By this time next year I want to be able to day I'm averaging 40+ in 1st XI cricket, instead of 26 like the past 2 years. Any long term winter tips from the mighty Buzz?
here goes...
Ok, so a lot of my thoughts are in the how to score a hundred thread, relating to building an innings, so the logical thought would be to start with that.
The second thing I would say is that when you go to nets if you are having issues, lots of people will offer suggestions, as with all advice, including this, you should only use what works for you. My suggestion is that you stick with one voice, don't have multiple coaches as they will have different views on style, some will work, some won't. That doesn't make either wrong.
Then I suppose I would think about looking at your dismissal percentages and look at themes. So for example I have played on multiple times this season, because I am not in a good position to play a shot or trying to hit the ball to hard.
Once you have analysed your dismissals you can work out technical issues to work on, so for me it will be timing and getting head and shoulders and then feet in a good position to play a shot outside the off stump.
Sometimes you might not know what the issue is, in which case I always say start with the basics, grip, stance, head position, shot selection. Have a video session, even just using a mobile phone can help. Sometimes that just gives you a bit of confidence. All beneficial.
Shot selection is of course mental. Firstly the fitter you are the easier you will find it to bat for long periods as you will make fewer mistakes. Also when working on shot selection you also need to know your favoured scoring areas, so mix working on them with other areas which are not so strong. Andy flower talks about having super strengths, like a robin smith cut or a trott work of the legs. So do work on them, but not exclusively on them!
When you are in the nets also work really hard at playing yourself in, have bowlers bowl six in a row at you, make your practice sessions game realistic where possible. Also get used to different bowlers this way.
If you frequently play spinners when you start batting, start in the spinners net, if you are an opener, get ready for the barrage if bouncers from the quicks off 18 yards...
Next, key if you want to average over 40 is that you need to cut out the dismissal between 10 and 30 where you give it away playing a shot you haven't been in for long enough to play. This seems simple but is really important. Learning patients in the nets is possible... just ask canners how often I have tried to block or leave 40 balls in a row with the bowling machine... and then ask how unsuccessful I am at it!
If you are a boundary hitter work at your defensive shots and how to turn dot balls into ones, rotating the strike makes life hard for bowlers, who then bowl more bad balls which means more opportunities.
So after that mini brain dump, I think you have some key areas...
Technique
Fitness
Building an innings
Mental training for batting for long periods of time
Oh and buy a new bat from a forum sponsor...
Thoughts?
Author
Topic: What will you be working on during the Winter? (Read 7495 times)