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[ProCricketer1982]

All,
  I've been working hard in the nets during the back end of last winter, and during the summer to eradicate a particular shot coming out.. The shot is namely opening the face when playing (ie, not getting quite to the ball so pushing my hands at the ball and opening the face to kill it).. Anyway, I'd got rid of it, or so I thought as I barely played one this season full stop (in 70+ games, so enough time to know).

Anyway, recently I've been doing some speed work and today I netted with a Sommerset 2nds bowler and a ECB Prem paceman and found myself playing this again. It seems to come out against real pace only.

So, what drills are there to keep trying to ensure this doesn't come out? I know that 99.9% of the bowlers I face won't be as quick as these two, however, that's not fun I think it's just not being decisive enough with the footwork against this speed and so relying on my hands/eyes. Which is fine now, as they are good.. in 10-15 more years, when the old reactions fade etc.. I need technique to save me.

On the up side, I only got out once today in 60 mins against them.. left a ball that crashed into off stump.. oooppss

[Seniorplayer]

Does this happen when you are playing a defensive foreward or back shot ?

[ProCricketer1982]

Does this happen when you are playing a defensive foreward or back shot ?

forward it appears

[Seniorplayer]

Based on what you say it would seem that  you  are occasionally playing the ball  to soon  (pushing at it) and in doing so opening the bat face rather than allowing the quicker ball to come to you  and playing the ball under your eyes.

[Buzz]

quick bowling makes you do things you don't want to. that is why they are like gold dust.

the reality is you will just need to keep working at it until that shot is gone. it needs to move to unconscious competence, that takes practice and perseverance.

quicks in indoor nets is about as tough as it gets in my view.

[ProCricketer1982]

quick bowling makes you do things you don't want to. that is why they are like gold dust.

the reality is you will just need to keep working at it until that shot is gone. it needs to move to unconscious competence, that takes practice and perseverance.

quicks in indoor nets is about as tough as it gets in my view.

well, purely facing balls is something I can do

I have a weekley net with them until april and obviously my net/bowling machine as well so I'll just keep going. I have got rid of it mostly, just found that today I played it 8-10 times in the hour.. which, according to them is a massive weakness and likely to get me out.

[Buzz]

leaving straight balls is more of a problem in my view!
you know it is an "out shot" so you can do something about it, that is what practice is for.

as for the bowlers, they are probably saying that knowing they don't have a third man and you have hit 40 runs off them in that space...!!

[ProCricketer1982]

first time being bowled having left a ball for a long while.. It was a freak thing.

oh well, cheers anyway fellas. Sounds like it's just a matter of facing balls rather than drills.  I'll get on it and just play balls.

Tomorrows session is spin which is going well in training.

[FattusCattus]

leaving straight balls is more of a problem in my view!
you know it is an "out shot" so you can do something about it, that is what practice is for.

as for the bowlers, they are probably saying that knowing they don't have a third man and you have hit 40 runs off them in that space...!!

What are you doing up this late?


He's right though Pro Cric, you can work on where your off-stump is in the nets. If it's a freak dismissall, don't worry too much about it!

[ProCricketer1982]

What are you doing up this late?


He's right though Pro Cric, you can work on where your off-stump is in the nets. If it's a freak dismissall, don't worry too much about it!

Cheers, I'm not concerned with the off stump as it really was a freak. Given the many k's balls I face most weeks and it's happened once. It's the open face when on the forward defence I was concerned about. When a bowler says they see it as a weakness when it's seaming about a lot, I need to make it disappear so they can't get me. I can give my wicket away myself without giving the bowler an easy ride

[Seniorplayer]

Yes work on where your off stump is all  good batsman have a good leave and more importantly when to leave the ball and when to play.

[ProCricketer1982]

Yes work on where your off stump is all  good batsman have a good leave and more importantly when to leave the ball and when to play.

Honestly guys, knowing my off stump isn't an issue.

[Parkman]

I agree with seniorplayer in that you're playing early. You can use a sticker with 'play it late' on the back of your bat as a cue. When you take your guard it should remind you.

[Buzz]

I am not sure this is a playing it early thing, I am not even sure I think running the ball to third man is that big a deal. maybe on a pitch that is doing a bit, but there are times when it will be an effective run scoring option.

keep practicing and perhaps work on some shadow shots where you play with a straighter bat. visualisation exercises may help you too.