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[johan95]

Evening guys,
I had a Marathon net with some mates at Lords today (we paid for 1 hour and got 2 and a half ), and my playing of short bowling was quite suspect when mixed in with the standard bowling. I was just wondering anyone's opinions on how it is possible to play short bowling well. I am generally good on the backfoot off-side, I feel it is more pulls and hooks which cause me more problems... - in my second knock for 15 mins, I asked one mate to just bowl short, and my playing of the pull and hook got much better. I think I personally find it more of a problem because of the fact due to my age (15) I don't really face:
a. Genuine Quicks.
b. Those bowlers who have the capability to bowl a good bouncer (only know 2, one was my mate)...

So your opinions and advice would be much appreciated! I guess that the best way to do it is by practice. Might have to get the bowling machine out at my club in the summer for some practice on it, I reckon.
Cheers,
Johan

[procricket]

start with a tennis ball mate learn to play the ball both inline and by getting inside the ball.

It about confidence mate so the tennis ball way is how i taught myself you can do it yourself throw it against a wall and just react to it just keep looking at the ball

[roco]

Decide how you want to play the short ball whether your instinct is to attack or guide it I personally attack every short ball so in the process of teaching myself to ride it which is not easy as the pull/hook is my most natural shot but good luck

[niceonechoppy]

I would suggest the main principle of playing the short ball is to get out of the way. As an exercise, simply have a mate simply throwing tennis balls from 10 yards a way with a variety of lengths, so you can:

A) learn how to pick up the short ball
B) find out your best shot attacking wise.

Once you master this, move up to cricket balls (nb to wear full equipment at all times)
The more you watch the ball plays a crucial factor. Any batsman, well nearly any, can dominate medium pace or 1 length bowling. When more variation is added you have to watch the ball closely, like you would for a spin bowler. My main point is this, build up your confidence first (tennis balls) and build up (cricket balls) then bowling machine/nets.

Have fun and enjoy batting against the quicks!

[Opener]

I have played play a lot of tape ball cricket (tennis ball with electrical tape) sometimes on cemented pitches. That prepares you to play the quicks (even short stuff) pretty well.

[johan95]

Thanks for the suggestion Dave, I will find a suitable wall or person to help me with that. I see your point there, because if you get hit on the helmet with a short ball at pace, you can get put off
There was one occasion in a match last year (U15 Colts) where I got completely surprised by a top bouncer and it just hit me on the lid, luckily the bowler wasn't overly fast :|
I think instinct would tell me to attack it. What generally happened was that when it was over head height, I gave it a clatter, but if it didn't bounce as high, waist-chest high, then I would try to guide it...
Practice makes perfect I suppose Thanks for your suggestion too
And cheers Chops, will work on that one this week, off for half-term so don't have much to do
Finally, Opener, that is a good idea, even playing in a car park with a bouncy ball can do the job I guess

[Opener]

Johan the tape is the key as a regular tennis ball will not do the trick as it is not quick through the air and off the bounce.

[johan95]

Oh OK mate, I will tape a ball up then - I have a bouncy ball which I will use for the bounce factor, but course that won't be very quick through the air..thanks for the help guys, keep the suggestions coming - may well be an interesting topic for someone else in the future!

[Apple]

I think the main thing about short pitch stuff is peoples fear to get hit, if you wanna play it well you HAVE to get your eyes behind it, apart from when cutting. Otherwise if its on that 4th stump line, there's a very high chance you will edge it. Thats the main one for me.

[johan95]

Cheers Frankie, will bear that one in mind. I don't really have a fear of getting hit, it obviously is amplified if you get hit severely. When I got hit on the helmet last summer, I just shrugged it off and got on with it. I don't really get bothered by these kinds of things, but you are very right about getting behind the ball, usually playing it lazily and loosely will result in an edge..any tips on playing short balls leg-side though mate?

[procricket]

leave them there a wide if your playing Middlesex Prem? they were when i was there

[johan95]

4th stump a wide? Really? Haven't heard that one before - this is more for when I play in the 2s etc for Club, as I yo-yo around unfortunately. So one week I'm in the 5s against the old slow piechuckers, the next I could be facing sharp pace in the 2s...very annoying but that's what happens I guess.

[alexrickyponting]

johan i think procricket means the ones down leg you asked about in your last post mate

[johan95]

Oh right, yeah I guess he has a point. To clarify what I meant was playing short balls into the leg-side from at your body...ie. Pulls and Hooks etc...

[tim2000s]

I can only Echo what others have said.  Key is to watch the ball. I believe you will improve this more of you bat with a T20 bat. You have much less wood so you have to watch the ball onto the blade. Oh,  and don't be afraid!