Nets or checklists?

Played my first game this year for the 3rd XI yesterday.

Batted OK until I missed a straight grubber that bounced for a second time just before hitting the stumps… Bowled one decent over, then got hit for 4 boundaries (16 runs out of an opposition score of 120/6 in 45 overs).

And was advised by our umpire to “get back in the nets”. His exact words — “I thought you were a bowling coach!”.

With due respect to Vikash, I wonder if I actually need more net bowling. More important, perhaps, for an occasional bowler, which is what I have become, might be to remember what I do when I bowl well, and do that again.

So what might my checklist look like?

[Checklist items in bold; comments indented & below]

• Bowl from mid-crease.
  • Don’t try to get too close to the stumps — bowl “in” towards off stump, then “straighten” ball to stay finish to off stump line, not at leg stump or outside to swing back to hit stumps.
  • No wider than the “wide” line (if marked).
• Start run in line with return crease.
  • Slight angle in
  • Don’t go wider (push ball down leg side), or get too straight (too front on).
  • For left-handed batters, start run up one step wider, but bowl from same point on crease.
• Bowl to attack the RH batter’s outside edge.
  • Angle “inwards” to swing away; in the absence of swing, the line attacks inside edge.
• Don’t try the “miracle ball” just because the last delivery didn’t take a wicket!
  • Stay patient!

First three should be enough. Things that I know work, but even after 50+ years, I still only remember after 2 or 3 overs.