a training process

As a coach specialising in batting, I have one main goal and that is for the batter to score runs. I’m not too worried if they can achieve it standing on their head, although it would be a tricker technique and game plan for me to understand. And a crucial addition has to be, whatever runs batters score must bring value to their team. On any given day a strike rate of 40 may have greater value than a strike rate of 150. Every game has context. Batters have to learn context.  

My approach is to help the player learn a core set of skills they can trust. The aim being confident options on both the front and back foot, in-front of the wicket and square of the wicket. The player needs to learn methods against pace, swing and spin. This ensures the player will develop options to have answers for all lengths and lines bowled to them. But here’s the kicker… It isn’t magic. And if it helps, the best puller of a cricket ball in world cricket will still be dismissed playing the pull shot. How annoying is that?

To build an effective game, batters have to develop confidence in all of their options and this means repetition. Making repetition interesting is important. Sitting on a bowling machine week after week will help groove the stroke, but it won’t develop the understanding as to how this is achieving run-scoring. This will need separating into sessions where visual ball striking draws awareness to fielders and finding scoring gaps.

Increasing the challenge in training is relevant and applying a multitude of options to draw conscious thinking is very important. If a player isn’t conscious when they are training are they actually training at all? Rhythm is important and if this is session designed to confidence building and feeling good about the core skills, then this is a conscious approach geared to scoring runs. And it is worth repeating as trust in core scoring options is critical for all batters. The best puller of the ball in world cricket will still practice the pull shot. Jacques Kallis was a master of the back foot punch. I watched him practice the same stroke from throwdowns for over an hour and a half. He was already a master at the stroke, yet he carried on. A master dedicated to his craft - and scoring runs...

Weighted bats have their place. Light bats have their place. Muscle memory growth and anything that draws greater attention to performing the skill accurately is a worthy addition. Anything that can be input to draw attention is going to add value.

Nothing is perfect though. Some people don’t like throwdowns. Some people don’t like bowling machines. Some people don’t like sidearms. Some people don’t like nets. Some people won’t like physical batting training. Some people don’t like scenario training. Some people won’t like Runmaka. My view is simple. If the player and coach can find the way to train all things they will cover many more areas than the player that sticks to the training they prefer (comfort zones). What they prefer will most likely be their core training but if that is their only training, won’t their progress be limited?   

It's not simple. Everything takes time. If I practice ten things they will take longer to master than four things. I need to respect and appreciate the need for the other six, but as long as I have a core structure I can trust (four things) I will always have some element of control to give me confidence and trust in my ability to compete.

As I say, it’s not easy and it’s a journey that will always be a challenge. What I will always remind batters though is that batting is a matter of participation, so respect your innings. If you want to watch the game, sit with the spectators.