Batting Help

[Tom123]

Batting Help

At the moment im struggling for a bit of form and i havent got a score now in my last six innings.

From the start of the season to around about the second week in June i was getting consistent scores of between 15-35 and batting for long periods of time and holding the innings together well. In my last six innings ive managed:

1,0,4,5,3,12

At the moment i think its a kind of mental thing and also a slight technique issue against the slower bowlers. At the same time ive been struggling with the bat ive been bowling brilliantly and bowling tight spells time after time and taking a shed load of wickets.

Anyone got any useful tips to help me overcome this downturn in form with the bat?

 

[mas cambios]

Re: Batting Help

Hi and welcome to the forum.

It sounds like the main thing is that it's mental, in that you're thinking too much about the poor run of form. As hard as it may be, you really have to try to forget about it and be positive. The moment you start to think about getting out, is the moment that you're no longer fully focussed on the task at hand - batting.

Take it easy, set the first goal of just staying there for 2/3 overs. Get used to the pitch and the bowling, then start to look for runs. I always find that the longer I'm out there, the easier batting becomes. We stay it often on here, but you have to back yourself to do well - being positive is the key here.

As for your technique flaw, well, work on it. Get slower bowlers to bowl at you in the net, concentrating on any areas of weakness you feel you have. Remember to watch the ball, get over it and keep the head still.

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

It sounds like the main thing is that it's mental, in that you're thinking too much about the poor run of form. As hard as it may be, you really have to try to forget about it and be positive. The moment you start to think about getting out, is the moment that you're no longer fully focussed on the task at hand - batting

Yesterday when i played i did feel a lot more positive. I was just mainly trying to focus ball by ball and it did seem to help me a lot more.

As for your technique flaw, well, work on it. Get slower bowlers to bowl at you in the net, concentrating on any areas of weakness you feel you have. Remember to watch the ball, get over it and keep the head still.

Ive been practicing on that in the garden this morning for a few hours. Just basically keep taking my stance and just try and play a different shot each time. The main issue ive had recently is ive been playing out in front of my pad and sort of overbalancing, getting out LBW a few times in the process.

I guess in the end the past practice i can get though is out in the middle.

 

[mas cambios]

Re: Batting Help

Playing is generally the best way to over a rut. Make practices as close to match situations as you can, try to recreate the pressure you feel when out in the middle - it really does help.

As with a lot of things in cricket, there is no magic answer, just a combination of hard work, positive mental approach and a bit of luck.

It may take one shot to get you back into form, it may take 10 innings. Just try to focus one ball at a time, watch it all the way and then start all over again.

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

Playing is generally the best way to over a rut. Make practices as close to match situations as you can, try to recreate the pressure you feel when out in the middle - it really does help

On Sunday when im captain the problem is nearly every time i go out to bat, im always under a massive amount of pressure to mount a recovery and bat well. Obviously you cant do well all of the time, and i guess it doesnt really help when you're in a bit of a rut, but thats the way the game goes. Its a cruel game when you're out of form.

As with a lot of things in cricket, there is no magic answer, just a combination of hard work, positive mental approach and a bit of luck

I had that at the start of the season. I got 39 in the one game, and i was dropped first ball, dropped on 7, and had an inside edge off a spinner bounce onto the stumps without the bails coming off. And i was there at the end to get the winning runs. I always work hard at my game but i feel my biggest weakness is i take things to heart at times, and also when things arent quite going to plan i dont feel confident.

It may take one shot to get you back into form, it may take 10 innings. Just try to focus one ball at a time, watch it all the way and then start all over again.

Im hopeful for this weekend. Our two opponents were pretty weak last time we played them both, and i managed to get some good runs against both of them. I dont see why the same cant happen this time around.

 

[mas cambios]

Re: Batting Help

Im hopeful for this weekend. Our two opponents were pretty weak last time we played them both, and i managed to get some good runs against both of them. I dont see why the same cant happen this time around.

No reason at all why you can't score runs. You'll have a rough idea of what you'll be up against, so use that to aid you.

Also, break the game down into little chunks. Chasing 250 can be daunting, trying to score 40 runs off 10 overs less so. Set little targets and revise accordingly, it does help and it's the way that a lot of players bat.

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

No reason at all why you can't score runs. You'll have a rough idea of what you'll be up against, so use that to aid you

From last time i remember the opening bowler was decent, but he did bowl the odd bad ball that you could put away. He was also a bit chatty, and after i said a few things back, i remember getting about four bouncers that were all half trackers that sat up and just asked to be hit.

Ive tended to always try when i get out to last 10 balls first off then see where i can go there. One of the things that helped me at the start of the season was to try and be at the crease after a certain amount of overs have passed, and then build from there.

Last season i scored a lot of runs and had an average of over 20 at the end of the year, but predominately a lot of the runs were scored batting first as opposed to chasing. I dont really mind the situation but chasing our teams tend to struggle and it puts a lot of pressure on the middle order to build a partnership and rescue the innings.

One match in May we bowled the opposition out for 141 in 34 overs. In our league on a Saturday any overs that arent used up the team that are chasing get the extra overs. So we had 45 overs plus the extra 11 to chase 142 to win. When i came in at Number 5 we were 5-3 off 7 overs. I managed to build a good partnership with my partner and we ended up getting to 67-4 off 25 overs. We ended up winning with seven overs to spare.

 

[Jelly Beanz]

Re: Batting Help

I always work hard at my game but i feel my biggest weakness is i take things to heart at times, and also when things arent quite going to plan i dont feel confident.

That's probably one of my biggest weaknesses as well, I used to be a really crap batsman but I've worked hard at it and things are going pretty well (by my standards) this season. Sometimes though, if I miss a couple in a row or play a couple of uppish shots it all comes flooding back and I just feel like I'm useless again. I guess it'll come with time in the middle when I know my own game better.

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

That's probably one of my biggest weaknesses as well, I used to be a really crap batsman but I've worked hard at it and things are going pretty well (by my standards) this season. Sometimes though, if I miss a couple in a row or play a couple of uppish shots it all comes flooding back and I just feel like I'm useless again. I guess it'll come with time in the middle when I know my own game better.

It all depends on your age as well and when you started playing. At times i dont think people consider that, especially at our club.

 

[Jelly Beanz]

Re: Batting Help

Yeah I'd agree. I'm 17 and I started at the club when I was 14, before that I'd messed around at school since I was 12 but I'd not had any coaching/matches/nets or anything like that.

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

At 17 you've got a good few years ahead of you yet. At our club with our youth policy we get a lot of kids coming through, but the problem then is we lack experienced senior cricket players. Im only 20 years old and yet for the side i play for i am the second most experienced player in the team in terms of playing senior cricket, and this is really only my third full season.

 

[Jelly Beanz]

Re: Batting Help

Yeah, hopefully I'll be around for a while!! Our problem is that we either have people with too much experience or too little. There are maybe half a dozen guys in their 20s in the whole club at most. The 2nd XI tends to be all guys in their late 30s or older and we have 4 U13s of varying ages, 3 U17s (including me) and a guy who's 15 so it's not exactly the biggest youth section ever. I guess the fact that the other 2 U17s are 1st team regulars kinda makes up for it though.

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

Didnt manage to get a bat Saturday, but i managed a good innings on Sunday. We got smashed for 232 off 40 overs and we were never going to chase it down with a young side. Came in at 46/4 against a quick bowler on a hattrick ball. Managed to absolutely nail it right over his head for six, and i didnt really look back after that. Got me 39* and played a good captains innings, hitting a six and three fours in the process. I felt very good at the crease, nice and relaxed and confident all the way through and felt in good touch for the first time in a few weeks. I guess the situation helped because it was just a chance to go out, have some fun and try and play for your averages.

 

[jimmy33]

Re: Batting Help

Wait, you hit the first ball you faced for 6??? That is hardly out of form! But congrats on the score, good that you were relaxed. How close did you guys end up?

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

Wait, you hit the first ball you faced for 6??? That is hardly out of form! But congrats on the score, good that you were relaxed. How close did you guys end up?

Yeah, first ball i faced cleared the rope. I was in the net with the bowling machine on Saturday and i was smashing it everywhere. It was a bit fortunate if im being honest, but the ball was up there and i just hit through it. I actually went out and didnt really care that it was a hattrick ball. Ive faced enough of them in my time and ive never gotten out on one. I just thought to myself that if the ball was going to be in the slot, which i knew it was going to be, i was just going to hit through it. The guy was obviously trying to slip a yorker in, but he just dragged it down slightly. Managed to get all of it and as soon as id hit it i knew it had gone the distance.

We got bowled out for 106 in the end so it was a bit disappointing. It was only a friendly game anyway. We were supposed to have a league game but the side we were supposed to play cried off due to a lack of players.

 

[jimmy33]

Re: Batting Help

Thats a pretty good philosophy if you ask me. Shame about getting bowled out for so few. I guess thats what happens when you have a young team. But congrats again on the score, hopefully you can take the form into the next match.

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

I was working with another player who is a Level 1 coach the same as me on Saturday before our game. We were just working on trying to be more positive, because he has had similar problems to me recently. Initially we just did some throw downs and concentrated on hitting the ball with a nice follow through and trying to be positive. Then we just got on the bowling machine and just practiced against some half volleys and just get the timing spot on each time. He noticed after a while my head was in line each time, my foot was getting to the pitch of the ball and was playing everything that came down solidly. I just tried this week to try and take that positive mental approach into a game situation. Some people say it takes one ball to get back into form or ten innings, or maybe a season. I personally think for me that one ball has got me focused again. They brought their opening bowler back on towards the end, and even though he was bowling pretty quick and moving the ball about a lot, i just didnt think he was going to get me out. I got a bit fortunate twice, but even then, i just didnt think i would be dismissed. Its nice to be able to feel that way again.

Shame about getting bowled out for so few. I guess thats what happens when you have a young team.

We had a few players drop out, and we've got a few kids in there who have been a bit inconsistent as of late. But the side we played were obviously far more experienced and that came through. Yet again it was down to me with the new ball and our resident Welshman, but after that, we didnt really have a lot in the bowling department. A few good kids with some good potential but sadly the lack of experience and not a lot of thought going into what they were doing cost us in the end. But, its how you learn from these games that counts.

 

[jimmy33]

Re: Batting Help

With time they should turn out to be very decent performers. You probably learn more from your failings then from your successes, so this should be a good learning experience for them

 

[Tom123]

Re: Batting Help

With time they should turn out to be very decent performers. You probably learn more from your failings then from your successes, so this should be a good learning experience for them

Only problem is for them they got spanked on Saturday as well. They lost by 200 odd runs Saturday and then most of those kids play Sunday and get a pasting too. It is difficult at times, but you cant do much about it. A few of the kids spent some good time in the middle against what was a very good bowling attack, so that should hopefully give them some confidence. The one 15 year old scored 24 and batted quite nicely so there are some positives to take from it.

One thing that does annoy me at the moment is the kids dont seem willing to practice. Our net at the club has only just been fixed and we had a period of five weeks where we had no net. Under 17's train Saturday mornings and non of the kids have been coming. A lot of them had the excuse of ''well, there isnt a net so we cant bat or bowl, so whats the point?''. As i kept saying to them, you can still work on your game and train without the use of a net. I get frustrated because it seems all our youngsters want to do is bat and bowl in the nets.

 

[Virendersingh.berthwal]

Re: Batting Help

We facing the opposite.
We have nets but less players come to practice.
So Captain has decided to have nets from Tuesday till Sunday so Office goers can come on weekends.

If non availability of nets is an issue; try to have knocking/throdowns practice.Maybe that will keep them interested and then squeeze in a fielding drill in between.
How many days in a week u r having net sessions?