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[richthekeeper]

Hello chaps, long time no see :-)

You may remember that I was planning to move to South Africa; I have since completed my transfer and have started playing for a club here in Durban. I had my first game on Sunday in the sweltering heat and scored 32 before tiring and spooning a catch to midwicket.

My problem is that I have never been very good at playing the short ball. I am more than happy to crush half volleys and will play anything back-of-a-length off the back foot, but I don't seem to see the ball well when it's short pitched, especially when angled in towards me.

Any ideas why this could be?

In nets last night anything short caused me real problems because I just wasn't reacting to it in time.

[Simmy]

i struggle with this as well mate... really concentrate on the bowlers arm...

watch the ball out of his hand if u can see what stage he realises it u can roughly work out if its short

[ProCricketer1982]

Hello chaps, long time no see :-)

You may remember that I was planning to move to South Africa; I have since completed my transfer and have started playing for a club here in Durban. I had my first game on Sunday in the sweltering heat and scored 32 before tiring and spooning a catch to midwicket.

My problem is that I have never been very good at playing the short ball. I am more than happy to crush half volleys and will play anything back-of-a-length off the back foot, but I don't seem to see the ball well when it's short pitched, especially when angled in towards me.

Any ideas why this could be?

In nets last night anything short caused me real problems because I just wasn't reacting to it in time.

I was pretty poor at anything rib high until this winter, before I just used to get out the way by running to square leg basically (expecting the next ball to be pitched up though ). I've spent a lot of hours on the bowling machine learning how to play it and building up the confidence, it's worked a treat. I can now comfortably face quick bowling (so pushing 80mph) without worrying (both 'live' and machine bowlers).

Main things I worked on with the machine was getting the back and across to get inside the line of hte ball when it's at me and turning it down leg side. I still don't really hook the quicks so that only comes out to <65 mph guys. With the live bowlers they tend to give you clues as they bowl as most you can see their bodys change when they put that effort in, so watch for that.. Gives you the easiest split second warning. 

On a separate note, what's it like out there?? Good fun?

[richthekeeper]

Yeah to be honest I think I was more undone by moving from a low and slow net into one which bounces more. Luckily I have a mate with a sidearm to practice with - I always find it easier in the middle than in nets.

I'm really enjoying it out here, both the cricket and the general lifestyle. Our home ground is a challenge for me because the outfield is very slow so hitting boundaries along the ground is virtually impossible. My 32 on Sunday was just a collection of chipped and lofted shots for hard-run 2s! Field seems to have been cut now though, so maybe we will see the straight drive dusted off on the weekend

[ProCricketer1982]

Yeah to be honest I think I was more undone by moving from a low and slow net into one which bounces more. Luckily I have a mate with a sidearm to practice with - I always find it easier in the middle than in nets.

I'm really enjoying it out here, both the cricket and the general lifestyle. Our home ground is a challenge for me because the outfield is very slow so hitting boundaries along the ground is virtually impossible. My 32 on Sunday was just a collection of chipped and lofted shots for hard-run 2s! Field seems to have been cut now though, so maybe we will see the straight drive dusted off on the weekend

I'm no coach so what I've said is just what I've 'learnt' on how to deal with it. It seems to have worked as I now pick off anything short with ease in the nets (against genuinely quick bowling not rubbish (Mumtaz Habib) ) and on the machine. I'm a firm believer (probably the military in me) in 'train hard, fight easy'.. when put to cricket.. train at an intensity and quality that's nails and really tests you.. then when you get in the middle.. things come easier (not easy... otherwise we'd be Bradman!)

The net will make a difference of course as you probably can't simulate your wicket but i'd say that's the same for most. We all train on completely different indoor or outdoor nets to the middle.. barring some exceptions of course.

[richthekeeper]

yeah agreed. i can defend my wicket against short stuff but i want to be able to score!

[ProCricketer1982]

yeah agreed. i can defend my wicket against short stuff but i want to be able to score!

a coach from on here will tell you the correct way I'm sure, rather than my 'worked out' method of just getting inside the line (when it's at you) and nudging it down towards fine leg type area.

[Buzz]

My gut feel here is that you are too used to the ball being pitched up that you have an instinctive movement to play off the front foot, which is causing your eyes to drop to where you are used to the ball pitching and therefore are expecting the ball to be somewhere it clearly now isn't

you need to retraing your eyes to the shorter length. practice makes perfect, but you will have to be mentally strong to overcome your instincts and to watch the ball closer.

sounds like a great challenge

[dmacwana]

Hello chaps, long time no see :-)

You may remember that I was planning to move to South Africa; I have since completed my transfer and have started playing for a club here in Durban. I had my first game on Sunday in the sweltering heat and scored 32 before tiring and spooning a catch to midwicket.

My problem is that I have never been very good at playing the short ball. I am more than happy to crush half volleys and will play anything back-of-a-length off the back foot, but I don't seem to see the ball well when it's short pitched, especially when angled in towards me.

Any ideas why this could be?

In nets last night anything short caused me real problems because I just wasn't reacting to it in time.

I am no coach but my feeling is, as Buzz said, your initial movement is to go on front foot that makes it difficult to play short and chest high balls. I would try an delay any initial movement for as long as possible. 

[ad2606]

some time on a squash court with a friend and some tennis balls would help with this, if your wear a helmet then put it on aswell, get your mate to 'bounce' you with the tennis balls after each shot look down and see where your feet have moved from and to and grade yourself out of 10 (it helps if you set up on the marked 'T' in the middle of the court, once your confident get your mate to mix it up eg normal balls for you to defend/drive on the front foot and short stuff for you to pull/hook.
I had a problem with my back foot making a little step back that i didnt even realise about until it was pointed out to me, helps if you get your mate to do a couple of fake deliverys to you so you can see what your trigger movements are (i.e they pretend to throw the ball every now and again without you knowing that theyre going to do it and you check whats happened with your feet/balance in aticipation if the ball coming)
Hope that all makes sense!