Friday, January 26, 2007

Strategies & team selection

Next Net Practice

It’s looking like we’re moving towards having an idea who is going to form the main core of the team and I’m glad to say it’s MPA blokes with a few ringers. As Alex has said the ringers are shaping up nice in that we’ve got Thomas who’s good with the bat and possibly got potential with the bowling too, the Aussie bloke Rod’s looking handy at bowling as well so things are coming together.

My own feeling is that at the moment while we’re still finding our feet and getting a sense of who’s up for this and who’s just in for a laugh the loose arrangement with the net practice is fine. But I reckon we’ve got to look at it being more structured fairly soon otherwise we’ll have no sense of going forward with a strategy. As far as I’m concerned we’re winning the psychological battle and all we need now is to gain more confidence with the skills and techniques and that’s going to come about through people deciding on their specialities and aiming to hone their skills. For me I need to know who is going to be the wicket keeper and for that person to take up the role more seriously in order that we can practice together and work as a unit as the relationship is essential to the success of the team (Gilchrist and Warne).

Simon says that we need around six bowlers, so over the next couple of weeks maybe we should pinpoint who these bowlers are? Similarly we need to ascertain who will be our key batsmen and allow them to get the necessary time in the nets facing the key bowlers? So it’s a case of – if you want these roles you’ve got to step up and be counted and prove yourself possibly? I dunno – this is where we need the captain to step in (Alex)?

To reinforce the practice angle – check this out from www.harrowdrive.com

How to run an effective net
Posted on Sunday 23 July 2006
Club cricket nets are often wasted opportunities, despite being more popular with players than ever. To make a net more effective for everyone involved, follow my guide to making your cricket nets better training:
How to run an effective cricket net
The key element is to nominate someone to take overall charge of the net. Ideally this will be the club captain or coach, but anyone can do it as long as there is a person in charge.
Set the tone and build team spirit by warming up effectively before you go near the net.
Set session goals for each individual (for example, practice driving along the ground or work on slower ball).
Try and simulate match conditions as closely as possible. Here are some ideas:
Separate nets for seam and spin bowlers.Have a wicketkeeper in the spinners net.Only players likely to bowl in a game to bowl.Bowlers to set imaginary field before bowling.Use ground markers to help with line/length.Opening bowlers bowl to opening batsmen with a new ball.Bat in pairs and have calling and running between the wickets.Bowlers bowl an over each instead of one ball at a time.Challenge bowler to see how many balls they can deliver before batsman can leave it.Set batsman realistic run scoring targets.And if you want to be really hard: If you are out, you are out of the net.
Finish with an effective cool down, stretch and comments from captain or coach.
Also consider playing a practice game instead of having a net. It is more realistic, more challenging and can be a modified to ensure everyone gets the practice they want (for example batting in pairs for a set time).
More on various practice games soon.Filed in:

Dave

3 comments:

  1. I totally agree about the keeper and spinner idea. I am a keeper myself and every spinner has a different way of doing things that can make you look very silly if you don't know what to expect!

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  2. Dave, how closely do you work with the spinner. Is it too structured to agree as you cross from end to end to say to each other "Four legside short balls to draw him out followed by two long fast flippers to try and catch him out of his crease and stump him". Is that practical? Or can you adopt simple sign language systems where the keeper knows if you are throwing the ball in a certain way prior to bowling what and where the delivery is going to go or be like? I know at the moment as I contemplate what I'm going to throw I practice the action by throwing the ball in the air in the manner in which I'm about to bowl. Whilst this would seem a give away to anyone with experience, with a far less experienced side it may not be noticed, but could work as a system of communication between the keeper and the bowler? What do you reckon?

    Dave

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  3. I would say the trick is to find a keeper who wants to keep to you and spend as much time practicing together as possible. Then the keeper will start to pick your variations without you needing to do anything.

    However, in the meantime I would suggest coming up with a system that works best for you. You could premeditiate the whole over but the batsman might smack the first four balls over midwicket for four. If that happens you might want to amend your plan!

    Hand gestures are also useful to signal your intent to the keeper if he can't pick it from the hand. The risk there is that the batter will spot what you are doing.

    So each option has it's weaknesses. I would go with whatever is most comfortable for you both. And the main thing is practice together as much as possible.

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