Being a slow scorer is like being the person who takes the last cake at tea without asking; it smacks of selfishness.

And no one wants to be accused of being selfish.

Avoiding this accusation can do weird things to even talented batsmen. I've seen otherwise sane club 1st XI openers slash across the line to good length balls just to stop themselves playing out 2 maidens in a row.

The following article is an extract from "Bob Woolmer on Bowling" a coaching book from the late Bob Woolmer; former Pakistan, South Africa and Warwickshire coach. Published with permission.

This is a guest article by Laurie Ward from The Complete Cricketer Academy in Cape Town, South Africa.

In a recent ODI, England lost their 100% record against minnows Bangladesh, losing by 5 runs.

During that match they “threw away” at least 4 overthrows with unnecessary shies at the stumps when batsmen had clearly made their ground.

This is a guest article by Daniel Maddocks of T20Kids.com: Promoting Cricket for Kids. Daniel is an ECB Coach with experience in coaching young cricketers in the North West of England.

When the bowler runs in and the batsman is ready to face the ball they are on their own. So why should cricketers worry about team spirit?

Bowlers please tell me; what is exactly so scary about bowling around the wicket?

I've played club cricket and kept wicket for over 20 summers. I've watched dozens if not hundreds of bowlers from the prime position behind the stumps yet only a few have bowled round the wicket.

And those that have are mostly left arm spinners.

This article is part 2 of a 2 part series. To go to part 1 click here

Breaking a big partnership is hard work. Maybe you have already tried the previous 4 things and you are still struggling to get a wicket.

This article is part 1 of a 2 part series. To go to part 2 click here

Is there anything more demoralising on the cricket field than the opposition building a big partnership?

It seems no matter what anyone tries, 2 batsman have got themselves set and are going about the business of scoring runs with scant regard for the 11 men trying their hardest to break their grip.

Imagine a typical dot ball.

Perhaps you are thinking of the opening batsman shouldering arms to a ball outside off stump. Maybe you picture a workmanlike off-spinner having a good length ball pushed back with a textbook forward defensive.

The dot is the DNA of cricket. It happens when nothing else happens. It's part of the unique rhythm of the game. The bit that people who don't understand it scratch their heads and say "this is boring".