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[brokenbat]

I know this forum has had many conversations on triggers, but I just had a rather simple question.

The only time I even thought of a trigger, was when facing very quick (by my humble standards) bowling, on a quick surface. I found out that back and across DID give me a bit more time, and DID help a little bit. But then, I found out that if I just take my stance further back in the crease, I don't really need to be doing the back and across, because I'm already fairly deep in the crease (with my mindset being to "look for the full ball" and go forward if full, or to stay back for anything short).

Do the experts here think this is wise? I basically said to myself - if one benefit of a back and across move is to give one more time to play the quicks, then why don't I just stand a bit deeper than normal to give me that extra time, without having the need for a trigger (I normally stand quite still and if anything, have a teeny tiny step forward with my front foot - I didn't even know I did this; saw it on video). Like the most of us here, I don't have the time Rob Key had to learn a new trigger move (1000 hours or something), so this seems like the most logical adjustment for me to make.

Would love to hear what you guys think.

[lewis_faulds]

I used to have a trigger movement. 
I'd take middle and leg and step onto middle/off however I became a LBW candidate and lost my wicket due to moving ball or turn.
I'd advise against it, it can expose your technique.. Trott's trigger movement was analysed by aussies and attacked it in england.
If it benefits your game, keep it. If you find yourself getting out due to it then i guess you should try and drop it.

Hope it helps.

Lewis

[brokenbat]

I would actually love to find a way to avoid doing it. I normally DON'T have one, and for me, I think odds are I will NOT be able to execute it correctly. BUT, for faster bowlers, I do struggle, and often pick the short ball a bit too late.

A typical moment would be to find myself on the front-foot, and then say "oh sh*t" as the ball ends up being short - leading to an awkward shuffle back and an awkward defence.  So, given the need for extra time to play the quicks, and the preference to NOT have a trigger (its not natural for me), I figured a compromise solution is to play my normal way (head still, etc etc, leaning forward), but to stand much deeper in the crease. This way, if I am caught unaware by the short ball, I have more time, and I'm already deep in the crease.

I don't know the coaches here, but would love to hear their thoughts on this. I read Buzz's suggestion to watch the seam of the ball as the bowler runs in, and will try it as well.

[lewis_faulds]

Sorry!!!

Misread your original message

[alee]

It helps to be still as much as possible and to keep your batting simple.
THe movement helps some batsmen, but the way i see it is that your balance can be shaky at times especially if you have a high backlift as well.

Best thing is to be still so that the only thing you are focused on is watching the ball.

[brokenbat]

yes thats my view. but what do you guys think about my proposed solution?

[brokenbat]

yes thats my view. but what do you guys think about my proposed solution?

I would actually love to find a way to avoid doing it. I normally DON'T have one, and for me, I think odds are I will NOT be able to execute it correctly. BUT, for faster bowlers, I do struggle, and often pick the short ball a bit too late.

A typical moment would be to find myself on the front-foot, and then say "oh sh*t" as the ball ends up being short - leading to an awkward shuffle back and an awkward defence.  So, given the need for extra time to play the quicks, and the preference to NOT have a trigger (its not natural for me), I figured a compromise solution is to play my normal way (head still, etc etc, leaning forward), but to stand much deeper in the crease. This way, if I am caught unaware by the short ball, I have more time, and I'm already deep in the crease.

I don't know the coaches here, but would love to hear their thoughts on this. I read Buzz's suggestion to watch the seam of the ball as the bowler runs in, and will try it as well.

[alee]

if you are having trouble with the short ball then you may want to have a slightly higher back lift before the delivery. that way your bat is already at a better position to hit a pull shot.

I never stay deep in the crease because it limits your back foot play. To play the cut and the pull shot effectively i need to move my back foot back in order
to get the strength to smash a loose ball if i get one or even nudge a rising delivery towards the onside.

But if you are deep in the crease, then you can get hit wicket. unless you are a very strong front foot player and rarely play back foot shots.

[GarrettJ]

I use a back and across trigger but you need to be still at point of deliver. You also need to have your front shoulder lower than your back shoulder otherwise all your weight is going backwards. The idea is to keep the same upper body dynamic as you would if you were not triggering

I was taught to trigger over a winter with one on one sessions with Desmond Haynes and Gus Logie, they referred to it as an unweighting of the feet. Think of it that way.

It's tough to get right and if you get it wrong then you are better off standing still.

Trots trigger was weird, forward press wasn't it ..... That is the worst trigger possible, even against spin

[Buzz]

if only we all got coached by those guys!

what Garrettj says.

It's tough to get right and if you get it wrong then you are better off standing still.

[ItsJustCricket]

I recently added a trigger movement upon the recommendation of my coach.  We were working to fix an issue I had with backing away to anything even remotely quick (which at my level is about 60mph+!), and I now stand about a foot away from my usual guard (leg stump) and trigger in to leg stump while the bowler is running in.  I am consequently backing away much less and seem to have improved my balance.  Haven't batted in a match with this trigger yet, but the form has improved in the nets, so if anyone else has the same problem, I definitely recommend this trigger!

[Vitas Cricket]

I recently added a trigger movement upon the recommendation of my coach.  We were working to fix an issue I had with backing away to anything even remotely quick (which at my level is about 60mph+!), and I now stand about a foot away from my usual guard (leg stump) and trigger in to leg stump while the bowler is running in.  I am consequently backing away much less and seem to have improved my balance.  Haven't batted in a match with this trigger yet, but the form has improved in the nets, so if anyone else has the same problem, I definitely recommend this trigger!

I find this works until a good bowler spots it, and spears it in at your pads. It's hard to stop your momentum carrying you off towards the covers when ou are making such a significant movement from leg to off.

[GarrettJ]

That's when it goes wrong, when your momentum is going backwards or across or both when the ball is being delivered. Timing is everything with the trigger

[horseman]

I find that if I practice and have a hit in the week I tend to stay pretty still at the crease (left hander, quite open stance) because , in my opinion, your eyes track the ball more consistently due to repetition.  I found when I struggled to net I lost all sense of batting and felt fidgety at the crease like I needed a trigger to be positive.

[jamielsn15]

Up to the middle of last season (2013, UK) I had a back and across.  2013 up to this point I couldn't buy a run, decided to go right back to basics and stood still and made runs.

Now netting over the winter at Vitas, I'm standing still, more upright and balanced (most of the time) and find I'm seeing the ball a lot better.  Given that I'm not strong off my pads to leg at all, the trigger made absolutely no sense.

I'm happy to trust my eyes and reflexes from a still, solid base than moving across.  Different for everyone though...