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[Nickauger]

What are people's thoughts on facing express pace? Who triggers, who stands stock still, who pre-empts, who starts their backlift during the bowlers delivery stride, who has other ways of playing it?

[toenails97]

I try to stand as still as possible however I have a backlift as they're about to start their stride

[Nickauger]

Also, what do people class as express pace. I'm talking 80+

[fasteddie]

The guys I faced who could have been that fast, no speed guns in the Army back then, where rapid.

I literally concentrated on keeping it out and not getting hit. However, if you're going to wear one then relax. It hurts less.

When one was slightly fuller I could get more forward and scored, but it was a case of surviving and keeping myself and wicket intact.

We played against an Army quick last year, I'm getting on, so I just got into line and kept it out.

Top tips, get into line early, short back lift, good bat speed, and you'll be fine.

[ProCricketer1982]

Also, what do people class as express pace. I'm talking 80+

80+ and your getting 'quick'. 85+ is express (at club level, probably add 10mph to the pro circuits) so you don't find very many express around the club circuits. anything under 80 isn't really that quick but at the end of the day it's down to your personal confidence. Some people will think 70 is quick, some wiill not.

The only thing I change is my backlift. I lower it for genuine pace and just use timing more than anything, don't bother 'hitting' it, just let the ball do the work as it has the pace.

[Nickauger]

I would be very surprised if you face 85+ consistently in any league. Certainly no bowlers in the WEPL (below prem 1 anyway) that bowl that quickly that consistently. I personally only reckon I've face 85+ once and that was scary lol. Otherwise, I reckon even the quickest in Prem 2 (probably the Shapwick lads) were only 78-80.

[ProCricketer1982]

I would be very surprised if you face 85+ consistently in any league. Certainly no bowlers in the WEPL (below prem 1 anyway) that bowl that quickly that consistently. I personally only reckon I've face 85+ once and that was scary lol. Otherwise, I reckon even the quickest in Prem 2 (probably the Shapwick lads) were only 78-80.

Didn't say I did. Just saying that to me 'express' at club level is 85 (ish) and 'quick is 80 (ish). Anything less is not slow but a batsmen should be able to easily deal with a 70/75 ish bowler (ie block the good, punish the crap) etc. Still going to get the odd jaffer of course no matter what the speed/quality of bowling and you always have batsmen error to also get you out 

[fasteddie]

I've never faced anything as quick as the Army lads in club cricket.
That's Kent and Middlesex league to clarify.

Maybe that crop of Army guys where proper express, but 80 is about tops. Maybe 1 ball may explode past you, but nothing as quick as you allude too at that level.

[Nickauger]

I reckon you probably did Eddie, I was more talking about club leagues. Army/Navy/RAF/Combined Services is closer to representative level, with essentially a crop of however many people there are in the army and play cricket to choose from. I would also imagine that there are no limits to 'overseas' players so may be a few quick windians etc.

[ProCricketer1982]

It's the overseas bowlers who are generally the quick one's. Most normal players are not quick and are just normal 'quicks'. Only the odd one per year is a genuine quick, if that.

Still easy to get out to any speed of bowler though!

[Number4]

In my younger days when I played A grade in our competition when facing the quicks I didn't "think" about anything.. I switched off and concentrated on the ball... I guess I let instincts take over... Worked for me.. Don't know if it was the right way but like I said it worked.

I guess when you are training and netting regularly against quicks instincts and muscle memory take over.

[ProCricketer1982]

I guess when you are training and netting regularly against quicks instincts and muscle memory take over.

That's the key with anything I believe. If you train regularly against pace (not saying everything must be trained at lightening speed but just regular exposure to proper pace) will mean you naturally just play it when it comes along as No:4 indicated.

So add on 50 or 60 balls at 80 on the machine into your routine at the end or start or whatever and at least you'll get used to facing such speeds.

[Bulldog Cricket]

Express pace is 90mph plus in my book.

85 is quick. 80 fast medium etc.

Fastedie. Who did you face in the army then ? In my experience the services standard of cricket is well below premier league std. I have played with and against some of the better players from the combined services teams and to be honest standard is not great.

Interested to hear who was 90mph ?

As far as playing pace I always like to get in line with a back and across trigger. My plan was alway to try and dominate the quick as I figured if the are express pace it's going to go off the bat so you might as well try and get on top early and knock them off thier line and length or out if the attack all together.

[Twelfth Man]

Try not to be afraid, as you're then half way to getting out already!
I suppose you should just try to stay as still as you can and react to the ball on its merit?

In nets, I found myself backing away before I even knew what bowlers were bowling and I have now tried to make the effort to stay still and watch the ball 100%.

[fasteddie]

I reckon you probably did Eddie, I was more talking about club leagues. Army/Navy/RAF/Combined Services is closer to representative level, with essentially a crop of however many people there are in the army and play cricket to choose from. I would also imagine that there are no limits to 'overseas' players so may be a few quick windians etc.

The bloke NOT to face was a Guardsman Called "Redders". 5ft 10 max and bowled like the wind. I've never been scared, but the first ball he ever bowled to me went past my nose before I had moved. Everyone else seemed pedestrian (which of course they where not).
If ever you play at the Guards ground at Burton Ct he is in a picture in around 1992. When I saw that a couple of years back I shuddered.

After that knock I sat down, had a fag and a cold beer whilst me Corps team mates laughed themselves incontinent at what I had just faced.

The Armed forces can get the cream of the crop, they are also fit, well Navy and RAF aside (I'm biased of course).

The league players I've come across don't have the intensity I enjoyed in the Army side. Maybe it's a different 'space'.

No, genuine pace is over 80. But actually it's 'how' it's delivered that makes it proper nasty.
I've faced guys who are in the 70's and it seemed gentle, but faste(r)eddie bowls at that pace, or approaching, and he is nasty at Lords.