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[Blazer]

I have been batting for 2nd team on and off in the middle order, I have played 3 games so far with a top score of 9 for the 2nd XI. I have been feeling intense pressure batting alongside some of the accomplished players on top of the pressure from the opposition. I open for 3rd team and is used to setting the tempo, however for the 2nds the tempo is set by their openers who both take a very long time to get scoring and is often under the run rate of 3. When I go into bat I feel rushed by all this. The other day it took me 3 balls to get off the mark and my batting partner was moaning already as it was last ball of the over. I got out next over trying to hit a boundary desperately. How do I deal with such a situation ? Any advice is appreciated.

[A-Swing-And-A-Miss]

Ignore what anybody else is saying and ignore the scoreboard. Take time to play yourself in and then start the fireworks when you feel comfortable. James Taylor's Pro40 innings was a perfect example of this, he took 70 odd balls to get to 50 but once he was there and his eye was in he then started firing the ball around the ground with ease and by the time he got his century his strike rate was right upto around 100. Ofcourse you probably won't be aiming for a century and I doubt you will be facing 100 balls, however if you can take 15-20 balls to get yourself in you should then be able to pick up the run rate and make up for your slow run-rate while you were getting yourself in.

[Buzz]

as a young player it is not realistic for you to have to make up for the failings of the top order.

from your perspective, try to hit a single and get off strike and let the other guys make fools of themselves. be a little more selfish.

also what a swing and a says above, play yourself in before you try and force the pace.

[Blazer]

Thanks for the advice, it's highly appreciated. I am not that young, but inexperienced definitely. I am struggling with confidence and cannot take anything positive from the last outing with 2nd XI. On the plus side I was able to watch and learn how the opposition went about getting the required runs after a bad start.

[uknsaunders]

I always look at the team score. You can't be held responsible for poor batting.If you come in at 36-2 off 20 overs, consider it 0-0 off 0 overs and concentrate on just batting.

In a partnership the amount of time you stay at the crease increases your chances of scoring quickly. First 10 overs might produce 30 runs, but the next 10 might produce 50 or 60 runs. Work with your partner to score as sensibly as you can. If your partner is chuntering just ignore him, he sounds like a d1ckhead.

[Mad Bobbin]

I agree with what has already been said but will add a little.  I played my first game for a new club this weekend just gone. I went straight into the first team and knew I would be opening.  We won the toss and bowled and were set a score of 204 to win.  A new team, a new opening partner (who I had never batted with) and the pressure is on.  What I told myself was just bat.  Play your scoring shots when you can and your get out of jail shots when you start to feel the pressure.  These are the ones you know you can get a single from and rotate the strike.  With out trying and only 2 boundaries in 11 overs we were 40 odd and they had shut up and didnt know what to do.  If you bat the runs will come!!!!!

[Bez013]

Your batting partner sounds like an idiot, it is difficult enough when you are trying to break into a higher team without being put under pressure by your own team mates!  He should be backing you up and encouraging you rather than being like that.

I've had a similar problem, I get asked to play for a team occaisionally who have a few people who make you feel unwelcome if they believe you are not good enough to be there and in 8 or 9 innings for that team I've only got over 10 once but then generally only get to bat at 8 or 9 for them.  The only time I felt comfortable at the crease for them was getting surprised by being given the chance to open so didn't have time to get myself all wound up plus I was opening with a guy I've know for about 20 years, he is a much better player than me but he talked me through the bowling and offered useful advice which helped me relax and I got 57 very quickly to the surprise of a few.

[Blazer]

 I feel exactly what you went through Bez. A couple of players think that I am not good enough and wants it to stay that way. The only way I can prove myself is in the Sunday team where they don't play and hopefully get some runs there. Sadly with the rain it's been a long long wait and it doesn't look good for next week either.

[mr_wickets]

get off the mark early. get bat on ball and run a quick single. Keep the singles ticking over and the feild will keep changing due to a new batsman just coming in. Also if you nudge the singles along, they may bring the feild in to try and stop this and then make a boundry easier to hit.

[pacman75cricket]

Try to remember the amount of balls if you have 20 overs to bat thats 120 balls so lots of opportunity to score runs.  I played in 2020 game & still played myself in before waiting for deliveries to score to pace innings.