The Teesra

Month: January 2014

  • Head hunting – another approach to getting more from net practice.

    Back in November, David Hinchliffe proposed a novel way of getting the most from net practice, with what he described as the “horror movie” approach.  I suggested adding a camera, to give the Blair Witch net session.

    I have been looking for more ways to make net practice more competitive, and more realistic, but I don’t think our 1st XI will take kindly to “consequence” nets (5 press ups if you get bowled), and if we implement “if you are out, you’re out” net practice might finish rather early!

    So we have been trying the “head hunter” net – setting the bowlers the task of identifying and ruthlessly exploiting any weakness they can in the batsmen.  And the results so far have been interesting. (more…)

  • The Future of Cricket Coaching – what next for coaches working in schools and clubs?

    The Ashes series just completed has been a sobering experience for anyone who cares about the England cricket team.  So much so, that I don’t really want to say anything more about it, now, other than to wish the coaches and senior players every success as they sit down to work out a plan for 2014 and beyond.

    But as a coach working mostly with Under 11s, I am looking a lot further ahead. There’s not a lot I can do this winter that will help England regain the Ashes in 2015.  But as coaches, we can look ahead to Ashes tours, and Test championships, and T20 World Cups, in 2025.

    Where do you see the game in 10 years’ time? And how can we, as coaches, prepare young players for that future?

    (more…)