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[KarlPennington]

So my club have been netting for about a month or so now and all has been going well, I'm very rarely getting bowled and have been playing some good stuff. My standard... I've got to the stage where I'm a competent 2nd team player but the step up to the first team is proving a bridge too far but in nets this year I've been holding my own against the first team bowlers. On Monday I was facing a chap who had a bit more pace to what I'm used to facing. He was bowling full and looking to skittle the stumps, he cleaned bowled me 3 times in a row and has mentally undone all my good work. I was keeping a pretty low back lift because of his pace and length and just looking to play a forward defensive, no trigger movements, just presenting the full face looking to neutralise him and have some fun with the other bowlers, but each time as I was waiting for the ball to hit the face of the bat it hit the stumps behind me instead.

I know it's difficult to diagnose without watching me bat but as a very general rule I'm a decent batsmen when I'm looking to play shots, so against lesser bowling I can score quickly and look the part. But any step up in standard where I have to respect the bowling I always get bowled playing a forward defensive, it's like the forward defensive is my most risky shot.

I've been told that my best shot is my back foot drive, so maybe without being aware of it I have a preference in transferring my weight onto my back foot.

Anyway what are the fundamentals in playing defensively against pace and against full and straight? has anybody has the same problem where they could play shots, rarely get caught, rarely nick off but was a walking wicket to anything full and straight?? How did you overcome it.

[ProCricketer1982]

Hit on the up
Hit across the line

That's what white ball cricket is.. No defence as that's eeyore

[Akewstick]

With your low backlift, is your bat staying low and using that low point as the start of the down-swing? Or are you subconsciously moving it back up again as the ball's coming down? unecessary extra movements, that's what was stopping me playing quicks.

[KarlPennington]

I had quite a high back lift and people often comment on my high elbow, which is great for punching off the back foot. But I noticed with my high back lift and high elbow my downswing was bringing the bat down too high, I felt like I was playing over the top of the ball almost, when it was full. So now I'm consciously trying to have a low back lift, but yes very possibly subconsciously moving it back up again. How can I correct this?

[brokenbat]

Two possibilities:

1. This may sound weird, but you COULD be playing too soon / lunging at the ball, subconsciously adjusting for the "extra pace". Tell yourself "he's slow" and just focus on playing the ball late, under your eyes.

2. You may be out of sync with his bowling action. Now that you've faced him, just mentally rehearse him bowling to you and "get used" to his action that way. Also, I find that one is quick, the batsman can start to get so jittery that he forgets the watch the ball all the way. Just relax and tell yourself that you are too good a batsman for this guy.

[brokenbat]

Two possibilities:

1. This may sound weird, but you COULD be playing too soon / lunging at the ball, subconsciously adjusting for the "extra pace". Tell yourself "he's slow" and just focus on playing the ball late, under your eyes.

2. You may be out of sync with his bowling action. Now that you've faced him, just mentally rehearse him bowling to you and "get used" to his action that way. Also, I find that one is quick, the batsman can start to get so jittery that he forgets the watch the ball all the way. Just relax and tell yourself that you are too good a batsman for this guy.

oh and..

3. DO NOT tell yourself to play defensively. Be in your usual frame of mind - whatever that is. If you tell yourself to only defend, you will likely be very static and less positive in your movements...it will just disrupt your entire technique. DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING - just tell yourself he's like anyone else, watch the ball very carefully and TRUST YOUR TECHNIQUE to do the rest.

[Buzz]

I think you are thinking too much about it. Plus indoor nets are nothing like a game.
Relax, watch the ball and hit it next time.

The bowler is probably bowling from about 18 yards any way.

[KarlPennington]

All good advice and all makes sense... I often describe myself as being like a rabbit in the headlights when I play first team cricket or against the quicks. I freeze, try and defend, get out.

A lot more relaxed in the two's and generally a better player. I have no doubt the standard has a lot to do with it but sometimes I do come up against first team bowlers in the two's and have a lot more success.

So try and play my natural game, don't pre-meditate a defensive stroke, relax and watch the ball...

[Woodyspin]

Bat deeper in your crease gice yourself the extra half yard to see it and play normally

[ppccopener]

Yes don't lunge forward at the ball,a small step forward or back means you get moving and have more time.bat deep in the crease if you need to(obviously not if it's dead on the stumps and full thou) and if you get anything short outside off watch it go by as much as you can-so turn your head alongside the ball(your playing a leave here) that helps judge the pace of the ball.
Really really watch the ball and get in line as it won't seem as quick if you are in line.

[Seniorplayer]

If you are getting bowled between bat and pad when you play your forward defensive shot ensure your top hand brushes the edge of  your front pad this will close  the gap between bat and pad

[SirScottiod]

Take a massive step to the off side and tw*t  it over square leg, playing shockingly across the line!!!

[northernboy1987]

If in doubt, give it a clout!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[InternalTraining]

A lot more relaxed in the two's and generally a better player. I have no doubt the standard has a lot to do with it but sometimes I do come up against first team bowlers in the two's and have a lot more success.

So try and play my natural game, don't pre-meditate a defensive stroke, relax and watch the ball...

Without seeing you and the bowler in action, it is hard to say what you are doing wrong and what would remedy your situation. Regarding playing quicks, here are a few tips that helped me:

1. Practice against a Bola. Set the machine on the highest speed you are comfortable with and play different shots. I leave the machine at one speed/swing setting and move around a bit in my crease to simulate different lines and lengths from the bowler. Once you are comfortable at a speed, try a higher speed. I use increments of 3 mph when drilling. Challenge yourself in your practice, push yourself outside your comfort zone. Your goal should be: a. track a fast ball with your eyes by watching the ball; b. get comfortable against fast bowling. Make sure you are protected as well - wear a chest guard or an arm guard if you are new to Bola or high speed machine bowling. Bola hurts! [Note: When drilling shots or "grooving", use Bola between 62-68 mph. Those are different drills and not to be confused with what I am suggesting above.]

2. Net against as many different types of bowlers as you can. Initially, you will get bowled or even edge out but don't fret. Keep going at it until you become comfortable.

3. Develop your technique and this will take time. Coach can be a tremendous help with developing your technique. If you live in the UK, then you have a lot of options. Check out CricketYard on Youtube. It has some tips from ABD. One of his tips solved a huge problem I had with my trigger and preparation.

4. Sometimes best you can do against a quick is survive and not get out. Scoring runs or hitting bigs shots is not always possible against good, quick bowlers. Try to save your wicket and see them off. Last season, I opened against a quick who used to play first class cricket in the West Indies. When was I walking to bat (wearing a helmet), some Graham Norton wanna be yelled from the first slip: "Are you wearing a helmet?" In a few minutes, I knew what he meant. I didn't hit a single boundary against that guy but I took lot of singles and saw his 5 overs off. You can tell they (bowlers) are getting tired after every over. I had much better scoring matches than that one but that was the highlight of my season -  I saw off a genuine quick bowler who had 4-5 variations in his repertoire.

Good luck.

[Buzz]

I have to be honest without seeing any pictures of your batting it is really hard to help.

When I assess a player I will look at grip, stance and head position first and then I will look at how they move through the shots.

In your shoes there is clearly a confidence thing going on where you do not feel you belong in the first team - this you have to overcome either by scoring masses of runs in the 2's or by having a few good games in the first team and gaining confidence. It is up to the first team members to help you.

Going back to your technique - check your grip as this is the most important thing do your thumb v's point down the outside half of the bat? Quite often a batsman who plays around or over a ball is strangling the bat with the bottom hand and you see the v pointing down the inside edge of the bat (Jason Roy has this problem at the moment)

but get a video up of your next net as we can then give you meaningful help