by Mark
(New Zealand)
Jacque Kallis: Zen Warrior
G’day coach
I’m playing lower grade cricket in New Zealand and I’ve been starting to struggle with my batting in the last couple of weeks.
I scored a few runs batting down the order early in the season but our top order has been struggling lately so I’m coming in earlier and having to face the better bowlers while they’re fresh.
I’ve been playing alright on the onside but I was wondering if you had any tips to improve my cutting and driving through the offside and any strategies for playing the swinging ball to help cut down LBW’s and Bowled’s.
Cheers,
Mark
Hi Mark, important for you now to get the confidence up and positive thoughts and energy running through your batting again.
First things first, in training you need to go down to the nets early with a friend or the coach and practice hitting your best strokes.
You need to feel the good energy of hitting the strokes that your game is built on, these are the ones that you trust and know you can play under pressure.
Scoring runs comes from positive thoughts that lead to positive actions.
Secondly, game plan is the key to scoring runs.
Lets take a page out of Jacque Kallis’s game plan, simplicity is the key, patience and watch the ball!
You need to think through what you want to make happen in the middle.
1. Practice the first part of your innings, getting in against the newer ball, how you’re going to get off strike / rotate it, so you don’t put yourself under pressure being stuck at one end.
Practice this over and over, it’s the glue that holds your innings together.
Work on dropping the ball in front of you and to the off and leg side with soft hands to get off strike.
2. Practice in the nets against your team’s bowlers, working through this stage and then building your innings.
If you don’t simulate in practice what you want to do in the middle it isn’t going to happen.
3. Off Side Play: Don’t consciously go looking for cuts and drives, you won’t be playing the ball that’s been bowled, rather the one you are wanting them to bowl!
Let your strike rotation bring boundary balls.
All bowlers will give you these scoring options, be patient, they’ll come.
For your core game: In the nets, with Coach or partner, hit 30 cuts and then hit 30 straight drives and 30 cover drives. Pay attention to accuracy and execution.
The only way to strengthen these options is by working on them, look to do it 3 times a week.
Regarding bowled and LBW: LBW, check your balance, stance side ways on, head locked in and tucked slightly down, look to hit the ball straight ball back up the ground to hold your balance in check.
For the bowled dismissal, again play tighter to your body, looking to hit straighter, rather than square where the hands and arms get released from the body.
For swing, look to play the line of the ball and play straight, the trap comes from chasing the line of the swing.
Keep it simple, don’t mess with your set up, have a regular side ways on stance and back lift, look to play straight and defend strongly forward and back.
The key is your game plan, watch the ball and play with good intent.
Good Luck, Coach
About Richard Pybus
I'm Richard Pybus, I've coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middlesex, Titans and the Cape Cobras in South Africa and the goal of this site is to help you to play winning cricket.