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Q: The great man, Warren Saunders, gave me many great ideas in regard to captaincy, but the 2 mentioned below are ones that I never forgot and have passed these ideas onto other captains along the way.
1. At the start of a season, set your team a target for the number of wins that you need to have to achieve your goal of making the semi-finals or possibly the top 3-4 positions on the ladder. For the sake of argue, let's say 10 wins out of 15 games. In this way when you have a loss, it's not the end of the world, you simply need to refocus on the winning mentality to get back on the road that you have set out. I think this attitude helps sides not slide into self-doubt and lack of confidence. This also creates the mentality of always going for a win rather than having a fear of losing.
2. At the start of a season address all your players together. Explain your expectations for the season but particularly point out that you don't want to hear any whinging or complaints 2nd hand through someone's teammate, or parent or whoever. If you have a grievance, bring it directly to the captain as he is the only one who can fix it. If a complaint arrives 2nd hand it will be viewed very badly.
A: I like the second tip. thanks!
Murray Bennett
10 months ago
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Q: Our son played under 14 representative cricket last season and did trial for a club’s green shield team for this season. Unfortunately, he missed out but a number of his team mates made the squad.
A few parents of the kids have been persistent with wanting our son to play green shield with them and it’s upsetting him as the coaches of the club have said the squads have been selected.
What should we do to help him?
A: Seek feedback from the selectors on why he wasn’t selected and areas he can improve so he might be selected next season. Work hard on improving in those areas over the next 12 months so that he is in a strong position to be selected next season. Kids develop at different rates and the stars at 12 might be the has beens by 16. There are also lots of stories about players that weren’t selected in rep teams and went on to have very successful careers. It’s only on team and one season. Encourage your son to be determined and prove the selectors wrong next season with strong performances during this season and improvement to his game. Good luck!
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Q: I’m 18 and opening the bowling and want to have a big offseason to improve. What do people recommend as the balls I need to work on and perfect?
A: Consistent line and length first. Try to master not dropping short and after you feel like you’ve mastered that, start working on varieties. Consistent line and length will get most average batters out.
Adrian Critchley
last year
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Q: A scenario – the first over of an innings and the captain has set two slips, a gully, point, cover, mid off, mid on, mid wicket and a fine leg.
The bowlers first two balls are outswingers and the batter plays and misses both. Should the captain contemplate a field change and what would you suggest?
A: i would give it a couple more balls before changing the field. possibly consider moving mid wicket to forward square leg and mid on a few metres squarer to leave a gap and encourage the batter to hit against the swing.
if the play and misses are drives, consider moving cover to third slip, point to cover point and mid on a few metres squarer so the batter is encouraged to drive through cover. but you can still stop singles.
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Q: I’m 23 and a captain in my first season. I want to ask why spinners are so quick to want a fielder at deep point. In my opinion it’s just an easy single for the batter?
A: Agree with all the responses. if your bowler wants a deep point and you dont, communicate at start of their spell that you are confident that they will bowl enough good balls and don't need one. try to change their mindset from defending to attacking. you can also make your point deeper to stop a cut going for 4 and bring your cover closer to stop the 1.
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Q: Does the captain of a cricket team have to be the best player in the team?
A: As a junior coach, i am not looking to make the best player the captain, but give the players that are demonstrating an understanding and passion for the game the opportunity to captain. Only through experience will they become better captains.
From personal experience, the best player in juniors definitely didn't make the best captain.
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Q: If you have a promising young leg spinner in your team is it better for their confidence to bring them on to break a partnership or straight after you get a wicket when a new batter comes in?
A: I find it depends on the situation of the game and the batters who are in. if the batters are scoring at a 200 strike rate, probably not the best time as they will probably 'smell blood in the water' if a young leggie is introduced.
if there are defensive or new batters in, that's probably a good time so they can get their rhythm and confidence.
if the game is meandering along, it might be a good time to introduce them to break a partnership or the batters rhythm to create pressure for the other bowler.
Also, if the batter uses his feet and hits them for a boundary off a good length ball, this is also an opportunity to compliment them and tell them that is what you want to see the batter doing and encourage them to keep bowling there or perhaps vary their line or length slightly so the batter doesn't get quite to the pitch of the ball and mishits the next one.
lots of variables but young leggies in particular need to know that you expect them to go for a few runs, it's ok, and to keep trying to hit good lengths and take wickets.
the last thing you want is them to do is lose their confidence and not know where they are landing the ball.
give them protection on the fence if they need it but always let them feel you have confidence in them.
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Q: When captaining a cricket team, it is always very important to watch and take notice of the batters grip and the plane in which the bat comes down when they look to play either a defensive or attacking shot.
I remember watching a grade final at Coogee Oval and No 8 and 9 were batting and they needed 50 dd to win.
After watching the batsman hit every ball square and slashing a few behind point the captain and bowler decided to all the fielders on the off side much squarer and also put in a fly slip about 10m in from the boundary.
2 balls later ball was pitched up outside the off stump and the batter played a big slash and got a thick outside edge straight to into the hands of fly slip.
The fielding team went on to defend the score and win the premiership.
The message I took from watching what happened was always be thinking and backing yourself as captain
A: I agree with that 100% from a wicket taking perspective as a captain. the challenge is always to have bowlers who can put it in the right spot consistently to exploit the weakness and take the wicket.
