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[Slyboogy]

Hi guys,

I'm relatively new in cricket, this is my first season playing any type of professional cricket and I'm 21 years old.

Currently I am unsure of what I am, whether I am a batsman, bowler, or an all rounder. My bowling is medium pace, I'm not very tall only 5 foot 6, I bowl wicket to wicket, but I don't have much pace, also I clearly need a variation or two.

As far as batting is concerned, I am very poor on the off side, and not great when the ball comes on to the pads.

I would say my bowling is better than my batting, but when I was younger it was the opposite, but even so, I don't think I'm much of a suitable standard for any. I get picked for the team, but because we have 8 bowlers I don't get too bowl, I usually bat in the middle order or lower.

Fielding I would say is the best out of the three, but sometimes I drop catches in practice more than I would like to, and the ball seems to hurt my hand a bit too much. My throwing is also a little weak.

Any advice?

[RossViper]

To be honest, I would just turn up and try and enjoy it as much as possible, go to nets, and try and pick things up from other players.

Good luck

[Seniorplayer]

Rather than being unsure and thinking am i a batter, bowler or specialist fielder think  of yourself has a cricketer and do as Ross as suggested.

[The Palmist]

Mate if you can bowl 6 balls in a row wicket to wicket then I am sure you will be fine. Don't worry too much about pace or varuation just focus on control line and length and wait for batsmen to make mistakes.
Practice practice practice and work on what comes to you naturally.

[Chad]

I echo what people say, just enjoy it. Work on fitness and do some exercises to help aid in improving body strength, and you'll find it helps a lot in all areas of cricket. It will take time to figure out what kind of area you'll do best in, but just give it a little time and see what you enjoy most.

[Slyboogy]

Ok guys thanks, but I want to improve aswell, like I said I'm a beginner and I'm up against players who've played cricket the majority of their lives.

Also, Chad, are you the Chad from Clydesdale? I think I remember you there in my short stint in 2007 where I only played for half a season and then left and didn't come back to cricket due to various reasons.

[Chad]

I am indeed, although that was pretty early on in my cricketing career! I'm pretty sure I had just about learned how to hold a bat at that point! Are you still playing around in Glasgow? Drop me a message, and I'll see if I can help you with anything. Exam is over tomorrow, so pretty free then!

[Slyboogy]

Haha really? Remember you being an extreme fast bowler for our age! But I do remember you getting clobbered in the privates by my cousin when you weren't wearing a box in the nets, sorry for bringing that up haha.

I currently play for Poloc, nice place.

[toenails97]

There's tons of useful coaching videos on YouTube that will help with technique etc

[Blazer]

Hi guys,

I'm relatively new in cricket, this is my first season playing any type of professional cricket and I'm 21 years old.

Currently I am unsure of what I am, whether I am a batsman, bowler, or an all rounder. My bowling is medium pace, I'm not very tall only 5 foot 6, I bowl wicket to wicket, but I don't have much pace, also I clearly need a variation or two.

As far as batting is concerned, I am very poor on the off side, and not great when the ball comes on to the pads.


I would say my bowling is better than my batting, but when I was younger it was the opposite, but even so, I don't think I'm much of a suitable standard for any. I get picked for the team, but because we have 8 bowlers I don't get too bowl, I usually bat in the middle order or lower.

Fielding I would say is the best out of the three, but sometimes I drop catches in practice more than I would like to, and the ball seems to hurt my hand a bit too much. My throwing is also a little weak.

Any advice?

Let's look at the positives here then, If you bowl wicket to wicket you are chances of getting a wicket are three times better. Vary pace and you will be perfect for club cricket.
You can't play off side or onside but can play straight I guess. That is a good base to start off and you can field well. You will improve as your confidence builds up. You are only one decent score away from becoming a batsman and there on it's trying to better your previous score. If you can enjoy being in the middle batting , your job is half done.

PS :You would also need a net bat , a wet weather bat ,a T20 bat , "The big score chaser bat " and " I need a big score as I am out of form bat " once you start enjoying batting  .Welcome to the forum and enjoy your time here.

[Chad]

Haha really? Remember you being an extreme fast bowler for our age! But I do remember you getting clobbered in the privates by my cousin when you weren't wearing a box in the nets, sorry for bringing that up haha.

I currently play for Poloc, nice place.

Ah, was that Awace? It was on my birthday too! Not pleasant, especially on those weird bouncing astro nets! Thank goodness the new ones are much better. Haha I think you're the first to say that, I'm pretty much only a bit quicker now than I was back then! (Was lucky to have played rugby before cricket, so had a reasonably strong frame to work with)

Oh yeah, I play some university cricket with Craig, (nice lad) the Poloc 1st XI captain.

[lewis_faulds]

Net with us, Chad?

[Slyboogy]

Ah, was that Awace? It was on my birthday too! Not pleasant, especially on those weird bouncing astro nets! Thank goodness the new ones are much better. Haha I think you're the first to say that, I'm pretty much only a bit quicker now than I was back then! (Was lucky to have played rugby before cricket, so had a reasonably strong frame to work with)

Oh yeah, I play some university cricket with Craig, (nice lad) the Poloc 1st XI captain.

Haha yeah it was! I remember that you were the only fast bowler in our group who I was intimidated, bricked it a few times!

That's a lot of cricket!

So you serious about with the help?

Let's look at the positives here then, If you bowl wicket to wicket you are chances of getting a wicket are three times better. Vary pace and you will be perfect for club cricket.
You can't play off side or onside but can play straight I guess. That is a good base to start off and you can field well. You will improve as your confidence builds up. You are only one decent score away from becoming a batsman and there on it's trying to better your previous score. If you can enjoy being in the middle batting , your job is half done.

PS :You would also need a net bat , a wet weather bat ,a T20 bat , "The big score chaser bat " and " I need a big score as I am out of form bat " once you start enjoying batting  .Welcome to the forum and enjoy your time here.

Ah thanks, that's a great welcome post 

Lots of bats too. I take it a wet weather bat, is basically a bat that's the worst out of your collection? Both of my bats got destroyed in the nets this Tuesday in the space of 10 minutes. One was new, and the other I've had since my first stint in 2007, brother used it for 2 seasons aswell, that one breaking surprised me.