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[m.lalli]

So the season has been a bit up and down for my son. He bats in the top 3 for his club and county age group and doesn't bowl anymore.
So he started off well playing positively and scoring at about a run a ball. After a couple of low scores he'Kent himself into a real negative mind set.
Grinding out his runs he scored 55 off 101 balls (the first 16 runs coming off 61 balls), 31 off 80 balls, 14 off 56 then went down the order at 7 and gets 36 not out off 42 balls. So we think thats it nack to normal but then on Sunday against Kent 7 off 44 balls.
How do you snap out of this mind set and start to bat positively again?
Any advice would be most  welcome.

[Akewstick]

Is a strike rate of 50 actually a problem? How long are these games? Is that the only issue, slightly slower scoring? He's in the top 3! Not getting out = success. Or have you got an IPL contract in mind?

[Giraffe208]

I wouldn't necessarily tell him to change anything. He needs to relax as he is capable of scoring more quickly as he has done it earlier in the season. The more thoughts that go into his head, the more difficult he will find it as he will be second guessing everything.

He should go out, clear his mind and just play. The runs will come

[Buzz]

Sounds like he is trying to hard and getting mixed messages from too many different people.

He needs to stop doing what other people want him to do and just go out there and enjoy his batting.

He should keep up his bowling too even if it is just on a Sunday playing village cricket.

[northernboy1987]

The way I'm playing this season I'd bite your hand off for 14 off 56  In my opinion he just needs to do as others have said, try to relax at the crease and clear his mind and just play naturally, his technique is likely good as he's not getting out and he has scored well earlier in the season so he obviously has the shots needed to score at a good rate. Tell him to no worry about what score he's on too, sometimes it gets in your head and you start thinking "man I've been out here ages and I'm only on 10" etc.

[m.lalli]

Strike rate of 50 is fine but it's hardly a run evry other ball. I should have mentioned defending full bungers and half volleys, which he'd normally put away. Also in the game that he scored 31 off 80 (was a 40 over match) as team they scored 286 for 5, so he did have one third of the total strike. I've not said anything to him as I don't want to be the bad guy, but I can hear the other lads and parents taking the p*** out of him and that can be quite upsetting. As for an IPL contract, IF ONLY 

[northernboy1987]

There must be a cause for the change in mind set and I would hazard a guess that finding and addressing this root cause could be the key to solving your problem. Has someone perhaps had a go at him about getting out early in the season and this has caused him to value his wicket too highly and shut up shop?

[uknsaunders]

I think the important thing is to put the bad ball away. If he gets good balls, fair enough. Strike rates are a funny thing, depending on conditions they go up and down. Slow starts are sometimes necessary but you catch up later. I would just tell him to treat each ball on it's merit and not worry about the situation.

[Seniorplayer]

The problem here is the mickey taking  parents should know better he's proved he can bat your right to say nothing at his age just let him bat his way.

[m.lalli]

There must be a cause for the change in mind set and I would hazard a guess that finding and addQuestion is how to snap him out of it?ing this root cause could be the key to solving your problem. Has someone perhaps had a go at him about getting out early in the season and this has caused him to value his wicket too highly and shut up shop?

You may well have hit the nail on the head. Just prior to this run of form one of the coaches did have a moan at him for sticking the ball down long on's throat 3rd ball he faced. Ques

[northernboy1987]

You may well have hit the nail on the head. Just prior to this run of form one of the coaches did have a moan at him for sticking the ball down long on's throat 3rd ball he faced. Ques

Sounds like that's the problem then, he needs to get back to treating each ball on it's merit again, everyone misjudges and sticks one down the fielders throat from time to time, if that had gone to the rope his coach would have been praising him for having the balls to attack so early!

[Seniorplayer]

You may well have hit the nail on the head. Just prior to this run of form one of the coaches did have a moan at him for sticking the ball down long on's throat 3rd ball he faced. Ques

Sounds like a poor coach and there are far to many they  can  create uncertainty doubt and a fear of getting out
Seen to many young players heads messed with by poor coaching.

[Stuey]

Are you able to give him throwdowns so he can enjoy hitting the ball again, out of view and pressure of everyone else.  Get him hitting the ball on the full in a relaxed and fun environment.  It sounds simple but hopefully he can then rediscover the enjoyment of hitting the ball and remove the external pressures. After a while you can add targets to hit in the field/garden and practise different shots.

[m.lalli]

I'd just like to say thanks to everyone for their advice, which I spoke to him about this morning before his game today. It went a long the lines of relax enjoy yourself and don't worry about anything. The result was 101 not out off 109 balls. Highest score for him and first ever ton. Shame they lost the game but as he said to me, he feels as though he won his own game.

Thanks again to all of you.

[Giraffe208]

Great news, congrats to him