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[Cover_Drive]

I'm convict to this, so many thanks for the tips Pete, Buzz (as usual:) ) GarrethJ and local boy Tush

[gdb19]

Good advice lads, I'm particularly interested as I have the same problem. In nets I mostly play straight and hit quite a lot through the off side. Whilst I've been scoring a few more runs recently (mainly due to the lower standard and being dropped every time I bat) I seem to hit almost everything to leg. I reckon I've only scored 6 or so off side runs this year and been out a few times trying wild heaves.

Just relaxing more when batting has helped a bit over the last couple of years but I'll definitely try some of the stuff on here and from the pitch vision link (thanks garretj).

[Cumbrian Pete]

Agree with you Tush, watch the ball for as long as possible and play it as late as possible..when it's 'under your eyes' and things slot into place a lot better.

[Andypara]

ok there is some really good advice there im going to try some of this stuff out at my next net session see if it improves my batting

[tommo256]

Done it in a session this afternoon,

Just started by taking guard, then pretending to look around the field for the first 3 balls, then just pushing pads down and pulling sleeves about and up, and then going into the shots. I was a lot more relaxed, and started to play nicely, few good off side check drives. And one nice slap through cow ha

[Cumbrian Pete]

All sounds good, Lee...top stuff!

[tommo256]

Took a new guard as well, rather than middle I'm now on 2, as I have quite an open stance.

[charlie15]

This worked really well for me yesterday, I was feeling really good and seeing the ball like a beach ball until my skipper smashed a straight drive onto the bowlers legs deflecting onto my stumps running me out backing up! Gutted doesn't sum up how I felt!

[Cumbrian Pete]

Top stuff Charlie!!...apart from the run out, of course!

[charlie15]

Cheers Pete, still feeling a little raw about it to be honest, my last two games I've felt in really good nick and have been seeing the ball like a beach ball, but for a rush of blood and being very unlucky on Saturday there was runs to be had!

[Cumbrian Pete]

Hi Charlie

It's good that you've been seeing it well though.  I had a rush of blood in a T20 yesterday, came storming down the track and was beaten by a leg break and stumped by miles!  At least I was able to watch the ball turn past my bat!!  Plus, we did need 72 to win from the last 6 overs!

[GarrettJ]

sounds like there is a bit of progress for a few people which is great.

This may sound a bit controversial but batting can be quite boring, especially if you want a big score. It takes a lot of patience and self control. There is no slap bang wallop like Chris Gayle its more about being prepared to bat for 3 hours (40 overs) and riding out the inevitable spells where you feel tired, get bogged down or get over confident.

Work out how you are going to get one run off the better balls and wait for the short balls or the overpitched balls to strike 4's dont force the ball too early in your inninngs and make sure you get those singles.

Select a bowler who you think you can attack or who bowls in areas where you like it and aim to get 10 or 12 off the over. YOu dont want to smash 20 runs in one over and then he gets taken off. Milk the bowler for 10 runs and hope he stays on for 4 or 5 overs.

It may be that you come in with 10 overs left so you dont have as much time but if a player came in and got 30 or 40 off the last 10 i would be happy with that.

Sometimes it pays to work out where you can attack and get away with a mistimied shot in the air, basically attack the gaps in the field and then it doesnt matter if you mis time it and it goes aerial.

[Mr Cricket]

this is the wrong question.

you need to be converting your match batting in to your net batting, and this is how you get practice.

put yourself in to a game situation and try to recreate the pressures of a match in the nets. think where the fielders would be, imagine that you only have one wicket as per a real innings.

nets can be a good place to try new things and play big shots, but 90% of the time we should practice match batting with match mentality.

also remember that nets will be a better surface to bat on than most grass wickets this 'summer'.

[uknsaunders]

When I'm netting now I don't bother playing too many shots. Just concentrate on playing nice and straight. I poke around, occasionally trying something different but it's more about technique than playing a shot a ball. In a game I walk out to the crease, ask for my guard, look around the field and off I go. Don't do anything different to when I net, I just take my time and play the same.

99% of batsman get themselves out by making poor judgement calls. Players often over-think things and cricket isn't a thinking game in that sense. Players play best when they don't over think what they are doing and let it come naturally. Thinking, don't do this or don't do that makes it worse. Take you time and play within yourself, cricket is an easy game when played simply.