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[imran75]

Hi Guys,

It's Friday. Which, for all of us means it's time to go to the pub. And then wake up hungover on Saturday, stuff your whites into your kit bag, leg it out the door and pray you haven't forgotten your box.

At least that's what it seems is the routine for our batsmen most weeks. The reason I say this is because as a unit, we bat like Geoffrey Boycott chasing 400 on day 5 at Headingley after a night out with Ian Botham.

It's not like we don't have the ability, our scores this season have been 135 (won), 114 (won) and, shockingly, 242-9 (drawn). So, my question to you all is:

Short of a cattle prod, how can I motivate my batsmen to get a b****y move on?

I've thought about giving them individual targets, setting a run rate, re-arranging the batting order...any thoughts welcome!

cheers all!

[Gloves]

Something like fines could work, if they don't get their target they have to pay a tiny bit At the end of the season(not in a serious manner)

[imran75]

That's not a bad idea. I'm not sure that it would be a big enough of a motivator though - the fines don't become "real" until the end of the season and by then it's too late to do anything about it...maybe a name and shame thing at the end of the game. Or the guy with the lowest run rate has to copy the scorebook, take the flags in at home games or buy a jug in the bar...hmm...

[ajmw89]

Worst performance has to down a pint through the helmet of shame...

[Leddster138]

Are you struggling to set a target or chase a target? Batting slow can have it's benefits depending on what you are trying to achieve.

[Gloves]

That's not a bad idea. I'm not sure that it would be a big enough of a motivator though - the fines don't become "real" until the end of the season and by then it's too late to do anything about it...maybe a name and shame thing at the end of the game. Or the guy with the lowest run rate has to copy the scorebook, take the flags in at home games or buy a jug in the bar...hmm...

There are lots of things that can be done, just have to find the one that will motivate them the most!

[imran75]

helmet of shame! love it! wasn't there a pink one knocking about on here? I wonder if it comes in purple...

We're struggling to set a target actually. That's why I was thinking of setting individual targets. You're right though, batting slow does have advantages. I just don't see us being able to defend sub-140 scores week in, week out.

[ajmw89]

They have to have a full grill on the lid and drink the pint.  No straws allowed.  If they spill too much, they have to do another...

[PedalsMcgrew]

Have a look at your batting order. Try shuffling it up so that the quicker scoring guys are batting with the slowcoaches. Make sure that the slowcoaches understand that their role is to give the quicker scoring players as much of the strike as possible. Encourage them to look for singles and encourage them to work on an 'out' shot. Maybe a nudge down to 3rd man or a nudge off the hip. Make sure everyone in the batting line up has a role and knows exactly what that role entails. Making sure everyone knows what is expected of them can have huge benefits both in the short and long term. 

[Bulldog Cricket]

Drop them to the seconds.

[Manormanic]

242-9 drawn...

...what was the target and how was their bowling.  Doesn't sound slow to me, sounds like they played the situation as best they could.  Did you see them patting back half volleys or turning down easy singles?

[imran75]

ajmw - genius. I'll use that!

Pedals - that's kinda what I've been doing to date. Unfortunately the numbers don't work out - we've got maybe 2 people who can hit reliably. I think maybe if I give a few people the role of hitters it might bring them out of their shells a bit. Having the licence to have a go might bring them out of the nudging mindset. Having said that there's always the danger of "block, block, Smash" turning into "block, block, miss a straight one". Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Bulldog - there's nowhere to go from this team!!

Manormaniac - No, you're right, that game was perfect which is why I know we have the talent to do it. Target was 244 off 44 overs, needed 3 off the last ball. I think we did brilliantly that game and it made me realise that we can be aggressive and put up competitive scores. At my level there are always easy singles turned down, just got to live with the odd one or two...

[LMQ21]

My suggestion would be to do some situation training. In the nets give a player a good warm up to get his eye in then give him two overs to hit a certain number of runs off the 12 balls, alter the runs depending on ability.

A task we had at the weekend was to chase down 118, so in the team talk each batsman was given the task of getting 10 runs each. (Obviously this wouldn't have won us the game but it was with the approach that at least 2/3 batsman would get a start).

I think hitting runs is a mentality thing, I bat incredibly well when given a target by a player or captain, whether it be, bat for 30 overs or we need 25 runs e.t.c, it is a good way to focus and score runs. 

[imran75]

That sounds like a plan. I think setting a team target (if we bat first) might be a good idea. Say 200 off 40 (something achievable yet high enough to give us a chance), then as you say, individual totals...

thanks for the advice chaps!

[imran75]

So, just a quick update on this.

I decided to set everyone a target in the end; 20 runs each. I also talked up the last score we got saying that if we've done it once, we can do it again. I tried to give everyone a bit of a mental push. It seems to have worked! we put on 270 is 45 overs. Our opening bat hit 132 and our number 4 hit 56. Wow....

Unfortunately our two opening bowlers decided not to bother turning up so we couldn't bowl the oppo out. Winning draw.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!!