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[Joe]

I've always had a very open stance, never made much runs because I kept getting out cheaply in random un-connected ways (stumped, one would keep low, bouncer which I fended straight up, chipped one to cover and one hit wicket) so I got coaching and was told to change my stance to a technically correct normal one, i.e both feet level (like kallis's or something). Since then I have repeatedly got out lbw on middle after missing leg glances or bowled attempting a leg glance - this never happened before, I was very prolific off my legs. So now I am gonna work on opening my stance back up again, and hopefully score some runs.


Also need to sort out my woeful bowling

[GarrettJ]

Excellent post that Buzz.

I see so many batsmen who have the ability to score centuries and half centuries but they haven't taken the time to understand how they are going to do it.

It's a good idea to write down your best shot and worst shot on the off and onside. You now know what you are going to try to do mote of and what you are going to do less of in an innings. It also gives you something tangible to work on over the winter. This way you will increase your chances of scoring and reduce your chances of getting out by strengthening your weaker areas.

It may be an idea to ditch a shot completely.

Personally when I go out to bat I know exactly where I plan to hit the ball based on my strengths. I take a couple of overs to work out if the pitch will allow it and then I reassess.

I like to:

Square and late cut
Straight drive
On drive
Pull/hook

I am not great at .... Cover drive and leg glance I can't play very well so don't bother

I also like to manipulate the field to help me score runs easier. I on drive to allow a man to be placed there. Then I go and drop it into the gap at midwicket for 1's so they move the gully/point into there. I may start going aerial on the in drive so they put him back. I then milk the singles to mid on. After about 20 overs the captain is totally puzzled moving fielders right left and centre trying to stop singles.

You will always get a boundary ball every 3 overs so you just need to turn those dits into 1's.

I am mote than happy to face 150 balls of a 50 over match and just hit 125 singles and nothing else.

One key skill to acquire is patience. Singles singles singles until you see the bad ball and then put it away. Think of the singles and the boundaries will come, sounds like something one of the old men in the club preaches but once you do it you will realise batting is fairly uncomplicated if you have a plan

[PedalsMcgrew]

I need to work on the mental side of my batting. Thinking back over the season I've been out caught in front of the wicket nearly every time. I can even remember saying to myself as a bowler ran in 'this is his last ball, see him off' then swiping at a wide one and knocking it straight into the hands of the cover fielder! Mentally weak! Maybe a visit to a hypnotherapist? 

Bowling wise I want to get the ball turning again. I bowl SLA and have topped my clubs averages for the last 2 seasons up until this one. This season I have got more drift and dip on the ball than ever before but have almost totally stopped actually turning it. Weird as it was the one thing in my bowling I could rely on. I wonder whether it has anything to do with breaking my wrist in December last year? Or maybe because the ball is drifting so much more it just 'looks' like I'm turning it less?
Practically all the wickets I have taken this season are as a result of beating the inside edge (RHB) than beating the outside one....It's confusing me massively... All help gratefully received...!!

[Johnny]

Maybe less turn as the damp pitches have been less spin friendly?

[PedalsMcgrew]

Maybe less turn as the damp pitches have been less spin friendly?

I must admit I did have a bit of a strop halfway through this truncated season and blamed the pitches! It would be great if you're correct 

Panic over! Hahaha!

[Buzz]

has your action changed with your broken wrist, like the angle of release?

[PedalsMcgrew]

has your action changed with your broken wrist, like the angle of release?

Not that I am aware of Buzz, but then again I am getting more drift and dip than ever before so maybe it has?

I've tried practising with a training ball which is two different colours but, if anything, I would say I was sending the ball down with the seam too 'square' to the wicket. I have always aimed for the ball to leave my hand with the seam pointing to about 2/3 slip but it seems to be at 90 degrees to the stumps...would this mean that the spin I am putting on the ball has too much work to do when taking into account the drift which is, in effect, taking the ball the other way? And does this make any sense?? 

Any drills I can do to correct this angle of release if you guys think this might be the problem?

[Six Sixes Cricket]

I need to train my stomach/(No Swearing Please) to handle 6 pints of cobra and a ruby the night b4 a game     

[shazz]

No real drills, but try to almost bowl a top spinner, the ball is more likley to turn, as you said with the angled seam, so impart more topspin on the ball.

[19reading87]

I say this every year but this year really going to try and do it so my goal is to lose 2 stone.... !!!!

[PedalsMcgrew]

No real drills, but try to almost bowl a top spinner, the ball is more likley to turn, as you said with the angled seam, so impart more topspin on the ball.

So, concentrate more on 'getting over the top' of the ball in delivery? Got to be worth a try...thanks for that...

[shazz]

Yeh exactly, come over the top, and the ball will get more purchase.

[Manormanic]

has your action changed with your broken wrist, like the angle of release?

possibly this - drift is usually influenced by overspin so...