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Mainly Science - Training and Skills prepare you to perform

8 (20.5%)

Mainly Emotion - how you feel helps your performances

9 (23.1%)

A bit of both - I'm going to sit on the fence

22 (56.4%)

Total Members Voted: 39

[arsenal123]

Can see that in a fair few of the players too.  Trott for example just waited on bowlers to come to him and largely cut the driving part of his game out.

On the topic though.  If you have a technique to succeed at the level you're playing then I think it really is a mental battle.  Many a player with an 'average technique' in many peoples eyes outscores a classy looking player with all the shots.

[GarrettJ]

everyone can play all the shots when asked to do a demonstration but when put in a game situation its very hard to choose the right one to the ball being bowled. The brain can play funny tricks on you.

[KIPPERS]

Our best batsman is an idiot. Gets out playing stupid shots and walks off with a grin on his face. I could kill him. If I had that talent I wouldn't throw it away so casually but that's just the game, full of all sorts of characters.

[RichW]

On the topic though.  If you have a technique to succeed at the level you're playing then I think it really is a mental battle.  Many a player with an 'average technique' in many peoples eyes outscores a classy looking player with all the shots.

Couldn't agree with this any more English cricket is filled with people who are immensely talented but have failed and this all to with mental fragility. Players such as Hick, Ramps, Bopara and so some extent current player like Morgan and Finn all super talented but at the highest level they failed to deliver.

But then you have people like Chris Rogers and Paul Collingwood they are as talented as some but they make the most of what they have and are mentally tough and able to make a comeback after disappointing shots or dismissals.

One ex county pro who might be biased said that he thought a good 50% of county players were good enough to player international cricket but weren't mentally strong enough to churn out the necessary results.

[Seniorplayer]

Once heard an Aussie test captain say cricket is 10 percent skill and 90 percent confidence but I reckon it's the other way  round.

[InternalTraining]

I can't believe that "Science" lost the vote. I voted Science. My best performances came when I focused on technique and technique only. Whenever I have played with emotion, I have performed poorly with bat. Clinical games have gone well. I wouldn't say that I am a technique "junkie" but whenever I have played with a clear mind ( meaning - no expectation, no anticipation, and no desire for certain results), I have done fabulously well. And, achieving that state of mind, is a big challenge. Tendulkar is known to do meditative breathing during his batting. Playing with technique in mind helps me achieve that state. That is why net sessions are so good.

[ProCricketer1982]

I voted a bit of both because no one thing is the answer. I net loads because I enjoy it and it improves me. Do I think it makes me better than others? Not really. I do find I'm much more consistent though.

[KIPPERS]

Nothings better than a good net providing the bowling is good. Mickey mouse bowler are a waste of time. I'm mainly a bowler so always get asked to bowl at the first team batsmen and in return I'm expected to bat against third team non bowlers (I open the batting and bowling for the second team). I don't bother taking my batting kit to club nets as this is a waste of time and would only breed bad habits. Once the outdoor nets are dry me and two or three mates will go in there with the side arm for hours. You can get 300 balls an hour at 80mph and it has all the visual triggers unlike a bowling machine. I think the key to cricket is getting all the experiments and technical adjustments done in practice. In a match you shouldn't think about any of that stuff just have a clear mind and react to whats in front of you.

[uknsaunders]

This weekend we went to Adi (Procricketer1982) indoor nets. We have roughly 200 balls each against a Bola. As I pointed out to one of our guys, that's pretty much 3 games worth of decent batting, if you bat anywhere from 4 downwards ie. 66 balls a game = 132 balls with a partner getting 50% strike or 21 overs per game at the crease, times by 3 equals 200 balls. Towards the end nearly all the batsman were timing it well and looking in good touch. That followed through to nets last night, and I for one felt in better form that a week ago. I was playing straighter, feet moving better , watching the ball and had more time.

My point is - technology did this ie. science, no amount of mental prep or feel good factor could replace getting quality practise.

[KIPPERS]

Bowling machines are great for improving single shots but no good for decision making.

[Kez]

Bowling machines are great for improving single shots but no good for decision making.

Only if you dont trust the bloke feeding the machine! undo the bolt holding the machine steady a little and allow the feeder to move it around as a bowler might.
Much better practice as a result.

[Stuey]

For me it's an 'art', many different techniques work that's the beauty if the game. If science takes over we are in trouble, lap top cricket who wants that?! Honing your own technique is the art of the game and what gives us so much to talk about.

[ProCricketer1982]

Bowling machines are great for improving single shots but no good for decision making.

Bowling machines are great for improving single shots but no good for decision making.

Disagree strongly.

My game is the product of a bolwing machine and one of my strengths is picking line/length and making the right decision on shot. Why?? Because I've seen the ball loads off the machine so muscle memory takes over

[Gurujames]

Science first as you learn the correct technique and shots. Emotion as you become more experienced and modify that technique to suit your own style of play.
Bowling machines allow you to practise particular shots but there s nothing like the unpredictability of a human and seeing the arm come over and the ball come out.

[ProCricketer1982]

Science first as you learn the correct technique and shots. Emotion as you become more experienced and modify that technique to suit your own style of play.
Bowling machines allow you to practise particular shots but there s nothing like the unpredictability of a human and seeing the arm come over and the ball come out.

IF you have access to genuine bowlers of sufficient quality then great, that is good training. I don't believe anything but pro's get that though tbh. Even at club nets, 10-15 mins isn't really enough training. It's all personal too, some people don't need/want to net much, some need/want to net daily.. some want to train hard.. some want gentle throw downs, feel the middle of the bat etc etc   

I don't think there is one answer, or one technique. THat's where England get it wrong, we try and find scientific formulas and end up producing mediocre bowlers, mediocre batsmen