Topic: Your Guard and You! (Read 12890 times)

LMQ21 · « **on:** May 25, 2013, 09:27:59 PM »

Thinking about this today during our game I was drawn to players taking, marking, retaking and the use of their guard.

We had one player today take about 2-3 minutes to take his guard and wasn't happy with it, he asked for middle and leg, with the bat shading the leg stump or something to this effect. He was then bowled first ball.

We also have a player who guards middle stump, he does however have the tendency to mark his guard repetitively (Trott style), he then builds a trench of around 2-3 ft deep usually on the crease line.

So my question to forum members is how anal are you when it comes to taking your guard ?

Obviously I appreciate there are higher standard players on this forum and lower standard. I would be interested to hear what guard you take and why? In addition to this whether your a trench digger or a minimal marker?

PedalsMcgrew · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2013, 09:39:26 PM »

I'm quite anal about it these days but I never was before my coach pointed out that I was standing a foot outside leg stump most of the time!

I usually take middle & leg and I scratch out a line with my spikes long enough that I can line up both my feet along it. After I have scratched out a line at both ends that's about it though. As long as I can still see it then I have no need to dig a little trench. I think a lot of people have copied Trott and try to use it as a way of getting in 'the bubble' Whilst a few others just do it because they have seen a 'pro' do it but they couldn't tell you why they do it!

It's like the guys I see who mark their guard by taking a bail off and knocking it into the ground....always makes me laugh! Especially when it's a damp green UK wicket! The only reason Shiv does it is because the ground in Guyana is so damn hard a spike doesn't even make a mark!

praguetaz · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2013, 09:53:12 PM »

I'm a middle and leg man myself and think a piece of chalk is the way forward which you can leave behind the stumps. It's also good for artificial wickets/carpet.

I really don't want to waste too much time asking the umpire at the end of each run/over etc. although I have my own set up routine before ready to receive the next ball which helps me to focus right in on the bowler and next ball.

I remember one occasion last season when my batting partner told me I had taken middle guard on an lbw dismissal which is unusual for me.

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2013, 09:55:11 PM »

I am really anal about it, I take 2 (middle and leg) and then have a back and across trigger, I am a it of a trench digger I am afraid, each ball I play a bad shot, or miss or leave, I will dig at my guard, as well as beginning of most overs. Helps focus me, and helps me switch off at the same time

Colesy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2013, 10:37:12 PM »

Depends on the bowler. Seamer I've gone back to middle, leggie I'll be on leg in my crease and offie I'll be on middle/off in my crease. As for marking it I'll do it before every ball.

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2013, 10:48:58 PM »

personaly i bat on leg stump all the time with a slighlty open stance, done this to make sure i dont plant the front foot and play around the pad, used this for about 2 years and has cut down the amount of times if been LBW quite a bit

ajm90 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2013, 11:26:42 PM »

I take middle stump guard probably makes no difference to me, apart from knowing where i can leave outside off.

DiscoStu · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2013, 11:55:40 PM »

I'm a 2 man but don't get too bothered with marking and re-marking because I find that you can see where the various marks are after a while, especially if you are batting 2nd or coming in down the order. There will be a trench on middle and both our openers scratch a trench on leg stump. Plus, you don't need a guard if you are giving the bowler the charge :-)

lethalshrapnel · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2013, 04:45:45 AM »

Don't really bother cos both leg and middle always seemed to be marked out quite clearly anyhoo. I stand a wee bit outside leg and make sure my right eye is as close to off stump as possible.

no1red · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2013, 08:54:10 AM »

I bat on 2 all the time pretty much, maybe should come across to middle as I'm very left eye dominant as a right hander.

morgzy10 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2013, 09:48:48 AM »

I Take a leg stump guard, used to have a back and across trigger but it was coached out of me so now just across, im a bit of a trench digger too, Mark it at the start of an over or change of strike. also whilst the bowler is in his run up tap the bat 3 times on the floor and get into my stance

Blazer · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2013, 10:40:28 AM »

I take a middle stump guard but put the outside edge of bat lined up with the mark. I have no idea where I stand though.

Vitas Cricket · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2013, 06:41:13 PM »

I ask the umpire 'what's this on?' As I hold my bat up on someone else's god awful trench. Whatever the response is, I place my feet accordingly. Little bit closer to the line if i am told 'leg' and a little further away if I get told 'middle' or 'middle and leg'

The only time I mark out my own line is if the wicket is extremely wet or extremely dry, as over time the line will dissapear. Or when I'm facing an off spinner who's turning it a fair bit, I sometimes try an off stump guard to help me to play with the spin and also get it into the umpires head that giving me out lbw isn't a good idea...

trypewriter · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2013, 06:50:42 PM »

Quote from: SOULMAN1012 on May 25, 2013, 10:48:58 PM

personaly i bat on leg stump all the time with a slighlty open stance, done this to make sure i dont plant the front foot and play around the pad, used this for about 2 years and has cut down the amount of times if been LBW quite a bit

that's what I do and also why

kenbriooo · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2013, 07:56:48 PM »

I bat on leg and where possible bat out of my crease to the quicker bowlers occasionally dropping back to mess their length up. I tend to take a small step forward as part of my trigger movement which brings me further out my crease and probably onto middle. I noticed when I was batting well I was doing a small front press. It seems to have cut out LBW for what ever reason and helps me play straighter. Ill often recheck my guard with the umpire for a second time this time not on the crease line but about a foot in front just so they know I'm batting well out of my crease.

Spinners ill stay on leg but deep in my crease. I do find taking a leg guard annoying as everyone else tramples over it and you have to keep remarking it. But if I have to check again I'm fairly relaxed and just ask for one'ish!

Author Topic: Your Guard and You! (Read 12890 times)

LMQ21

Your Guard and You!

PedalsMcgrew

Re: Your Guard and You!

praguetaz

Re: Your Guard and You!

LEACHY48

Re: Your Guard and You!

Colesy

Re: Your Guard and You!

SOULMAN1012

Re: Your Guard and You!

ajm90

Re: Your Guard and You!

DiscoStu

Re: Your Guard and You!

lethalshrapnel

Re: Your Guard and You!

no1red

Re: Your Guard and You!

morgzy10

Re: Your Guard and You!

Blazer

Re: Your Guard and You!

Vitas Cricket

Re: Your Guard and You!

trypewriter

Re: Your Guard and You!

kenbriooo

Re: Your Guard and You!