Topic: Lack of confidence (Read 3218 times)

ajmw89 · « **on:** May 21, 2014, 09:26:42 AM »

Hi Chaps,

As above, have had no confidence in my batting for most of the winter.
Scored an incredibly painful 3 off about 10 overs on saturday, got out after I realised the "wait for the bad ball" tactic wasn't working and tried the "hit my way out of it" method.

Anyone got any tips to help restore confidence

RichW · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2014, 09:53:20 AM »

If you have access to a bowling machine set it up to bowl to your strengths.

Do that for 15/20 mins until you feel well set then move it to bowling to your weaker areas.

By then you'll have you eye well in and hopefully should be able to work on your areas to improve whilst feeling good instead of a bowler targeting that area straight away.

If you don't have a bowling machine get someone to start with under arm throws from quite close and build up to throw downs and finally proper bowling.

Nothing scientific but it's what I do when I feel out of form

richthekeeper · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2014, 09:59:10 AM »

i think my stock response to batting problems threads is as follows:

"contact Buzz, ask very nicely for his Batting Manual, read it"

however in the meantime let me tell you what works for me. (much of this heavily informed by aforementioned manual)

Know your game
What shots are you good at? Which ones do you often get out to? Play more of the former and less of the latter!

Affect the bowler
You mention that you were waiting for the bad ball and none arrived. I'm sure this is the case occasionally, but often you need to force the issue a bit. There are several ways of doing this:

1. Turn a reasonable ball into a scoring shot
Ok, so it wasn't a rank long hop but there's a gap in the field where you can comfortably push a length ball and take a single. You're off strike, the bowler has to re-plan for your batting partner and you get +1 on your score.

2. Move around the crease
Let's assume your strong shot is the straight drive, but the pesky bowler keeps bowling 5th stump lines. Why not take a step across to off and look to hit him straight? Of course there is a little more risk in this approach, but it will make the bowler readjust his line. Similarly if you leave well outside off most bowlers will get bored and attack the stumps. Essentially make him bowl to your strengths.

3. Move the field around
Most teams at my level will set up with a slip and a gully early on in the innings. If this is the case I often look to guide anything sightly wide into the gap in this area and take a single. This usually results in an extra fielder being moved in which obviously opens up a gap somewhere else. Of course we are increasing the risk slightly - make sure you keep the ball down!

4. Take a risk
Sometimes you need to force the issue a bit and make the oppo captain react to you. Early in the game the field will be in and it might be difficult to get singles or find the gap. In this situation, going aerial could be considered a safe shot. For a seamer, my release shot is a controlled chip over the bowler's head or a slightly less controlled carve over extra cover. Against a tight spinner you might find that tw*tting him through midwicket has the desired effect. In any case, you'll soon find the field goes back and you have plenty of space to take singles! Of course, you need to pick the right ball to hit and make good clean contact...

The point is you need to have a plan and not just go out there hoping to hit the bad ball.

AverageCricketer · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2014, 10:04:39 AM »

Thanks for the batting manual. It's always been referred to, but now I have seen it!

ajmw89 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2014, 10:04:44 AM »

Thanks for the advice so far.

I should clarify, I did get bad balls, but my confidence is so low and my timing so off, I was missing or mis hitting the ball. When I did time one, it wasn't middled or it was straight to the fielder.

Unfortunately the chap I was batting with is bigger and slower than me, so quick singles to rotate the strike were out of the question

Giraffe208 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2014, 10:11:22 AM »

Are you using a new bat or at least using one different to when you were scoring runs? Could this be affecting your timing etc?

Perhaps go back to a trusty old blade or failing that

Buy another bat

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2014, 10:18:12 AM »

Batting with no confidence or lack of mental toughness is something most cricketers will experience during there playing days. First off all let's think about what you want to make happen when you are batting and have a game plan. Rather an hit the bad ball or hit yourself out of trouble tactics think how am I going to get off strike where can I nudge a safe single. Also at the crease slow your breathing down this will control any anxiety. Relax your mind by thinking of a time of tranquility. And always bat to your strengths.

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2014, 10:35:13 AM »

Just let the ball hit the bat, when a defensive shot comes right off the middle I always think "god, that felt nice" and am more happy to play a shot if a bad ball comes.

Failing that make them get you out, you'll get your eye in eventually and start scoring runs. (Coming from a bloke averaging less than 10 this season....)

felix · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2014, 11:12:06 AM »

Hi,
I hope this isn't considered to be hijacking the thread (many apologies if it is) but I've got a similar problem but a bit of a different slant on it. I'm an opening bat, never been a naturally fast scorer and always been most comfortable with pace on the ball and able to play to my strengths, mostly square of the wicket. When it works it's a useful enough role in the side. However, I have always been comparatively weak against spin, especially early in my innings (in our league, opposition quite often open with spinners and the old ball) and it doesn't necessarily have to be good spin. In fact, my worst problems tend to be against the most awful pie chuckers lobbing it miles in the air to a ring field; my problem is partly a confidence thing here ("I can't possibly get out to this carp") and also a lack of power when there is absolutely no pace on the ball. I often end up hopelessly tying myself down out of fear then trying to over-hit in desperation and muddled mind-set and lift my head or lose my shape with inevitable results. It's so embarrassing. I even have the same kind of problem in the nets when the pressure should be off.
Has anybody any strategies (technical or mental) for dealing with this kind of situation, e.g. what you�d consider lowish-risk shots against this sort of bowling which at least can keep the scoreboard ticking and take a bit of the pressure off me? As buzz's manual says "take a risk" but for me the percentages in this situation rarely seem to work.
Cheers

imran75 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2014, 11:22:19 AM »

I think the old advice applies to that. See if you can knock it into gaps and watch the other chap try and play it!

Thing is, you don't need to belt every ball from a spinner for a boundary. Just see if you can drop the ball into a gap and keep rotating the strike.

Stick to the plan and you'll milk them for 3 or 4 an over and tick along nicely.

Buzz · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2014, 11:22:26 AM »

I am not sure my manual says take a risk...

the key is to know your strengths and to know what the bowler is trying to do and adapt your strengths to meet the challenge.

if you are out of form and low on confidence, then I would encourage you to go and have some throw downs with a mate and just get used to the feel of bat on ball.

when you walk out to bat, stand tall and act like you ooze confidence.

when you start it is always a bit of a bluff.

I once had three 0's in a row in league games. it happens.
In the mean time, take pleasure and confidence from a well played defensive shot or a good nudge into a gap.

for those who haven't seen it, the book can be downloaded from here
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=22148.msg355701#msg355701

tim2000s · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2014, 12:01:01 PM »

As generally a "not the best of batsmen" batman, I generally find that the best way to instil confidence in yourself is simply to stay in. I would go with what Buzz has recommended. Play the innings making sure you don't get out. The more time you spend not getting out, the better you will start seeing the ball and that will help you build confidence. Remember that you don't need to score at a strike rate of 125. As long as you are there, the opposition don't have your wicket, which is in itself a victory.

roco · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2014, 12:15:01 PM »

are you worried about your place in the side?

I know a young opening bat that had a similar problem and after chatting to him I found out the reason he does not play a shot in anger as he was worried if he played a bad shot he would be dropped but after I spoke to his skipper he was told he would open no matter what and he opened up

try chatting to your skipper to see if he is happy with what you are doing if he is it will give you a confidence boost but if he isn't don't get down ask him what he wants from you then work on it in nets but bat in nets like you would in a game I see so many people slog in nets then try to play properly in a game and they struggle

with the spin thing if you don't have the power look for gaps and try using your feet as its a dying art from what I see as if people use feet they think they have to hit over the top or slog but when I face spin I tend to come down track 90% of the time but try to hit gaps rather than slog as you loose shape as you said

procricket · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2014, 12:15:32 PM »

Simple for me just remember the last time you scored runs and re work it.

Be strong and think what is the worst that can happen.

So many people forget enjoyment is why where there relax understand your strengths and weaknesses.

richthekeeper · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2014, 12:21:54 PM »

Quote from: Buzz on May 21, 2014, 11:22:26 AM

I am not sure my manual says take a risk...

the key is to know your strengths and to know what the bowler is trying to do and adapt your strengths to meet the challenge.

if you are out of form and low on confidence, then I would encourage you to go and have some throw downs with a mate and just get used to the feel of bat on ball.

when you walk out to bat, stand tall and act like you ooze confidence.

when you start it is always a bit of a bluff.

I once had three 0's in a row in league games. it happens.
In the mean time, take pleasure and confidence from a well played defensive shot or a good nudge into a gap.

that was an adaptation

Author Topic: Lack of confidence (Read 3218 times)

ajmw89

Lack of confidence

RichW

Re: Lack of confidence

richthekeeper

Re: Lack of confidence

AverageCricketer

Re: Lack of confidence

ajmw89

Re: Lack of confidence

Giraffe208

Re: Lack of confidence

Seniorplayer

Re: Lack of confidence

WalkingWicket37

Re: Lack of confidence

felix

Re: Lack of confidence

imran75

Re: Lack of confidence

Buzz

Re: Lack of confidence

tim2000s

Re: Lack of confidence

roco

Re: Lack of confidence

procricket

Re: Lack of confidence

richthekeeper

Re: Lack of confidence