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[Seniorplayer]

For me always head still and eyes level untill the ball pitches.

[AdClem]

Thanks Buzz, I'll try that.  Likewise Seniorplayer.

Also, stepping across the line, not maintaining balance, and often failing to contact legside balls as I'm too closed off.  I know where I'm going wrong.  It's putting it right that's the problem.

[Seniorplayer]

Thanks.  I'll try that.

Also, stepping across the line, not maintaining balance, and often failing to contact legside balls as I'm too closed off.  I know where I'm going wrong.  Just trying to put it right.

Quite a common problem - just wait a fraction longer for the ball to pitch.

[AdClem]

I'll give it a go.  There's knowing, and then there's doing - as they say.  It's trying to override the reflex, and overcome years of habit.

[richthekeeper]

I had a go at standing still a few times in winter nets, and initially it worked really well. I was able to score freely off my legs without falling over to off, and still getting into line with the wider ball.

Since then though, i've definitely felt the problem of being "stuck" at the crease. My question (Buzz, are you listening?!) is how do the keep the strong, balanced stance that I like, but maintain a dynamic position at the crease?

[Buzz]

Not sure I am listening, but reading maybe.

Nothing is ever perfect - and yes, especially early in your innings, if you stand still it is possible to get stuck on the crease. Hesitation and lack of confidence can do that.

My first recommendation is to make sure you are nicely on the balls of your feet and not sitting back on your heals.

Secondly early on, especially in England in April/May, having you weight more towards your front foot to help you get your head moving towards the line of the ball as you are likely to need to get on the front foot.

Sometimes a slight flex of the knees can help too - although get that wrong and your head is moving up and down which is bad!

[Seniorplayer]

The position of the eyes is the key here which with stillness gives you balance  and balance is the key to a dynamic dominating position at the crease.
The position of your eyes and the balance of your head when the bowler releases the ball need to be level looking at the bowlers hand any deviation and you are not balanced if you are not balanced you cannot dominate your innings.
Alan.

[richthekeeper]

to be fair my feet are the least of my worries - more problematic is my tendency to look at the bowler's face rather than his hand when he's running in! 

[Buzz]

I once go cleaned up by a medium pace bowler who had epic moobs. I was totally distracted.

[addidasf55]

Not sure I am listening, but reading maybe.

Nothing is ever perfect - and yes, especially early in your innings, if you stand still it is possible to get stuck on the crease. Hesitation and lack of confidence can do that.

My first recommendation is to make sure you are nicely on the balls of your feet and not sitting back on your heals.

Secondly early on, especially in England in April/May, having you weight more towards your front foot to help you get your head moving towards the line of the ball as you are likely to need to get on the front foot.

Sometimes a slight flex of the knees can help too - although get that wrong and your head is moving up and down which is bad!

About the weight forward... Tried that last year, ending up getting stuck and not actually moving forward. I reverted back to what I learnt as a kid playing baseball and started 'loading up' my back foot at the point of release, but keeping my upper body forward. My front foot is almost airborn at the point of release.
Sound good/bad?
(Agree bout the moobs tho haha)

[Buzz]

About the weight forward... Tried that last year, ending up getting stuck and not actually moving forward. I reverted back to what I learnt as a kid playing baseball and started 'loading up' my back foot at the point of release, but keeping my upper body forward. My front foot is almost airborn at the point of release.
Sound good/bad?
(Agree bout the moobs tho haha)

This is what Ali Cook does. As we all know he is exceptional off the front foot through the off side.

oh.

Being serious - it can work - it depends on each individual - I personally try to coach a even stance with as much stillness as possible as it makes it easier to pick up the line and length of the ball and allows you to move into position. I am not a fan of trigger movements, but if someone had one which worked well for them, I wouldn't say don't do it. Where people have a movement which is clearly not helping them (see Ali Cook) then I would look for a way where there is minimal change from their current approach but allows them to correct the error. Sometime you have to go back to first principles - but not that often.

[addidasf55]

This is what Ali Cook does. As we all know he is exceptional off the front foot through the off side.

oh.

Being serious - it can work - it depends on each individual - I personally try to coach a even stance with as much stillness as possible as it makes it easier to pick up the line and length of the ball and allows you to move into position. I am not a fan of trigger movements, but if someone had one which worked well for them, I wouldn't say don't do it. Where people have a movement which is clearly not helping them (see Ali Cook) then I would look for a way where there is minimal change from their current approach but allows them to correct the error. Sometime you have to go back to first principles - but not that often.

Well first principles for me would be to stand still and let my hand-eye do the job. Worked well at school but i realised I'm no Sehwag haha.
Yeah it's not really a trigger movement but the movement came from a trigger. I was going through a lean patch, feet not moving mostly because of fatigue both physical and mental. So I started a bit of back and across to get my feet going. Realised I was doing it too late or early. Triggers weren't for me basically. For me it was a case of fiddling about and figuring out that I need to widden my stance a little bit to make it more aggressive. Then my theory of leaving my weight on my back foot was that by doing that basically my back foot was planted(weight still on balls) and my front foot was ready to spring forward to get in line with the ball if it's full. In my head it was a case of "watch the ball.. Watch watch" "move forward.. Forward forward". If then I saw the ball was short Id just leave the weight on my back foot and straighten that knee to stand tall and pull (I did notice the cut went out of my game due to these changes as it really requires me to move my back foot deeper and a little bit across)

Guess it's just a case of what works for you- just look at steve smith! Hope I haven't confused you.

[Giraffe208]

to be fair my feet are the least of my worries - more problematic is my tendency to look at the bowler's face rather than his hand when he's running in! 

I do exactly the same. I cannot concentrate on the ball or hand no matter how hard I try