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[ProCricketer1982]

ok. So as background I firmly believe in the mantra of 'train hard, fight easy'. When put into cricket terms that means the harder you train (in fitness, fielding, catching, bowling,batting etc) the easier you will find matches.

However, I have come across some old timers (who have got a lot of runs over their career so in theory 'know what they are talking about') just dismiss nets and say 'I never netted and don't think it's important.

What do you guys think??

I personally have seen vast vast vast improvements in my own ability over the last two seasons as i've trained harder and harder and found better ways to train etc. For me it's a no brainer, the more people train/net the better they will be for it.

[Bruce]

For me, last year I trained an awful lot. I was either playing indoors, net with a friend on bowling machine or having coaching.

Yes, I improved my batting technically, however it didn't bring the runs I had hoped it would! My defence was solid, but I came to rely on the ball coming on to the bat to score runs.

So, for me, yes and no.

[uknsaunders]

Netting when done with an objective in mind is vital. Turning up and having a gentle net doesn't do much for the player after getting the rust off. I can sympathise with old timers who don't think they need much. After all they have little to gain apart from a bad back! However as a team it doesn't send out the right message if they don't muck in.

[Buzz]

my experience has led me to believe that the fitter you are and the harder you work in practice, the better you will play.

[pacman75cricket]

I think it depends as we all do nets where there is consistent pace. + bounce. Then we go to play in april on pitches that do a bit due to moisture.

Its about getting your technique right not about form.

[100 not out]

I would say physical fitness comes first.

[ProCricketer1982]

I think fitness is a big one BUT.. If you look around county cricket there are some 'fatties' around so although it makes a difference I'm not sure it's the main thing.

My opinion of course. I aim to be as fit as possible for the season.

[Simmy]

i no for a fact fitness is the biggest down side to my game!

when i get tiered i lean over more when tapping my bat and my head isnt level and i start to slog even more than normal...

if i was fit i would feel the need to smash 4's and 6's as much and take the quick singles

[tushar sehgal]

If you play a lot of cricket then maybe nets are not required but if have long gaps nets are very important...

[tim2000s]

As a bowler, nets are critical to allow you to hone your technique, learn how you bowl and establish a normal rhythm. Only then can you learn how to bring in variation which also requires hours of practice. So, yes, nets are critical...

[Number4]

i no for a fact fitness is the biggest down side to my game!

when i get tiered i lean over more when tapping my bat and my head isnt level and i start to slog even more than normal...

if i was fit i would feel the need to smash 4's and 6's as much and take the quick singles

We must be twins.. Haha

[joeljonno]

For a batsman, nets alone will not get you fit. You will be able to 'get the rust off' as Saunders said, or you can work on a specific bit of technique, but it'll net get you fit enough without other exercise too.

For bowlers, it's a whole different ballgame which can help with by our all round game.

[ammo]

Good thing about loving cricket and liking Athletics/cross country get the best of both, though that has led me down hill on the stregnth side of things.

Balance is essential

[Manormanic]

Netting can be good when used sensibly and sparingly.

For example, I love to net for twenty minutes on the morning of a league game - gets my eyes used to teh light, lets me feel the ball in the middle of the bat, lets me work on mental trigers.

But I hate netting in winter.  You either get net bound (ie try to hit everything straight back whence it came) or slog randomly...

[ProCricketer1982]

This bit is key to winter nets I'd say 'Netting can be good when used sensibly'.

If you just do a typical club net of anyone lining up to bowl and people have 10/20 mins max to bat then yeah, you achieve nothing. If however you actually do specific things like train individual shots, bowlers just bowl to a set line/length (say a circle on the floor and they have to hit it etc). That way you are training individual skills etc. This will then all come together nearer the season when you are then more naturally used to playing said shot at the right time etc.

So if you watch malinga he spends a long while in training training the yorka, just bowls time after time after time the yorka.. hitting a shoe I think it was. Just means when it comes to a game his body and muscles know exactly how to execute. Same with batting.