back.

[Banksy]

As you have played a lot of senior cricket in such a short period of time I wouldn't worry too much about it. The problem when playing colts cricket is the bowlers don't have much experience so rather than trying to figure you out, they're just bowling either at the stumps or just outside off and hope you either miss/nick one. When you play senior cricket you face bowlers that have a lot of experience, some old boys have been around the leagues years and can see what a batters intention is in the first over so will bowl accordingly. As a youngster you'll probably not realise this so you'll not adapt your game and they'll get you out pretty quickly. The worst thing you can do is worry. This is only something that you'll learn with experience. If you've got access to a bowling machine get a coach or team mate to adjust the settings frequently and try not to get out. Even a juicy full toss outside off stump, just leave it. Practice not getting out, if you've got an experienced coach at the club tell them to set the machine to bowl at your weaknesses and defend as long as you can.

Keep your head still and eyes open, and you'll be fine.

[samsam2]

Thanks guys, had a chat with the head coach at my club who basically said what you guys just have. Will get down to the nets this coming week and get back to basics, then see how it goes this weekend.

Sam

[zawarrior]

Runs come and go. Your still young and got to find out your own game. My advice would be to be patient and do basic things.  Head still and watch the ball all the way. Nothing beats time in the middle though. Good luck

[joeljonno]

Thanks guys, had a chat with the head coach at my club who basically said what you guys just have. Will get down to the nets this coming week and get back to basics, then see how it goes this weekend.

Sam

Check your stance and your guard, make sure you are comfortable, relax and try not to worry about the scores. Focus on batting and enjoying it.

You are young and you will get better. There is a difference between junior and adult cricket and it takes time to adjust.

Practice and play and it will become easier.

[Giraffe208]

relax and try not to worry about the scores. Focus on batting and enjoying it.

^This!