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[bk]

Should add that, like golf, you won't be able to take in more than one thought when batting. I used to just work on trigger timing e.g. loose, relaxed stance and get then pick-up, back and across as bowler's back foot lands. Key thing to finding form was always to try and remove tension. It's the same when bowling. Some coaches swear by rhythm. Others think it's drivel. Either way you need to be as relaxed as possible.

[ppccopener]

What actually is form? It's simply a mindset. You think you are in good/not good form on the basis of a few innings. You/people build an assumption based on statistics that doesn't take into account the circumstances of the end result. Your technique hasn't changed, you are still the same player you were 3-4 weeks ago. I had a poor season a couple of years ago, but it was a combination of coming in for the slog, getting good balls and the odd lousy shot. Had nothing to do with being out of form, I just hadn't spent enough time at the crease to build a score.  I just spent some time in the middle in a sunday game and got use to doing the basics again. Practise doesn't hurt either.

that's an interesting way of looking at it and a very good way too.  Sometimes if we are honest we say 'i'm out of form' or 'he's out of form' as a release(excuse?) to justify why we are not doing well enough...

[uknsaunders]

that's an interesting way of looking at it and a very good way too.  Sometimes if we are honest we say 'i'm out of form' or 'he's out of form' as a release(excuse?) to justify why we are not doing well enough...

A few examples:-

If you bat below 6 then chances are you are going to average 20 or less. Why? Because the top 6 have probably chewed up 60-70% of the balls in an innings. Over 40 overs that leaves you with 10-12 overs to bat, of which you get 50% thanks to your partner the other end. End result 36 balls at most and that assumes you aren't out slogging prior to the end of the innings!.

Now depending on the match situation you could still be batting in the top 6 and regularly get 20-30 balls at the end of the innings. All it takes is the top 4 to be so good or slow and you hardly ever get a chance to get in. The opposite is true if you open, the proportion of good balls that are unplayable increase and you'll nick off more. When I opened in yorkshire I reckon 1 in 3 knocks I would get a decent score, simply because survival wasn't easy on a damp green yorkshire wicket.

Of course you will play poor shots but unless you are doing it every innings, which means you have a technical problem or have never been able to score runs, then it's just compounding the illusion of lack of form.

What I would say, is be honest with yourself and look at the dismissals and decide whether it was just self inflicted or a combination of factors. As I said, if you could score runs before you can score runs again and talking yourself into a negative mindset doesn't help. Batting does.

[Bats_Galore]

Batting is an odd combination of being relaxed in body and focused in mind, the struggle is always how to achieve that as often the focusing of the mind tenses the body. All I can say is what works for me and it is no epiphany, we are all told to do it, watch the ball in the bowlers hand in the run up through the action, out of the hand and onto the bat or leave it. As people have said there is very little technique stuff you can do whilst giving all of your attention to the ball, so leave any technique stuff at the winter nets. The above for me is the only was to pick length earlier as you will be seeing the ball through its release.

[ppccopener]

Batting is an odd combination of being relaxed in body and focused in mind, the struggle is always how to achieve that as often the focusing of the mind tenses the body. All I can say is what works for me and it is no epiphany, we are all told to do it, watch the ball in the bowlers hand in the run up through the action, out of the hand and onto the bat or leave it. As people have said there is very little technique stuff you can do whilst giving all of your attention to the ball, so leave any technique stuff at the winter nets. The above for me is the only was to pick length earlier as you will be seeing the ball through its release.

this watching the ball is key you are right. we (im referring to myself) think we are doing it. we tell ourselves to do it but are we really really watching it closely from the bowlers hand? that's the key above all I think, certainly for me. Technical faults? yes ive got them, same as everyone...it doesn't bother me when im actually batting, yes I try to work on things during the winter nets but not in the season.

I did read an article by Ponting when he played one season for Somerset, the Somerset players said the one thing they learnt from him was watching the ball properly. Can you believe that? these are pro cricketers....

that and a relaxed mind(which is not easy to do if you are struggling) are key.

One of the posts earlier said there's nothing worse than not scoring runs, and there's nothing better than scoring runs. I agree with that 100 per cent. If it was that easy the rewards would not be so good-but the downside is when we struggle it's a hard game.

there's been some good advice on this thread, I think we are fortunate there are people on here who really do know the game.We are all in the same boat, if we were that good we would do it for a living(as has been said)

[FattusCattus]

@ppccopener

i) Buy another bat (preferably from me)

ii) Have a good long net with someone worse than you (preferably me)

iii) Don't overthink it, simplify everything down to 2 or 3 shots and stick with them until the runs come, don't go off at the deep-end (that would be me again).

About 4 years ago i was a half-decent slow left-arm spinner, then all of a sudden I couldn't bowl - total yips - instead of working it out, I let it get to me and pretty much gave the game up. Then I worked out i could just about get arm balls up the other end, and I just concentrated on getting that right. Now I'm back playing league cricket again (with a modicum of success) and I feel i have a few years left in me.

Keep it simple - it will turn around.

[sHoweller]

Best advice I was ever given was to set yourself small targets as you go along when you're batting.
Say, last 5 overs at crease or get to double figures. Maybe even smaller than that depending on how bad it is.

Gives you something to think about other than the fact you're in a rut!

[Akewstick]

Clear ur mind, concentrate 110% on the ball, look to play straight and don't try to hit the ball too hard. Wait for the bad balls, runs will come.

I've scored 3 runs in my first two innings this season, and had just thought of yet another thing I would focus on whilst at the crease which would surely bring me some runs this Saturday, but it was a solution to one small part of batting, and this is actually what I need to do. Thanks

[JTtaylor145]

Watch the ball and most importantly back yourself. You have to approach your innings with confidence and believe you will score runs. You cannot allow negative thoughts to enter your mind. Remember bowlers are allowed to bowl good balls and sometimes your luck will be out. Confidence is key.

[OllieWalker39]

I've scored a meagre 30 in my first two innings - it'll come. Just take it as it comes - do what you always do - watch the ball, keep the faith in your game. Guessing you know your game well enough. Week 1 I got myself out - you're allowed to kick yourself there. Week 2 I got a jaffa - as annoying as it is, it does happen. As an opener, it's more likely to be feast or famine!

Keep going brother! It'll be 50s all round this weekend

[kaartman]

@ppccopener

i) Buy another bat (preferably from me)

ii) Have a good long net with someone worse than you (preferably me)

iii) Don't overthink it, simplify everything down to 2 or 3 shots and stick with them until the runs come, don't go off at the deep-end (that would be me again).

buy another bat..haha
I totally agree with sticking with 2- 3 shots and it doesn't hurt to be a little selfish when you are in a rut...as in take time and score 10-15 runs for yourself before scoring for the team.

I am in rut myself now...my only aim is to take a single and go to the other end.

[Seniorplayer]

 Like you Carlo i am an opener and try to bat undertaking The responsibilities of an opener  also tend not to worry about scoreboard pressure  last thing i want is our team to be 15 for 3 sucess or failure At the  crease don't do anything outside of what I am  capable of as I know doing so will get me out.

[ppccopener]

55 for me this week in the first league game-having gone thru 2015 season without a 50(in the league). We won chasing 200 and I was asked if I wanted to bat 3(I'm an opener who slipped down the order last season)- I said yes and was back facing the hard ball.

Few things i thought about from the posts by others here before I went out to bat:

Play straight early on in the V -the old fashioned way.
Clear the mind, don't look at the scoreboard to much(I don't know why but usually I do this every over so that habit needed breaking)
Positive approach-I said to my batting partners 'if it's in my half its going' - in reality I don't bat that way but it helped a bit get in a solid block and wait for one I could hit for four with less risk.
Weight forward into the shot-that helped not over hit the ball.
A relaxed grip- I'm a bit leg side happy so the bottom hand grips too tight- I tried to relax both hands and that helped play straighter I think.

Watching the ball- not there yet but a couple of times I saw the ball onto and off the bat face in a defensive shot.
I'm going to be working on sighting it from the bowlers hand in practice.

So what I would say is not just for me but anyone who is struggling with batting there's some good info posted by others on this thread that may help so do have a read- no matter how long you have played for.
 

[sanredrose]

Losing form means you are little low on confidence. My suggestion is to take a break, skip any cricket activities for a week. Relax your mind and do a lot of stretches plus general fitness. After the break, get back to practice and start playing straight bat shots. You will be back in your game within no time ... It always works for me. A good break is perhaps all you need ..

[Akewstick]

I didn't fully understand the premise of this question when I read it last week, but I'm going through a slump in form at the moment and coming off the field yesterday this thread popped into my head.

For me, I knew what the problem was, and I knew what the solution was, I just couldn't put it into practice, so the approach definitely had to be: battle it out. My problem was what @bk was saying about trying to take in more than one thought. It's a dilemma that you can't think "play with a straight bat" and "move your foot to the pitch of the ball" and "connect under your eyes" all at the same time, however, you do need to do all those things, one or two is not enough. Easy as it is to tell someone "clear your mind and watch the ball, the rest will fall into place", it's not so simple when you know in fact there are three technical things that, if you do them, would work. It's hard not to have them in your mind.

I do know though, that clearing my mind and watching the ball like a hawk is what's going to get me through it, and it's time at the crease that allows me to remember what that feels like. I haven't scored more than 2 runs till yesterday, and I got 9, but that 9 took me 5/6 overs, I remembered what it felt like to see the ball all the way onto the bat, with a clear mind, I got my front foot across to a full half volley, I rocked onto the back foot to defend a short one, I left well outside my off stump, and I believe again. It wasn't a successful innings but I felt closer to getting in that zone where I trust my ability, and my season can finally actually start.