Print

[uknsaunders]

Been a while but I finally got a chance to try the crictech sheets out on a low bouncing deck. My initial findings:-

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=15684.msg252783#msg252783

Found I hit the ball higher up than expected and most people who tried the sheet felt similar. However, the question remained was it the wicket or the batsman. In theory the batsman compensates for the bounce or lack of it and it shouldn't matter. I had a spare sheet and decided to tape it on and try our deck at Ashorne. The practise track is pretty tired and low bouncing and seemed the ideal choice. It wasn't quite as scientific as the first time and I received a real variety of different deliveries. Here we go:-




Based on a very limited and short test, the middle may of moved a touch down but I'm not smacking it on the toe as you would think on a low deck.

[Chad]

That's interesting, I've always suspected that I do actually hit the ball slightly higher on Astro pitches than on grass ones, and the ones here in Scotland either keep low or pop up. I have a set left over, as I was going to get my brother to try it out, so I may have a grass throw down net and see what happens. Perhaps it was because you were using Bola balls in your initial test, and I find that if you face a bowler who bounces the ball a bit more than most, you will try to compensate for it, which supports the Crictech theory. Although you can then say that you had adjusted to the extra bounce of the Bola and we'd just be going round in circles!

[uknsaunders]

The other thing that may of influenced my testing is the height of the Bola compared to the bowlers on the grass deck, lower arms etc. Overall, and with very limited testing, I would see if you hit it high in the nets then on match day you'll still hit the ball mid/high at least. You won't need a low middle bat all of a sudden.