The great thing about standing up sessions is that they should never be dull: you can create lots of distraction, different spins and bounce types with the overall aim to be to overload the keeper so that the practice is tougher than the actual match.
We still need to keep the drills relative and functional to match play, yet feel free to let that imagination run wild.
Back in the good old days if you got a good length ball on off stump you dutifully played a forward defence, respected the bowler and waited patiently for a half volley to drive.
Tell that to Sehwag, McCullum or Warner; aggressive IPL superstars who are happy putting a length ball into the stands, even if it’s in the third over.
Karl Stevenson is a sports psychologist, who has been researching the ins and outs of anticipation and decision making skill in cricket batting. He has worked with top-flight county teams as well as teaming up with the ECB.
In a recent interview, we got some tips from the lab that can be used on the pitch:
This week’s winner of the Cricket Show podcast question competition is Naveen. He wins a free coaching course from PitchVision Academy.
"While playing in Twenty20, What do you think should be role of the top order? Should they go after the bowling initially even if it requires taking chances or should they wait for the bowlers to bowl loose deliveries and give the team a steady start?"
Listen to the panel’s answer to his question here.
To enter your own question for the chance to win your choice of online coaching course send your questions in here.
Club cricket in some parts of India is almost extinct. So this week the team discuss the how to beat the system and become an Indian cricketer if you are not picked up early.
There are also questions from Indian listeners on opening tactics for Twenty20 batsmen and how to stay in form during the off-season. Listen to the show for the panel’s answers.
The legside stumping is one of cricket's finest sights. I know as a former wicketkeeper I’m biased, but it’s a skill that turns games. It’s achievable by all keepers if these sound rules are followed:
Imagine opening the batting for Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The opposition is Deccan Chargers and standing at the end of his run is no less that Dale Steyn; one of the world’s most destructive pacemen.
It’s fair to say your heart would be racing. That’s a situation experienced by 20 year old Punjab opener Mandeep Singh. Yet despite the pressure, the pace and fear he is flourishing. Many critics have him on the fast-track to becoming India’s next big thing.
From Harbhajan Singh to Dale Steyn, IPL 2012 has been littered with examples of cricketers pushing the Spirit of Cricket to its limits. The offenders will say it’s just passion over-spilling, but do you need a bad boy to succeed at your level?
The example of Harbhajan Singh is a good one to examine. The Mumbai Indian’s skipper argued for several minutes with the umpire, eventually forcing him to review his decision.
This week’s winner of the Cricket Show podcast question competition is Varun. He wins a free coaching course from PitchVision Academy.
"I want to improve my fielding standards but problem is that a league has just started in our city and is going to continue for a month. As a result , we are not able to do any fielding drills (the ground remains occupied for the whole day). We have to settle for just the net practice.Any tips and drills which i can do on my own to take my fielding standards to another level?"
Listen to the panel’s answer to his question here.
To enter your own question for the chance to win your choice of online coaching course send your questions in here.
Cricket is a game that takes a long time to learn and even longer to master. Coaches, parents and plenty of others are on hand to help with advice for your matches. You wonder if you are the next Tendulkar or just another kid.