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[kaustav]

Alright--- I have a weird problem. After a long hiatus I again started playing cricket in 2008. After the initial season, I have always been a hit and miss batsman in the sense that if I get into double figures I usually push on to a bigger score but it is the first 10 runs which is really making me worry. For example, during the summer 40-40 season, out of 15 innings, I scored 4 fifties (couple of 80s and 70s), 2 hundreds and 9 single digit scores! I mean that was simply ridiculous!! I do not know what is going wrong during my initial overs. And now that I have moved to a new place and playing for a new club my scores have been all single digits-- 0, 5, 2, 17, 5 and a quick 26 in a 20/20 game. I feel really bad as I wanted to do better for my new club but the form just sucks. Every time I get out it is invariably caught. No bowled, no lbw or anything like that. This single digit nightmare is taking its toll and every time I go into bat I am in a confused state and the confidence is suffering because of that. I have had well timed cuts going into the fielder's hands where an inch either side would have fetched me 4. One time my full blooded cover drive was caught by the cover fielder with his eyes closed and I am not kidding.

What should I do? I am quite certain that once I get into double figures, I will do well but just the memory of those single digit nightmares is taking its toll. Any advice?

[Buzz]

take longer playing yourself in, you are going for your shots too soon

[Red Ink Cricket]

yeah agree with buzz. take your time. Im similar in the fact i feel i need to get off the mark. once im off im ok. just need to play to your strengths and not worry about it. be patient.

[kaustav]

I am just being too tentative sometimes I feel 

[wilkie113]

Just play the ball around to begin with and make sure you get yourself to a place where you feel comfortable in your innings, then push on from there

[Buzz]

where are you being caught? if it is square or behind the wicket it suggests that you are not in position to play the shots - which means you aren't typically ready in your innings to play them.
Having said that if you do get a bad ball I always say: comit to the shot - ie smash it, don't hold back.
Being tentative is not good.

[kaustav]

where are you being caught? if it is square or behind the wicket it suggests that you are not in position to play the shots - which means you aren't typically ready in your innings to play them.
Having said that if you do get a bad ball I always say: comit to the shot - ie smash it, don't hold back.
Being tentative is not good.

You are right--- sometimes I feel I am holding back. I smashed a cut to point and was out; drove to cover and was out; next inning I was so tentative with a full toss that I hit it straight down mid-off's throat and actually did not even hit it too hard.

[tushar sehgal]

Mate it might also be that you played too many shots early on thinking bowling to be not as dangerous and got out. Then once you have been dismissed early a few times a wicked little creature pops in your head and starts munching on your confidence...

Play yourself in, take time but don't change too much, if its bad smash it....remember every time you play a shot play it like the whole match depends on that one shot

[cricketbadger]

hit the ball along the ground :p