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[WalkingWicket37]

This is an interesting one.
At nets last night I faced a quick bowler for the first time this winter.

For the last few weeks I've been against spinners or the bowling machine.

The first one was short and outside off. I thought I'd let it go, but I'd subconsciously backed away.

It only took me a couple of balls to be getting in line and blocking again, but after 7 months of not doing it, your instincts do tell you to get out the way of a hard red thing coming towards you at speed mate. As you've said, a net session should hopefully sort yoh out.

[OwzatOllie]

In my first club net this year which was last week, I found myself backing away now and again. I'm fairly sure it's just what you said Cam, out of practice. With a bit of work I should get there again

[WalkingWicket37]

You're probably right mate. It's going against all instincts to get yourself in line with something coming towards you at speed, especially when you know it'll hurt!

If you look in the videos thread there's a couple of me facing quicker bowlers. In contrast to the first net where I was backing away I'm now getting too far accross my stumps to get myself in line.

Good news I'm clearly not scared of the ball, no matter how many years you play, after a few months off there must be something programmed into humans - if there's a hard red thing coming towards you at speed get out of it's way! Bad news I'll be penciled in for an LBW every week if I don't sort it out.
I'll crack this batting thing one day... 

[eukaryote76]

Our coach likes 'True Lies' and is a good teacher I think. He likens facing bouncers and body-line to Tom Arnold (playing Albert 'Gib' Gibson) in True lies when he hides (foolishly) behind a very thin pole as bullets fly at his fat belly yet he stays unharmed, having checked his intact chest and genitals! In fact, he doesn't get hit because he stands so upright and perfectly side-on, thus presenting the smallest silhouette (or so the moral of the story goes). The converse being that as you step backwards you actually present more of yourself as a target. As has been mentioned before our coach puts a boundary cone behind your back foot if you have this unconscious tendency so as to make a conscious reminder. Besides if you're going to consider pulling it, it is better to step inside the line rather than away from it. Sorry it might not be anything new, but I like this analogy a lot, and bears repeating I think!