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[ProCricketer1982]

Ok, so for the last 2 winters I've turned myself into a batsmen. I'm playing at a reasonable level but I've come to realise that the only way I get out is myself. So, how so you train yourself to stop giving it away more ? I can tick along at about 60SR easily enough but come unstuck when trying to push on . What training drills can I do to try and up this side of my game ?


I'd love to come back next year and aim to dominate the league but for that I need to improve the middle part of my innings.  In sat league games so far I've had


105* off 109 balls
51* off 91 balls and then the rain come just as I was accelerating
8 off about 12 balls. Epic fail against a weak attack due to trying to play a cocky shot and nicked off
16 off 48 balls, getting out on the openers last ball playing the same cocky shot as the week before (that shot has been put away now)
22* off 51 batting with the tail collapsing
22 off 30 balls, chased a crap wide long hop and nicked off
66 off 60 ish balls, limited overs due to rain but got out trying to slog sweep a straight ball

So, as you can see, I get myself out all the time. Usually when the hard work is done and I'm looking to push on. So, how do I train this part of my game?  I'm not a blocker and can play all around the ground so it's not that I don't have the shots, just want to know how I can improve .



Any ideas ?

[400notout]

You don't sound like you are scoring slowly!

Do you get your runs in boundaries mainly, it may be a case of turning those dots into 1s/2s which in the end can take a strike rate of 80 to 100 easily.

[The_Bird]

Cricket and sport in general is all about whats between the ears, it always will be. get that right and you'll make fewer mistakes. All your dismissals are cocky shots...that should tell you what you need to know.

[ProCricketer1982]

You don't sound like you are scoring slowly!

Do you get your runs in boundaries mainly, it may be a case of turning those dots into 1s/2s which in the end can take a strike rate of 80 to 100 easily.

I'm slow for the first 50 balls but usually if I face 100 balls ill have 80+ runs as once I'm in the shots come out. The cocky shots were trying to place it down to third man with a flat bat rather than a straight open blade.


Mental side is something I still need to learn as I'm new to batting still. Turning dots into 1's is something I do need but not sure how to actually work on it.

[uknsaunders]

60SR over 45 overs is a team score of 162. If that is par for your deck or league then fair enough you are doing your job. Problem with batting is the acceleration part comes with extended time at the crease. The longer you bat the quicker you score as you get your eye and become use to the conditions/bowling. If you have a 60SR for the first 20-30 runs I see no problems with that,  chances are you will go nearer 100SR thereafter and your overall rate will climb. Only one of your longer knocks could be described as stodgy, the 51 off 91 balls, but then again how did everyone else bat that day?

People do get "stuck" sometimes but as long as it's not every week I see no issues.

[uknsaunders]

I'm slow for the first 50 balls but usually if I face 100 balls ill have 80+ runs as once I'm in the shots come out. The cocky shots were trying to place it down to third man with a flat bat rather than a straight open blade.


Mental side is something I still need to learn as I'm new to batting still. Turning dots into 1's is something I do need but not sure how to actually work on it.

It's about acceptable risk in the latter stages. Play the shots you are comfortable playing and play as straight as possible. I'm not a very good slogger but I am comfortable advancing down the pitch to the medium pacers in the latter stages, but looking to play straight and it's more about the positive mindset rather than the final result. Sometimes I take my guard a yard outside my crease or times I take a couple of steps, but I'm happy to do that in the closing stages. I often find I loosen up and start to pull more freely when the ball is dug in. Hitting one 4 and 5 singles is still 9 an over (150SR) and as long as you can get something away in an over you don't have to go mad.

[ProCricketer1982]

The 51* came on a day we were inserted to bat and it rained so we were on and off all the time. The oppos bowled their openers 9 and 7 overs on the trot and in fairness they bowled really well. Our pro came in, started taking the first change apart and I joined in. We went off on 29 overs gone, 2 down on 129 with me on 51* and the pro on 45 so we were hitting them as due to rain they'd bowled out their openers .   Then a big break hit us and that was the end of our innings

[uknsaunders]

The 51* came on a day we were inserted to bat and it rained so we were on and off all the time. The oppos bowled their openers 9 and 7 overs on the trot and in fairness they bowled really well. Our pro came in, started taking the first change apart and I joined in. We went off on 29 overs gone, 2 down on 129 with me on 51* and the pro on 45 so we were hitting them as due to rain they'd bowled out their openers .   Then a big break hit us and that was the end of our innings

exactly - your SR was 56, the team SR 74 - I don't think that's too bad considering you were facing the opening bowlers in the first 30 overs in not great conditions. It's when you are half the teams SR you need to worry.

[ProCricketer1982]

exactly - your SR was 56, the team SR 74 - I don't think that's too bad considering you were facing the opening bowlers in the first 30 overs in not great conditions. It's when you are half the teams SR you need to worry.

So, how can I train that middle part of the innings though? I mean I can and do spend hours on the machine just training the different shots but I feel I am still missing that something to take me from doing well to really dominating games. Currently I find that I do well in games and the oppo's all seem to say 'well done' BUT I don't feel like I have dominated them. I've not made teh capt panic or worry, not made the bowlers really think 'crap, where the hell do I bowl now' etc... I don't want to be a Simmy Slogger but would like to train up a safe way to really put the fielding side under more pressure and hopefully not only score more runs but also create chances for my team mates when they come in.

[uknsaunders]

I was watching the Lashings lot yesterday and what was impressive was how early they were in position and the fact they had multiple options. One spinner commented that he bowled 3 balls in the same place and the same batsman hit the ball in 3 completely different places!

Improve your range of shots and time you have to play them. Any weak shots you have, get down the nets with the bowling machine and get those shots grooved. Simmy had a video of Ian Bell doing the cone thing - ie. hitting 10 balls in 10 completely different areas, maybe that would be worth a go. Another route is what Lance Kluesner use to do, just practise hitting balls for six by getting somebody to throw down the balls with some boundary fielders. Again it's about grooving the shot and building confidence to play it.

[ajmw89]

Putting the fielding side under pressure is more about you mental approach than anything technical.  You don't have to score boundaries off every ball, but run hard to turn 1s into 2s, nick singles where possible.  Nothing frustrates a bowler more than picking up singles where there shouldn't be one or turning 1s into 2s imo

[Buzz]

Putting the fielding side under pressure is more about you mental approach than anything technical.  You don't have to score boundaries off every ball, but run hard to turn 1s into 2s, nick singles where possible.  Nothing frustrates a bowler more than picking up singles where there shouldn't be one or turning 1s into 2s imo

I agree with this - you don't need to turn yourself into someone who has 3 shots for every ball in my view (it will only confuse).

Putting the other side under pressure isn't about dominating them, it is about pushing them out of their zone by frustrating them and then enjoying the bad balls they bowl at you.

[ProCricketer1982]

I'll see if I can find Simmy's little video and take a look.

Yes, watching 2 lightening fast runners is fun as they steal singles etc BUT all too often I've noticed that a clean pick up/direct hit and they are out. Do I really have to go down the risky road to put teams under pressure? I'm more of a 'why risk it' type of batsmen but if that really is the only way then maybe it's something I should look to do later in the season.

That's mainly why I want to dominate them Buzz, once I can put them off a little or frustrate them, they start to bowl their 'wicket ball' or 'variations', which most of the time mean it's a hit-a-ble ball (or so good that I leave/block). I'm just trying to work out how I can improve. Always looking to improve if I can

[Simmy]

think its this one lads

Ian Bell v Off Spinedit.avi

[uknsaunders]

I agree with this - you don't need to turn yourself into someone who has 3 shots for every ball in my view (it will only confuse).

Don't be so literal Buzz! I was talking more about being able to work the ball around into different areas  . Nothing wrong with a wide shot range if you select and execute them well (which most of us don't I hasten to add!). Simply being able to play off your legs makes a huge difference to your scoring rate.