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[Spanky]

I would describe myself as an allround stroke player but one area that I really need to work on is advancing down the wicket to spin bowling. I sometimes find myself skipping down the wicket and not getting to the pitch, so get beaten by the turn.

Is there any specific length I should be advancing down the wicket to? Any advice or tips would be great.

Thanks in advance

[justnotcricket86]

I judge it on merit mate, if the ball is above my eye line I am straight down to either make it into a full toss or turn it into a half volley. More often that not I usually only play a little chip or turn it into a gap, unless I have decided to welly it then I literally sprint to it and swing

I find 2 steps is adequate but it's all down to your skill to judge the length

[Riddy]

try not to pre determine coming down the wicket, that is when you will get yourself into trouble...

also keep your head still

[Buzz]

I really need to work on is advancing down the wicket to spin bowling.

hello - two questions, firstly what sort of standard are you playing and secondly why do you need to go advancing down the pitch?

I ask the first question as at most levels you get enough bad balls that giving the bowler the charge isn't necessary and the second is a little more self explanatory - but I think it is very difficult (not impossible) to teach someone to come down the track to a spinner because it is a very natural act and the best at it do it instinctively.

If you don't have the instints to do it (and I don't - not many people do) you are likely to premeditate the charge and as a result you are likely to miss the ball.

Certainly a half decent spinner will love to see the batsman giving him the charge...

[tim2000s]

hello - two questions, firstly what sort of standard are you playing and secondly why do you need to go advancing down the pitch?

I ask the first question as at most levels you get enough bad balls that giving the bowler the charge isn't necessary and the second is a little more self explanatory - but I think it is very difficult (not impossible) to teach someone to come down the track to a spinner because it is a very natural act and the best at it do it instinctively.

If you don't have the instints to do it (and I don't - not many people do) you are likely to premeditate the charge and as a result you are likely to miss the ball.

Certainly a half decent spinner will love to see the batsman giving him the charge...

I tend to charge spinners, but I'd never thought about the hows of doing it. If a ball is there to be advanced to, then I just do it. Moreso in the nets, when there isn't a nasty little keeper there to stump me.

What I have been doing in the nets is practising crease use against the spinners, which is way more useful! Make them think you are going to charge and then drop back in the crease - makes some lovely long hops to hit big!

[Spanky]

I play in a ok standard of cricket. I have no plan to go charging down the wicket to every ball.

Just during winter nets I have been working on my allround shots and advancing down the wicket is one shot that I don't have in my armoury. I would just like to be able to play the shot comfortably if there was ever the need.

[Buzz]

What I have been doing in the nets is practising crease use against the spinners, which is way more useful! Make them think you are going to charge and then drop back in the crease - makes some lovely long hops to hit big!

which makes my unstated point - using your crease, depthwise and widthwise is far less risky and a very effective way of playing spin (in my view) than sounding the bugle

[Tumo]

hello - two questions, firstly what sort of standard are you playing and secondly why do you need to go advancing down the pitch?

I ask the first question as at most levels you get enough bad balls that giving the bowler the charge isn't necessary and the second is a little more self explanatory - but I think it is very difficult (not impossible) to teach someone to come down the track to a spinner because it is a very natural act and the best at it do it instinctively.

If you don't have the instints to do it (and I don't - not many people do) you are likely to premeditate the charge and as a result you are likely to miss the ball.

Certainly a half decent spinner will love to see the batsman giving him the charge...

Agree with the last bit, as a spinner I like nothing more than people giving me the charge, apart from maybe someone playing against the spin or across the line! However, when I bat, I like to come down the track, even if it's just to defend or get to the pitch of it. I think that it's a terribly English thing to stay in the crease, it can create many scoring opportunities. However it's difficult to premeditate it. Sometimes I put a foot forward to feign like I'm coming down the crease, and then the bowler drops it short to compensate. That in itself is a way of creating a scoring opportunity. Also, I find it easier if the ball is turning into me to come down the track, but that's just me!

[Spanky]

I understand using the crease to make scoring opportunities and it's something I use to help prevent being tied down by a bowler. But I would just like to have advancing down the wicket in my armoury aswell.

[tim2000s]

I understand using the crease to make scoring opportunities and it's something I use to help prevent being tied down by a bowler. But I would just like to have advancing down the wicket in my armoury aswell.

It will be one of those 10,000 hours of practise things. You'll just need to give yourself the muscle/practise memory to get used to doing it as it isn't something that you do at the moment and have to think about. Bowling machine time, methinks!

[Spanky]

Practice makes perfect and all that.