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Q: My philosophy on captaincy and leadership
• Create a game plan for the team based on the strengths and weaknesses of each player, the opposition players, and the pitch conditions.
• Ensure each player understands their role and buys in to the game plan.
• Be flexible and adjust the plan to respond to game scenarios and conditions.
• Specifically, in the field each batsmen plays each bowler in different ways so I believe a captain should set particular fields for each batsman- usually these are only minor adjustments, for example, squaring up the offside field for a batsman who plays with an open face and hits behind point.
• I also strongly advocate applying pressure on a batsman particularly early in their innings by placing a silly point or short point in their eyeline to stop lunging on front foot to spinners or create hesitancy in playing fast bowlers leading to an edge or false shot.
I’ll give you an example. We were defending about 250 in a 2-day game and the opposition were about 5 for 130 but then had a good partnership. We were bowling tightly and restricting the runs to create pressure on the run rate required hoping for a false shot.
However, it got to the stage the opposition reached about 5 for 200 which meant that if we did not take 5 wickets the game could end up in a draw or a loss.
I made 2 bowling changes and brought in a short point and short leg to apply pressure to the batsmen and create a false shot despite knowing the risk that there were more gaps to score runs.
We got a wicket straight away and then the other established batsmen fell shortly after. We dismissed the tail and achieved a victory.
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Q: I’m a 16 year old opening batter who played their first season of grade last year. I found it tough to get starts and struggled batting in the afternoon of 2 day matches. Something I struggled with was maintaining focus for my innings and losing concentration when I got comfortable. Could I get some advice on how to maintain focus and get a routine to make sure I’m concentrating
A: Hi Campbell
Rowan has explained the importance of switching on and off between balls.
An important component of concentration is physical fitness. People make mental errors when they are physically tired- this applies to work, driving and sport. Physical fitness will help concentration to play long innings or to open the batting after being in the field most of the day.
The best way to get physically fit is to play a football code in winter- soccer and AFL best as most running.
Get an aerobic fitness program. Go to local park and do interval runs after a light jog warm up- varying 400, 200 and 100 metre run throughs (eg 4x 400, 4x200, 6x100 with rest in between). Do about 30-40m minutes. This will also sharpen your batting footwork and speed running between wickets and in the field. Do as much as you can at the start then add as you build up fitness. You will gradually get faster as you get fitter.
Opening the batting in the afternoon after being in the field can be challenging as bowlers know they only have to bowl a short time and bowl faster spells.
While in the field be aware you may be batting soon but do not spend too much mental energy thinking about batting. Once the last wicket falls, get off the field quickly and change to give yourself time to mentally prepare for your batting. Focus on being not out at stumps ie you know the time you have to bat so bat over by over till stumps.”
question
Q: NSW Schoolboys Cricket team 1972-73
Back Row:- Steve Campbell (UNSW), Jack Holman (Parkes), Malcolm Grave (Western Suburbs), Craig Peifer (Gordon), Dave Packer (Manly), Graeme Hughes (Petersham Marrickville, NSW), Peter Taylor (Northern Districts, NSW, Australia), Craig Evans (Raymond Terrace), Tom Jenkins (Sydney Uni)
Front Row:- Greg Bush (Mosman Middle Harbour), Peter Carlisle (Waverley), Austin Punch (Manager), Barry Piper (Northern Districts, Captain), Ernie Cosgrove (Scorer), Andrew Hilditch (Sutherland, NSW, Sth Australia, Australia)
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Q: Our fastest bowler can be a little wayward with the new ball and I think better suited to bowling first change. The captain keeps giving him the new ball thinking he might bounce the openers out, but it rarely happens, and the opposition gets off to a flyer.
Our first change comes on and bowls line and length and gets wickets. Shouldn’t he open the bowling and let the quicker bowler bowl with less shine on the ball.?
A: The fast bowler should be focusing on bowling a good length trying to hit the off bail and using the short ball as a surprise weapon.
This applies irrespective if he is opening the bowling or first change.
On the one hand the openers are usually best equipped to play fast bowling but on the other hand if the fast bowler can display his pace and get an opener out he can create doubts in the rest of the opposition as a strike weapon.
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Q: I’m 19 and opening the batting. Started the season poorly with 4 scores under 10 and I’m frustrated as I worked hard in the off season and want to get advice on how to approach my next innings and what to focus on?
A: Hi Zac, a few tips
1. Make sure you are focusing on watching the ball from the bowlers hand.
2. Make sure you are moving across in line with the ball keeping back foot and body side on.
3. Relax at the crease - deep breaths before settling in to face the ball.
4. When out of form batsmen often try to play at balls they should leave or attempt shots rather than defending as they are just wanting to feel bat on ball. So shot selection is key.
5. When batting in the nets play as you would in the match and avoid getting out rather than just hitting balls without regard for being dismissed.
Good luck
