Print

[RightArmRapid]

OK, long story short I started out a batsman/semi all-rounder. After I didn't really advance past district cricket due to the fact i wasn't good enough at batting or bowling so made the move from medium pacer to all out quickie, at one stage I was a front line bowler/#3 batsman but after a dreadful club move was relegated to batting 8-11 with one innings at 4 and opening the bowling. It really impacted on my confidence as a batsmen and really started to believe I couldn't bat (not helped by my awful average). This also started to impact my bowling fielding and got me a bit down . Following some (expensive) 1-1 coaching sessions and batting courses I worked extremely hard on my batting, luckily batted really well and the coaches there said i could really thrive as a top all rounder and should be aiming to be a top order batsman. When the winter nets start again I aim to go back with renewed confidence and want to open both the batting and bowling! Any advice on working my way up the order (apart from the obvious which is scoring runs). Just asking what you guys think I should do, may call for a switch to lighter bats! Either way I'm fed up of being sidelined and really want to perform this season so I can leave the club on a high. (Sorry for the dodgy spelling/grammar as this post is a little rushed!)

[Nickauger]

With regards to turning out like Shane Watson, will you be playing 5 days in the Indian/Australian heat, and required to bowl 15-20 overs a day, and expected to bat for 2-3 sessions at a time?

[wilkie113]

Dude, stop being selfish and give some other people a chance

[Nickauger]

Haha, (tongue in cheek) will you be keeping wicket after you've finished your overs?

[Number4]

With regards to turning out like Shane Watson, will you be playing 5 days in the Indian/Australian heat, and required to bowl 15-20 overs a day, and expected to bat for 2-3 sessions at a time?

Ditto

[Nickauger]

Mate, in all seriousness I think you should be fine. As long as you're fit, then you won't have a problem!

[RightArmRapid]

Well thank you, retrospectively the watson thing was a bit dumb, have you got any advice with working my way up the order. I opened in junior cricket and in year 9 batted about 3/4 in 3rd team cricket but lost it all when I moved club.

Haha, (tongue in cheek) will you be keeping wicket after you've finished your overs?

I wish! Really feel sorry for wickies sometimes, from what I see they have the hardest job and get a ton of blame anytime they let byes past them or drop catches. Will edit the OP.

[Nickauger]

In terms of opening the batting, you need to show the coaches/captain that you can build an innings and play the swinging ball well. Just remember though mate, high quality batsmen bat from 1-8 these days, so I wouldn't worry too much about opening. It isn't the be all and end all. If you've been told you can open, then just go out and show them what you can do.

[RightArmRapid]

Rather than opening the batting I'm probably more looking to bat up the order as I enjoy batting but don't really do much of it at 11! I used to be a #3 for my district team which granted isn't that high a standard, was never good enough to break into county so tried to make myself good enough by working on my bowling. I'd rather play 5th team cricket and bat up the order than play 2s and barely bat at all! Thanks for the advice nick, I guess the main reason I want to open is it's generally 1-4 who get recognised as batsmen. Being brought in at 5 I'm often just told to try and give the ball a whack and score a quick 20ish runs which doesn't really make me feel fulfilled.

[Nickauger]

Nothing wrong with being a finisher mate, you will get all the glory if you take the team home, to a big total, or rebuild after an early collapse. 5 or 6 is my favourite position!

[RightArmRapid]

Nothing wrong with being a finisher mate, you will get all the glory if you take the team home, to a big total, or rebuild after an early collapse. 5 or 6 is my favourite position!

Yeah but i only get the call up the order when we're comfortable and need a few quick runs. Otherwise its back to 9-11. Didn't really have this problem till i moved club. Not that i dont like bowling but the confidence lost from my batting has affected my bowling.

[Nickauger]

Then show at nets that you aren't just a hitter. Build an innings in the nets........ be positive, play some shots but treat it like a match everytime. Have a quiet word with the skipper, they're normally good people and unless its a really cliquey club I'm sure it'll be fine if he realises its for the good of the team. But performances in pre-season will be needed. Be confident but not arrogant, positive but not stupid! 

[pikey]

When you get the opportunity to bat, you need to show your team that you can play properly.  Dont just go out and slog, try and play proper shots and they will soon take notice.  Try and work singles, rotate the strike and put away the bad ball.  Sometimes you need to be a bit selfish and not give your wicket away, most of the time the batsmen left to come wont score any faster than you.

[RightArmRapid]

Thanks again, with regards to fitness i would consider myself very fit but did niss most of the season after a shoulder injury which i guess doesn't help my case. Never spoken to the captain apart from when he is telling me what to bowl so could be a tad awkward but shall try it.

[Chad]

Practice more and harder than anyone else. I opened the batting and bowling for my club for 20 years because I practiced more and scored more runs and took more wickets than anyone else.

If you are good enough the rest will follow.

Also because you use a Bulldog bat, eh?

To be honest, it isn't impossible to open the batting and bowling, and I do encourage you to strive to be the best you can at cricket, while making sure you are enjoying it. I know I can bat higher up the order, but I'm happy with batting at 6-8 and keep the line up steady if we are in trouble, or hit a few boundaries towards the end, and open the bowling. I can understand your frustration at being put at 11 though! I've had the frustration of being put towards the end of the batting line-up, so I just improved myself further and showed it in training and games. Don't get too frustrated, as your bowling will go downhill. If you are a promising quick bowler, then keep to that discipline, but also work hard at your batting, being the best at whatever your team needs you to be, be it an opener to see out the new ball or a tail-end to smash a few boundaries. Just play what is natural to your game.