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Hi All,

Need some help on an extended slump in batting and bowling form.

Background info - I'm an opening batsman and a first change medium pace bowler. Generally swing the ball in naturally but can make it go away as well.

Situation - I was injured about 3 years ago (developed a sports hernia) which was surgically fixed after 2 years of failed physio etc. I started playing cricket again but have not been able to find my form. I used to play at a decent level club cricket but am now struggling to play at a lower level than before. Wrt batting, my last 6 innings have been horrible - one score of about 20 and the rest 0s and 1s. I don't survive more than 3-4 balls and therefeore haven't had time to settle down. the modes of dismissal vary widely - bowled via inside edges or getting yorked, lbw, caught behind etc. Wrt bowling, my action has sort of gone awry and I can't seem to generate the pace I used to or even hit the right line and length - I stray down leg if I try to up my pace and on cutting down the pace, I overpitch and get carted. Obviously fitness is one reason - I've been doing interval training etc. to get back on track and it's helping - However, in a match I feel as though I'm learning cricket all over again.

In the nets, I do much better - both bowling and batting. I can trouble most batsman with my bowling and am able to middle the ball very nicely while batting. I think the net helps me focus an concentrate better because its like an isolated strip and not an open cricket field (a controlled environment where there's no pressure). My team mates say its just a matter of one good match and I'll be back in form.

My question to people is how can I accelerate my return to form? What tips (training and mental) have worked for people? Is it just a question of hanging in there, doing what I've always done and seeing off this lean patch? I've had coaching sessions from renowned ex-players and they say they can't find too many gross faults with my technique (batting as well as bowling)- But the net form doesn't translate into match performance.

Any advice would be really helpful

thanks in advance

[jblowe]

stick with it, as it will all come good in the end.  Just go out and enjoy it as much as you can,  remember the last two years you have been sitting at home on a Saturday, at least your playing.
Good luck

[GarrettJ]

relax, forget about the score and just play for yourself in the first few games until you get comfortable

[joeljonno]

relax, forget about the score and just play for yourself in the first few games until you get comfortable

Possibly good advice. If you are batting well in the nets, it may be because there's less pressure on yourself.

Bowlingwise , you just need to keep at it. Make sure you set a good defensive field and it will come in time.

[mlapse]

Possibly good advice. If you are batting well in the nets, it may be because there's less pressure on yourself.

Bowlingwise , you just need to keep at it. Make sure you set a good defensive field and it will come in time.

Yes but I've tried going out to bat in a positive frame of mind. After a few cheap dismissals, one gets the feeling of having nothing to lose and that releases a lot of pressure. However, it didn't help at all.

[GarrettJ]

just go out and try to get a not out. Forget about positive frame of mind and all that as you will not be able to keep this pretence up when the bowler is at the end of his run up and steaming in.
 
if you get 12 not out of 60 balls then so what.

Keep building it up and you will get there. You are playing club cricket so no one is going to berate you for this, its not your job after all just a bit of fun.

[i12breakfree]

Obviously one good knock will surely help
You haven't mentioned anything about your own fitness...
Like when i re started playing i had put on some extra pounds and that even doesn't help
But at the end of day its mainly about confidence
Also a subtle change here and there may help like using less of bottom hand etc etc
Enjoy the game

[horseman]

I've just returned after 3/4 years of acl tear inactivity. I used to bowl and bat a little but now feel more confident with bat than ball. I would say just relax and enjoy playing. Batting wise just make sure you feel positive at the crease and give yourself time to work out your style again and dont be afraid to let yourself have extra time to play yourself in.

As for the bowling the defensive field is a great call. Just bowl and bowl and dont worry about what is going on around you. The lads will support you . I personally put more pressure on myself than anyone in the team because I think they understand the pains and effects of rehab.

Go out and think its a blessing to play and hopefully luck, form and fun follow

[mlapse]

Thanks all. I think the period away from the game and the lack of exercise (I had to completely stop all activity and even walking used to be painful) for 3 years has taken its toll.

Hope I find my form again soon. Given my current job, I barely get time to work out or practice so I have to make the best of what I have and be thankful that at least I'm playing now.

Cheers

[uknsaunders]

get some video up of you batting and bowling, I'm sure we can give some pointers.

[DiscoStu]

There is some good advice already but would it be possible for you to go and get a midweek or friendly match in at some point. Just a game where there is no pressure on you to perform. All sportsmen go through this process to get match sharpness and it will give you a better idea as to whether it is a mental or technical issue with your game.

You say that you haven't got a huge amount of spare time but I'm sure you could fit in a midweek T20 or something similar.

[mlapse]

Thanks for the comments so far.

I'm going to nets tomorrow so will try to record and post videos of my batting and bowling. I don't think a mid-week game is possible but might get a T20 in over the weekend.

[tushar sehgal]

How many times are you netting every week mate? practise makes perfect but if you are overdoing it then that might have an impact too as your body would not have enough time to recover. I say do bowling nets Tuesday and batting nets on Thursday (assuming you play Saturday and Sunday).

Also if you think a lot about the game especially in the days leading upto it, where you are planning in your head what you want to do, then stop doing that for a bit till you feel like you are getting back your form, sometimes too much thinking means if it doesn't work in the match your head is focused on just trying to do one thing you have been thinking about and all goes to pot...

[mlapse]

I'm netting twice a week - once with the team (mostly bowling with a 10 min bat) and once on a bowling machine. I play one only on Saturdays (40 over games) as I can't play more due to work.

Tomorrow I'm netting for an extended period so hopefully I can get in both batting and bowling and post some videos for people to see.

I do think about the game a lot and put myself under a lot of pressure. however, last game when I walked out to bat, I was feeling no pressure and was thinking that I'll just play my natural game and my form will come on its own. The first ball I tapped to mid off and set off for a quick single only to realize the non-striker was on his heels looking at the ball!!! Anyway, he got run out and maybe that affected me but the very next ball (run out was at the end of the previous over) I inside edged a big inswinger onto my stumps

So no pressure but still same result!