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[jchokshi]

Recently, I've been asked to shape myself to open the innings for my team. Traditionally, I've been playing at 4th position comfortably. However, for the last two innings that I've played as opener, I failed miserably. What I've observed is that I don't find myself mentally prepared to open the innings I guess. I tend to feel a bit fearful from playing the shot (fear of getting out or say "pressure of not loosing the wicket early", 2nd guessing myself, etc.) which I'd have played easily had I been playing at 4th position. I don't myself calm at the crease when I open the innings compared to 4th position that I'm used to play.
I don't know if why this is happening as this is pretty new to me and suffice to say that I don't like it. Has anybody had experienced such symptoms before? Any advises?

Thanks,
Jay

[Rowan]

Hi mate, ive just done an assignment on this exact topic and hope that I can help you, here goes:
I think that you are overly anxious, which leads to low or high arousal levels, meaning that you cannot perform at you're peak.
The reason you are getting anxious is because you dont have very much experience batting.
There are ways that you can improve on this though. Firstly, Positive self talk is probably the most useful, always staying in a positive mindset and saying positive things to yourself helps to clear the head after a poor shot. Secondly, Imagery is useful. there are two forms of imagery, one is personal, this is where you imagine the bowler through you're eyes, secondly, what I call public imagery is more like someone is videoing you. Personally, I always imagine Ian Bell playing the shot that I want to play, and think about how I can play that.
Just think, at the end of the day, cricket is a game and everyone fails at points. But the game is 90% mental and 10% skill, so if you are in the wrong mindset you will never succeed.
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Michael Jordan
Rowan, (PS I want to be a sports psychologist )
If you would like proper definitions or would like to go deeper, feel free to pm me or just reply to this.

[Buzz]

what a super topic.

there seems to me to be two parts to your issue...

one you are being asked to do something you are uncomfortable with because it is new and don't have a new plan.

two no one has mentioned to you that opening is much harder than 4 as you are facing the opposition bowlers when they are fresh with a new ball.

my view is for the first, relax and for the second, recognise the issue and play yourself in for longer.

there are a few other thoughts here...

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=8242.msg124907#msg124907

[The Palmist]

As a new opener they probably don't expect much from you and you have the full team behind you. This means you can bat freely and without fear.

It surely is a better place to be rather than coming in at 4 once your team has lost wickets early.

Why are you focussing on playing shots early on anyway?

If you are fearful of playing shots then don't play them. Give yourself 30 balls or so.

And man up

[The Palmist]

two no one has mentioned to you that opening is much harder than 4 as you are facing the opposition bowlers when they are fresh

Yes fresh bowlers mean loose few balls so perfect time to get your eye in.

You said you were comfortable at number 4 but did you make many runs?

How would you have batted as 4 if let's say your team had lost 2 wickets in first over.

[Northern monkey]

Man up?? Don't think that comments gonna help much is it?

Opening does take time to get used to, the bowlers are fresher etc, the balls harder, the seams more pronounced,the wicket could be greener,,
All of which are challenges to overcome, hence the need to play yourself in.
Listen to others you have seen open the batting well, ,try and learn from what they do.

The main thing though, is enjoy the opportunity , the team obviously have faith in you.

[smilley792]

Opening is all subjective. What you need to so depends on the game situation. What your partner is playing like. What he oppo bowlers are doing. You really can't have a set plan every game.
Look at Rogers for Australia. Sometimes he's on 20 of 80 balls. And others he's out scoring Warner!



We dropped our opener a few years back as he became fearful of getting out. We were ending up 90 all out of 40 odd overs. And him carrying his bat for just 6 runs of 124 balls(yep that's his record) and his attitude was. "I'm an opener my job is to not get out"
Well your putting for too much pressure on the rest of us to score so it ain't working.
He since learned and will be back up the order to start this season.


Me when I'm opening I love to put pressure on the opposition bowler, if I can get him off his game before he's settled in good, the fields in, so i can go over the top. Get us a good start and them on the back foot, with bowling restrictions, it's also good if you can remove the oppos bowler from the attack,
Unfortunately that worked less than it didn't, I had a few quick fire 50s, but also a lot of signal figure scores as there are a few close catches on for that mistake.


Then there is our constant opener that revels in opening. He plays the game needed at whatever point, 
He once took 24 of the first over because the opener was bowling pies so he took advantage. Yet finished his innings with a 138 ball 111.
I.e he plays the ball on merit. Scores when he can, and if he can't doesn't. But when times get tough he always manages to rotate the strike.


My advice don't over think it. Play your natural game. If it works your an opener. If it doesn't ask to be moved back to 4.

[13th Man]

Hi Jay

3 years ago asked to do the exact same thing.  No one else in the team wanted to open, this year 1st time we had a real opener in our team so it was great to bat with the same guy every week.

1stly I used to like being the non striker, not any more found waiting nervous, so I take strike. 

I also like not having to wait to bat.

You get great value for your shots, if they are there I really go for them, the balls new, fields up, and I generally find I get enough early to hit ( I'm a lefty think that helps as well).

Don't forget the bowlers might be nervous as well?  I like what Rowan was suggesting, be positive.

I'm no great technician, others on here would be far more qualified to comment, but I do try and play straight for longer, I think, more so than when I came in down the order, just a gut feeling, nothing deliberate, but I think it's a consequence of the bowling.

Cheers

Mark

[ProCricketer1982]

2013 was my first year as an opener, I've started off the year nervous of getting out and didn't really open up until I was on 30/40 ish. However, I soon learned that simply playing each ball on its own merit and knowing what shots you are and are not comfy with early on are the two keys to getting decent scores. You can talk about quick between the wickets, rotating strike etc. Simply put, first ten overs focus on only attacking the bad balls, don't force shots. Sometimes bowlers are allowed to bowl well. If that happens then it's fine, you just adjust to the first change guy and look to attack a bit more etc.

Worst thing you can do is go out there block balls, use them up and put pressure on your team. Or be the one that just  goes out swinging and mainly fails and just  goes 'I like to dominate'. You are no warner lad,

Each ball on its merit
Look to attack each ball if you can (positive intent)
Respect good balls
Bad balls throw the kitchen sink at and hit for 4/6

No matter the level, barring the odd super spell, there WILL be enough crap balls that you at your worst will score 100 off about 130 balls, which. Ost openers worth their salt would take. If it's worse bowling, you'll find it's quicker

[Blazer]

Think about how you would bat at number 4 if two quick wickets were lost and apply the same strategy. You would need to assess the bowling, pitch and avoid early further damages. Being a middle order batsman can actually work in favour because you can easily shift gears as the innings progresses. Importantly enjoy the chance given to you to face more balls than a number 4 batsman , it actually means you can score more runs.

[GarrettJ]

6 off 124 balls!!! 

surely someone had to deliberately run him out after about 50 balls.

[The Palmist]

Man up?? Don't think that comments gonna help much is it?

well you may not find it helpful some may do.
It was said with good intentions so chill.
Which brings me to the point that batters especially openers have to be less sensitive and be able to block all the sledging, keepers comments etc. out of your mind.

[uknsaunders]

Some great advice from everyone on this topic and I'm probably going to repeat much of what is said below!

Having done nearly every position in the batting order, they all seem to require something a little different. To me the main differences between opening and a number 4 are:-

1. Tighter technique, must play straighter and more compact
2. Know were your off stump is and be prepared to let plenty of balls go
3. Look for the singles, sometimes decks are so juicy getting a genuine four ball is unlikely for several overs
4. Shot selection - pack away the big expansive drive in favour of a checked drive, sometimes driving anything is out of the question for a while

Opening is the hardest job in the batting order but the rewards are there if you can just hold on and wait for conditions to ease. Sometimes you get lucky and the it proves to be the best time to bat, the bowlers struggle to control the new ball and there are plenty of gaps to exploit. You have to weigh up the situation and know fairly quickly whether it's a "dig in" period or an opportunity to score quickly. As others have said, a fair bit of thought needs to be given when opening.

[sloggerroz]

If all else fails have a double vodka about 10 minutes before you go out to bat.

[ajmw89]

Opening can be difficult at times.  You usually face the oppo's best bowlers, who may be fired up if they are defending a low total/playing a must win game/have first use of a seamers pitch/have a reason to be angry.  They'll generally have a harder ball with a more pronounced seam.

When I started opening the batting a few seasons ago, I got promoted from tail end slogger with no technique (some would argue that's still the case!)  After a while, I learnt you had to be selfish and just block for a while.  However, my natural instinct is to attack.  I always found it easier when opening with another aggressive batsman, as they would quite often take the pressure I felt to score runs at the top.  That would allow me to focus on getting my eye in a bit more.