 Looking, thinking and acting like a batsman will give you the confidence to bat well, whatever your batting skills. Jonathan Trott averaged 89 with the bat in the 2010-11 Ashes series in Australia, rising to number four in the Test rankings. He's become famous for his pre-shot batting routine, making a mark with his bat, and then marking the same spot with his foot. He looks over his left shoulder before getting into position to face the bowler.
Here's his reasoning for these idiosyncrasies:
“There are things I do to get my mind clear and focused on the delivery ahead.”
“I just tell myself to back myself and be confident, little mind checks.”
“It also keeps my concentration going and my mind does not wander. It is something I have done for a long time and I find works.”
I was asked by a player, at the beginning of last season, for some tips about batting. He hadn't played since his school days, where he was known to be a middle-order slogger.
Instead of showing him how to play an expansive cover drive or exquisite pull shot, I focused on his batting routine. What he did, and thought, before he hit the ball. This is simple, easy to remember, and applies to all batsman.
Like England's Jonathan Trott, find a routine that works for you. Once you've decided on a routine, stick to it. Every ball you face in practice, every shot you visualise, every delivery you face in the match.
Decide your best shots. Then decide which shots you prefer to avoid. Based on these selections, select the guard you want to take.
Another crucial reason for selecting a specific guard is to increase your sense of where the stumps are behind you as the ball is bowled. You're more likely to leave the ball and judge the line correctly if your eyes are above off stump as the ball is released.
In the club game you often see tail-end batsman stroll in, refuse to take guard, and get bowled soon afterwards. Don’t make the same mistake.
Here's the basic tips I gave to my team mate:
- Always wear the correct batting equipment (if you can't be a good cricketer, at least look like one).
- Decide which shots you will and will not play.
- Assess the pitch and bowling before you go into bat.
- When you get the wicket, ask the other batsman for any advice about the pitch.
- Ask the umpire for your guard.
- Check out the field and decide the best areas to score for your range of shots.
- Take your stance.
- Try and keep your head still.
- Watch the ball.
- Judge the line and length.
All batsman need to create a routine for themselves, and most successful batsman already have a routine that works for them. Ask the successful batsman at your club what they do, why they do it and what they're thinking about when they're batting.
Every player on every team can contribute with that bat, creating and implementing your own routine will help you look and play more like a top batsman.
image credit: SarahCanterbury
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