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[Churchy1989]

So I started the pre-season well, 1 x 50 and 1 x 100 in 2 games, agree that it wasn't the best bowling, but I can only bat at what is in front of me.

I have gone into league cricket full of hype looking to score runs for the 1st XI (big change from being an opening bowler for the 2nd XI and batting 9 last season).

I don't have a problem with the pace. Shot selection is OK, but I have been bowled 5 times playing defensive shots.

I take Middle Stump, slightly open front foot, bat is held at 1st slip.

I have notice that when I was going forward my foot went straight/slightly legside leaving a gap. I adjusted this but still cant seem to block a straight one!

Any advice is gratefully received. 

[InternalTraining]

I have the same problem in the beginning of a season. This year, I decided to exclusively practice full/yorker length balls to eliminate the problem. What I found was that my head position was wrong! Here is what I do: a.) tight alignment of feet in a straight line; b.) head low, and ahead of the front foot with bat in front of the front leg; c.) this is critical: the release-point-length-bs never worked for me, so I anticipate every ball to be yorker or full length until I decide that the length is NOT yorker/full length and play accordingly. 

Good luck.

[Northern monkey]

I'm struggling with the same thing too

[Biggie Smalls]

Film yourself . If you dont have a camera buy a knockoff go pro (s cam etc ) for $80 or so . Will be the best cheap investment into the game that you could make .

[Churchy1989]

Film yourself . If you dont have a camera buy a knockoff go pro (s cam etc ) for $80 or so . Will be the best cheap investment into the game that you could make .

@Biggie Smalls have done in the nets, it's fine, some reason its just league games....hard to replicate good consistent bowling at our club.

Our bowlers are not as quick and can't swing it both ways!

[Boondougal]

I've had this as the start of this season but have been able to correct it on 2 fronts. 1. Watch the ball, watch the ball, watch the ball. I came to realise I just wasn't watch the ball come out of the hand of the bowler.... I'm now picking the ball up in the bowlers delivery stride and watching it all the way through their action and I can not believe how much more time I feel I have to pick up the line and the length.

2. I had a few coaching sessions to help my leg side shots, I'm ok with anything cross bat or full driven/ clubbed to Mid on through to cow but I miss far to many runs from those balls angled across that inevitably hit the outside of my pad / thigh pad. The coach got me pointing the bat more towards gully in my back lift and also rotating my shoulder more, and too be fair to him, it definitely made a difference but when the season came and the bowling was a little less... nets..... I found it a struggle to get in line... basically the angle of the bat in my back lift meant that as I swung it though I basically had to move it inside out in its arc to hit a straight one... and guess what I was basically just playing all around it.

I've since gone back to a straighter back lift and I'm basically in much better shape... as the season progresses I'll work more on my shoulder to support the run scoring in that zone but still maintain a straight swing.