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[Nothing2SeeHere]

As team nets start I have noticed I have brought last years bad habit of stepping backwards and away from the ball for more or less anything pitched full and on the stumps. Whilst this is providing the bowlers with a good and realistic practice target for their yorkers its taking a toll on my confidence.

Its an unconscious movement. I have no idea that I'm stepping away and would in many cases argue that I wasn't until some phone evidence showed it to be a very common place part of my game. The closer the ball is pitched to middle and leg the more I'm backing away although it seems I also move my front foot (only) back when the ball is pitched on off stump.

I take a guard on middle. Stand fairly tall with only slight bend. Pick my bat up as the batsman is in his run up. My trigger movement is a slight change of weight from front to back foot a couple of times to try and keep my legs loose without moving my head. I do suffer from a moderate fear of breaking toes in my front foot even though the reality is that I only ever get hit on the side of the knee on my back foot just behind the pads (that'll be the front foot stepping away then).

I don't have any footage of me batting so I appreciate there may be other problems that are initially causing this. I'd like to be able to work towards at least a reliable defensive shot for the start of the season. My current intention is to net against full straight deliveries on a bowling machine and try to get the same people to bowl at me during team nets. Is this a sensible plan? Can anyone suggest any further/better drills?

Thanks

[Churchy1989]

@Nothing2SeeHere or #ToeFracture, i have had a few nets this season, and hard real trouble getting my foot towards the ball outside off. My foot would go forwards but on towards the leg side. 

After talking to the coach, and told him that i cant get the Bat coming through if i was to do the 'convetional' foot movement, we worked on a different stance.

I was batting at Middle and a straight stance (which it sound like you are), now i am on Middle and leg with an open gaurd, front foot around 6-8 inches towards Leg side. now when i forwards and towards the offside, i can get my bat coming through nicely. Also if i go forwards to a Yoker my foot is already outside of the middle stump, less likely to get a Broken Toe.

May help, may not. Everyone bats differently! look at Willey's Stance!

[Seniorplayer]

Get your confidence back get forward

[Nothing2SeeHere]

Useful things to think about. I'm going to keep an eye on how well I get my head towards the line of the ball.

Thinking back to Sunday, I wonder if I was leading with my hands. Hopefully I can groove a more useful response. I'm not so worried about being bounced as I very rarely see anything above knee roll height (except full tosses) on the pitches we play on.

As for confidence. Do you think practising padding the ball away to slower deliveries would be in any way useful?

[Seniorplayer]

No that could create a bad habit and get you out.
What i would do is stay on middle pick your bat up keep your head still and get forward by leading with your head  towards the ball your front leg will then naturally follow towards the ball bring  your bat down and brush the inside of your top hand against the top of your front pad to close the gap between bat and pad.
The more you practice getting on the front foot against the quicks the more confident you will become and you will then stop stepping away.
Also there will soon be toe protectors available from Stretton fox.

[jithupaul]

After reading this, I think u have a problem with going front to the ball. This can be due to various reasons, some of which are easily changeable and there r some which may be because of the mindset while batting.

1. Make sure distance between ur feet in ur stance is not too low. Keep the standard space of ur shoulders or a couples of inches more.
2. Make sure the weight on both feet is balanced and on the feet, max weight should be on the tows and not on the heels.
3. Trigger movement: start ur trigger movement by moving ur back leg a little cross( u shouldn't cross middle stump, take leg stump stance.)
4. Make sure ur head is on top of the ball at the point of hitting and u meet it correctly. Get some light tennis balls, get someone to throw underarm towards u making u to come front and defend the ball with ur forehead(don't loose ur eyes and take care of ur nose, don't make ur team's pacer throw the balls).
U will find , how ur head is going to the ball after doing this drill(have done wonders for many) and make sure u r in stance when u defend the balls with the head.
5. Make sure ur bat is not coming so far wide towards slips. Maximum u can take it is pointing to second slip and face towards point.
6. Last but main thing, make sure top hand is the main hand and bottom hand is guiding hand. If u cannot do it, try using lighter bats.
6.

[Batbuddy99]

Get some light tennis balls, get someone to throw underarm towards u making u to come front and defend the ball with ur forehead

Does this not hurt after a while, headbutting tennis balls?

[edge]

Does this not hurt after a while, headbutting tennis balls?

Starting to think you've taken up a forum apprenticeship with @WalkingWicket37 recently with these jokes

[Batbuddy99]

Starting to think you've taken up a forum apprenticeship with @WalkingWicket37 recently with these jokes

After all the netting with him and @FattusCattus their influence has rubbed off a little it must be said!

[FattusCattus]

I thank you

[WalkingWicket37]

A hybrid of Fattus and myself, that is a both beautiful and terrifying thought in equal measure.
Benji, you need to put on a bit of weight to fully fit the bill

[edge]

Much as I enjoy their contributions to the forum, I don't think I'd want Fattus and Cam rubbing themselves off anywhere near me, let alone in a net!

[ppccopener]

Much as I enjoy their contributions to the forum, I don't think I'd want Fattus and Cam rubbing themselves off anywhere near me, let alone in a net!

'Tis a pairing of minds and bodies that is unequalled'

[Silver Bullet]

As team nets start I have noticed I have brought last years bad habit of stepping backwards and away from the ball for more or less anything pitched full and on the stumps. Whilst this is providing the bowlers with a good and realistic practice target for their yorkers its taking a toll on my confidence.

Its an unconscious movement. I have no idea that I'm stepping away and would in many cases argue that I wasn't until some phone evidence showed it to be a very common place part of my game. The closer the ball is pitched to middle and leg the more I'm backing away although it seems I also move my front foot (only) back when the ball is pitched on off stump.

I take a guard on middle. Stand fairly tall with only slight bend. Pick my bat up as the batsman is in his run up. My trigger movement is a slight change of weight from front to back foot a couple of times to try and keep my legs loose without moving my head. I do suffer from a moderate fear of breaking toes in my front foot even though the reality is that I only ever get hit on the side of the knee on my back foot just behind the pads (that'll be the front foot stepping away then).

I don't have any footage of me batting so I appreciate there may be other problems that are initially causing this. I'd like to be able to work towards at least a reliable defensive shot for the start of the season. My current intention is to net against full straight deliveries on a bowling machine and try to get the same people to bowl at me during team nets. Is this a sensible plan? Can anyone suggest any further/better drills?

Thanks

You need tons and tons of time playing on the balling machine on a middle and leg line. That is just about the only way to fix your issue. In my opinion, having had the same problem, making major technical changes is not required. This is a mental issue.

[Seniorplayer]

You need tons and tons of time playing on the balling machine on a middle and leg line. That is just about the only way to fix your issue. In my opinion, having had the same problem, making major technical changes is not required. This is a mental issue.

Agree this is not a technical problem it is a confidence issue I had the same problem after getting hit in mouth  from aquick bowler and  had my lip smashed by the seam of the ball  ended up in hospital with  9 stitches