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[Buzz]

Ok - as the winter nets season has started - I would be interested in knowing what people use their nets for - checking out their equipment, grooving technique, having a slog, having a gossip, avoiding fielding training etc...

Personally I find indoor nets really difficult as the bowlers have a quick and bouncy track to bowl on and get carried away bowling bouncers from 18 yards (i.e. massive no balls). This is fun for a while but no use when you are out in the middle.

[tim2000s]

Hmm. When batting I use them to try out new kit, and generally get my eye in and build confidence. I get fed up with chin music, but on the other hand not many bowlers are *that* quick, so it gives you the chance to get used to it. I will also try to get my head around techniques, e.g. what to do when facing left armers, practising leg side shots, etc. Generally get a lot of practise on the leg side...

As a bowler, I try and get the batsman out bowled or LBW, so I will bowla decent length and try and seam the ball around. I know it swings in nets, so I kind of ignore that and try to make life as difficult as possible for that batsman, while accepting that in the nets, people will drive the ball. Far better to bowl like this as it makes the batsman's net session much more effective and it gets you as a bowler properly into the groove.

[roco]

I use them for getting into nick with the bat just push it around then last 5 mins practice end of innings hitting but I do request bouncers as I face them in the league so all good practice

Bowling I just try to get the line and length right and try to make the batsmen play the shots I want them to play

[thedon]

I try not to get out, ie not play the ball in the air until "36 off the last 6 to win" is belted out by the skip!!

It really annoys me when fast bowlers constantly bounce you at nets. The light isnt great at ours and last sunday I got hit on the forearm. Think its a slight fracture as I still cant move it

[Steny12]

I try as much as I can to play like a match, good place to practise leaving. But our indoor nets are like batting at the WACA you can play through the line on the up etc but soon as people tend to get outside they dont have a clue. I dont really enjoy batting in nets, I find it gets me more out of form than in. so if im batting well on a saturday ill tend to not bat indoors at training and just have some throw downs..

[100 not out]

i run our nets. .  . .if i see anyone trying to ball short continuously, then i ask them to step aside.

i explain i want bolwers to look for bowleds and lbw's. you cant get either of them if you bowl short.
outside the same ball will get hit out of the park.

[roco]

It depends what wickets you play on I suppose as I find too many batsmen can't play the short ball so these nets are a good time to learn as in our league there are a few good quicks on good decks so it's a handy tool to have as long as bowlers are not just doing it all the time

[yvk3103]

Use nets to basically get in shape and shed some weight that I may have put-on during the off-season.

Batting:
Given my every changing bat collection, I used the nets to get the best 2-3 bats for myself. Get a good feel of them and the middle position. I love the ball coming-on and do not mind being hurled with balls from 18-20yards. However, as the net session progresses, I ask the bowlers to bowl from 22 yards or even 24 yards to get my timing right for natural wickets.

Bowling:
To get my rhythm going and get the body to open-up and tune-in before the season begins. Winter nets are to get the line and length right and build on the speed once outdoor nets start.

We have quite a few lads who play for various Cheshire Juniors and therefore have 2-3 ECB level 2 (at least) coaches watch them (especially) and all the other bowlers. These coaches can be very harsh when they spot someone bowling no balls.

[Canners]

I have a pretty decent coach i work on my technique and scoring rate with....... and i also i have club nets which i just try and work on what my coach has said!!!!

when netting with my coach/Buzz we do have a habit about talking about bats but what can i say we're only human

[Opener]

Batting:
Our coach makes sure the quicks don't bowl short a lot. Just the odd bouncer. We do have a couple of very quick bowlers. I love playing on the quick wicket. So the coach encourages the slow bowlers to bowl a lot at me. I try to just get the basics right i.e backlift, head position and watching the bowl very closely. I am strong square of the wicket on both sides so I try to play straight.

Bowling:

I am a part time bowler and can bowl a big turning googly(slightly different grip). I am trying to work on my legspin but time in the nets is not enough for that.

[Simmy]

well usually just my normal game and having a smash..

but this season been trying to change my back lift to picking the bat up straight rather than pointing towards 1st slip.

PWB is injured at the moment so on sunday he decided to be my batting coach for the session.

making me stand up tall and shift my weight onto my front foot and keeping my back lift and front elbo as straight as possible!

had a grate net actually and it really helped me play propa shots and hit the ball on the floor.

im much better on the leg side now as well which was one of my weak points.

my 1st movment used to be like little trigger to leg stick. but really trying to work on no movment at all just a little step forward to get my weight onto my front foot then i can push forward or push onto the back foot.

does seem to improve my batting!

so thanks to buzz for alot of tips and to Pidge for drilling it into me on sunday

[Colesy]

Batting I normally try to slog or hit people I don't like as the bowling is very inconsistent in terms of quality and on the whole, poor. I want to structure our nets so we have 'good' bowlers in one net and the terrible bowlers doing some fielding drills. As for bowling I work on things such as wrong-uns (I'm a leggie) and generally use nets for variation practice.

[johan95]

I try not to get out, ie not play the ball in the air until "36 off the last 6 to win" is belted out by the skip!!

100% agree with that mate. I got bowled out FAR too much in Adult Cricket last year, so have been determined not to get bowled this year...so far in 5 training nets, I have not been bowled out yet. I think that a good batsman should be able to defend his stumps, even to the quicker bowlers, as it is more a matter of playing defensive shots to them or using the pace effectively.
For example, last night I was playing off the front and back foot with a very straight bat, working on backfoot drives when it was dropped short. Anything rank and on leg I just whacked, and the same outside off, but a more controlled cut.
What I figured I need to improve on from yesterday was playing the lesser bowlers well. I was playing really well against the good bowlers, but got out to the part-timers, which shouldn't be happening.
But I definitely try to play in my areas, and leave the ball if I have to, to get people bowling at me. Don't really like bouncers, but we are netting at Lords, so there is a lot of bounce, so 2 weeks ago, my mate just bowled about 10 bouncers in a row, so I ended up practising the 'angle over the slips/third man for 6 using the pace' shot
In terms of bowling, I don't bowl much, but am looking to bowl a bit more this year, and am working on bowling consistent areas and also on bowling some good slower balls, as well as a nice yorker and shorter ball, as I have grown in height and improved pace since last year...
I think Winter Nets are a REALLY good opportunity to get yourself in form before the coming season, and they build up confidence, but I think that the bowling shouldn't be too hostile as that will knock a batsman's confidence, thus not to many bouncers lol
Sorry this was turning into an essay, thought I would post something useful for once!! 

[Perkins17]

when bowling i try to just get a good line and length and try out a couple of new balls and mostly get wickets When batting i just try and get a feel for it then put and imaginary field then find gaps and last few balls have a slog then go against the bowling machine and work on driving the ball as its a bit of a weekness 

[SempreSami]

Getting bat to ball along with feet movement.