Category: coaching

  • The root of all “Mankad’s” (with apologies to Vinoo)

    The root of all “Mankad’s” (with apologies to Vinoo)

    At the end of term we try to play a “proper” game with the age group classes, even with the younger players.

    On Saturday, a small group of Dad’s gathered at the side of the hall to watch and encourage their children.

    And we had calls from one father for the non-striker to “start walking” and “back up” as the bowler ran in…no wonder young batters are trying to “steal” a yard and straying out of their crease before the ball is bowled, if this is what they are being told to do!

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  • The secret batting drill that “they” don’t want you to know about! /clickbait

    The secret batting drill that “they” don’t want you to know about! /clickbait

    In the middle of last season, I was asked to move up the order to push the scoring rate along. I knew that I could not do this by batting conventionally — I do like a stodge!

    So I resolved to apply (my interpretation of) Julian Wood’s theory of power hitting for cricketersnot slogging, but a technique to put bat on ball, consistently, and with force behind each hit. And it seemed to work.†

    Whilst it is far from fully thought through, yet, there is some theory behind my switch from “batting” to “hitting”, and the practice (that clickbait “drill” in the title) to develop the technical and mental approach needed to implement the switch.

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  • My least favourite All Stars activity…it ain’t PEAS, is it?

    Delivering face-to-face training for All Stars & Dynamos Activators, yesterday, and came across my least favourite All Stars activity — diamond cricket.

    Diamond Cricket; ECB, All Stars Cricket

    IMO There really is so much to dislike about this game, and little to recommend it.

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