I was just wondering if you have any tips on how to bat when you’re coming of a few low scores and a bit low on confidence. How you should just go about it?

I try to teach believing in your process.

Have a have plan, which will alter depending on game situation, but inevitably you need a base to start from. One you have a game plan you then formulate a process at the crease that allows you to feel comfortable.

If you repeat your process every dall and have your game plan that you are thinking about, in theory your thoughts are going to be of a positive nature.

This in turn will not let your mind drift towards thinking about your previous failings.

"Visualising successful outcomes, will lead to positive executions"

Hi James, if this could be overcome without too many issues everyone would be a coach, or we wouldn't need them at all.. As a top order batter with nearly 50 years of playing experience in the bank I have been in this position a number of times. The best advice I have received, or heard, was by Dr Phil Jauncey, he is a well known sports psychologist and has worked with the Aussie Test side and many other professional sports organisations, Olympic teams etc.

Phil is a none-believer in "form", players have ability and no-one takes away your ability when you have a run of low scores, technical ability that is. The lack of confidence is a mental state, so you need to assess your thought process in your approach to your batting during a run of low scores. A clear mind is essential for success as a batter. The batting skill has 3 components, perception (determine what the ball is doing), decision (what shot is to be played) and technical application of the shot. The quicker the first 2 are done then leaves more time for the shot execution. Therefore a clear mind so that a quick, concise and correct decision is made is vital. Self doubt and second guessing slow down your decision making and therefore lessen the chance of executing your shot.

The common phrase when top test batters are going well is how much time they have to play their shots. Its not that the bowler slows down for them, they just perform the first 2 components quicker than other batters. A clear mind for decision making is a key component. Have faith in your ability, know your strengths as a player and play within them when batting in a match. The only ball that matters is the next one.

We could be here all day on this subject, hope these little bits can help you back into the runs.

As an accomplished player once said when I asked for similar advice “it’s the last ball that’s causing you trouble”. Not as frivolous as it sounds. Not a great believer in the concept of slumps unless you keep getting out the same way. That’s usually a technical issue and/or a case of opposition bowler exploring a weakness. A run of low scores where you are out in a variety of ways is just luck. Ride it out.

For me, I have often found when I am in a form slump, it is often because I have forgotten the most basic principle of batting which is watching the ball.

It sounds overly simple though often when I have found myself 'out of form' not watching the ball closely is the root of the problem.

Thanks for all your tips on my question they really helped on Saturday. I hit my top score for the season 61 and very happy

Try to have a routine, I mean arrival at ground, place in shed , breakfast , warm up , do the same all the time the things that work for you!
Remember the feeling when you did well , carry something in your bag that will “trigger “ you to switch on .
I carried a bat in my bag which was broken which I used in 1984 and did well and when in a drought used to shadow bat in the dressing room .
All a coach will do is
A/ keep you in form longer
B/ get you out of the slump quicker !
Get back on the wave of success and ride it as long as you can .
Good players have a process !

Firstly, well done on asking the question and always remember you’re not on your own. Every player goes through a rough trot and it’s the good ones who ask questions to be better.

Some tips.

It’s so important to focus hard on the ball when the bowler lets the ball go. Sometimes we get used to just watching an area around the bowler’s hand at the time of delivery. Don’t focus on an area, really focus hard on the ball.

When struggling for runs I always found concentrating on having a solid defence helped a lot. Watching the ball, focusing on my defence and looking for singles was the key.

Make the bowlers bowl to you. That means letting a lot of balls go outside the off stump, staying as patient as possible and soon you may find the bolwer loses their patience and starts to bowl into your scoring areas. When you’re out of form play as straight as possible and limit your cross bat shot until you have 20 or 30 on the board.

Back yourself to bat time and a long time. 50 singles is still a 50 and 100 singles is still a 100. The longer you bat the more your natural scoring shots will come into play.

Best of luck to get back scoring runs James