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[Bulldog Cricket]

Rather than waiting for the bad ball try and have a different mindset and wait for the good ball. This is something that Jimmy Cook coaches. He says your mindset should be to hit every ball for a run. If it's a good ball then fine happy to defend it. It's a 180 deg different to most club cricketers who just wait for the bad ball.

Also as a opener the field will be in and the bowlers perhaps not loose and a little wayward. Therefore cash in those bad balls rather than constantly leaving balls or blocking them back.

If you can get on top of the bowler early and dictate then you are in a strong position to then build an innings.

Hope that makes sense.

[arsenal123]

Big fan of bulldogs approach.

I generally open or bat 3.  The field is always up early doors with a ball (usually) swinging away.  The bowler is finding his length so there are generally cuts to slightly short balls and drives to those balls significantly overpitched trying to seek spin.

I find if I spend the first 10 overs trying to 'see off' the new ball I'll generally perish as the bowler will have his tail up thinking 'im 4 overs none for not many here, i'm really on the hunt for wickets'.  A couple of boundaries and the whole mindset can change, the thinking can become, '4 overs none for a few here, need to really tighten up'.

Opening up you're going to get a couple of 'unplayables' a season, the rest of your batting mentality shouldn't change too much, if you get yourself bogged down thinking about your technique too much etc you'll find you get a lot more of these 'unplayables'.

Only speaking from experience, I occasionally get bogged down with technique.  Last season it took a 4th eleven player to tell me in a friendly match, 'sort your life out and hit the 'C-word'.  It helped!  Try not to overthink it and get on with it 

[jamesisapayne]

Totally agree Keiron. I think it's better to have a glass half full approach and be as aggressive as possible without taking unnecessary risks. You should always be looking to score, a negative/tentative mindset will get you out more often that a positive but considered approach.

[richthekeeper]

i read Buzz's batting essay and it really helped me

the main thing for me is mindset. every ball i ask myself "can i score?" and if not, then i block/leave.

putting the bad ball away is crucial as it disrupts the bowler's rhythm.

learn to take singles off good balls to really frustrate the fielding team

and finally, know your game. if there's a shot that gets you out a lot, play it less. if you're really strong on a shot, play it more!