All this rain has made me realise what a sad, empty life I must have. With hardly any cricket being played, I am feeling lost. I'm hardly getting any coaching done and matches that I should have been running for the Herts East Area boys have all been cancelled (bar one, which was a fairly miserable affair).
The schools coaching I do has virtually all been done indoors, in small halls, with foam balls being crashed around by up to thirty youngsters all very frustrated at not being able to get outside and play some proper cricket.
The one light on the horizon was the local girls kwik cricket tournament that was run at Hertford CC. Five schools entered teams, four of which I'd been into to provide some coaching. Fortunately the sun shone and there were some very close matches. The standard of cricket was varied but overall I understand it was much improved over previous years. Hopefully some of that was down to the work I put in. Later this week I will be selecting a squad for the local area for the Girls Kwik Cricket team for the Herts Youth Games, which is taking place in Hatfield on the day the Olympic Torch comes through the town. I'm looking forward to the day as a whole, whatever the result for our squad.
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Rain Doesn't Stop Play
Here in my little corner of England, as in many other parts, we have a hosepipe ban. We are officially in drought and it must be the wettest drought on record. Cricket clubs in the area have been refused dispensation to water their squares but right at this moment it seems a cruel irony that we ever thought a lack of water would be a problem.
My schools coaching work has mainly been pushed into small school halls, designed for assemblies or gymnastics, or dancing but certainly not for 30 to 50 enthusiastic 10 year olds wanting to bash a ball around with a cricket bat. Adapting to circumstances is the name of the game and so far we've managed to cope in most cases but cricket really needs a bit of space if you're going to keep more than 20 youngsters engaged.
Meanwhile my coaching role with Redbourn's Under13 team got off to the best possible start when we had a downpour of sunshine for our first fixture, allowing it to be played. This extremely talented bunch of cricketers bowled out the opposition for just 25 and knocked off the runs in six overs without losing a wicket. Stronger opposition will follow but this team has strength all the way through and I am excited to be working with them. They're keen too. Last week they all turned up for training even though it was raining. Lots of fielding was the order of the day, diving, sliding, catching (soft balls) off the Katchet and generally getting thoroughly filthy. I don't suppose the mums were too impressed by the state of the clothes that needed cleaning but the enthusiasm and commitment was fantastic. It's that sort of attitude that reminds me why I do this job, even when the rain's bucketing down.
My schools coaching work has mainly been pushed into small school halls, designed for assemblies or gymnastics, or dancing but certainly not for 30 to 50 enthusiastic 10 year olds wanting to bash a ball around with a cricket bat. Adapting to circumstances is the name of the game and so far we've managed to cope in most cases but cricket really needs a bit of space if you're going to keep more than 20 youngsters engaged.
Meanwhile my coaching role with Redbourn's Under13 team got off to the best possible start when we had a downpour of sunshine for our first fixture, allowing it to be played. This extremely talented bunch of cricketers bowled out the opposition for just 25 and knocked off the runs in six overs without losing a wicket. Stronger opposition will follow but this team has strength all the way through and I am excited to be working with them. They're keen too. Last week they all turned up for training even though it was raining. Lots of fielding was the order of the day, diving, sliding, catching (soft balls) off the Katchet and generally getting thoroughly filthy. I don't suppose the mums were too impressed by the state of the clothes that needed cleaning but the enthusiasm and commitment was fantastic. It's that sort of attitude that reminds me why I do this job, even when the rain's bucketing down.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Section 76 Water Industry Act 1991 and the Sweep Shot
It's a few hours now since England's finest capitulated once more in the face of a couple of spinners that would have been milked at four an over with no problem in a County match. However, put an English/South African batsman up against the same bowler on a slow turner in the heat of Asia or the UAE and suddenly they become unplayable.
There have been all sorts of reasons put forward as to why we failed, mostly revolving around the sweep shot, why it's played, when it's played and how it's played. It has also been noted that we don't play enough in those conditions and when the players return next month, it'll be back to the safe haven of our green and seaming land. Until they head off back to India for further humiliation next winter.
Well good news is here. Section 76 Water Industry Act 1991 is being enforced in many parts of the country in an effort to ensure our next generation of batsmen do not grow up equally inept at playing spin bowling. Far sighted cricket enthusiasts at water companies throughout England are imposing hosepipe bans with a view to creating raging bunsens of most of the squares in the southern half of England. The ECB, of course, are issuing guidance to clubs to try to overturn these bans in the hope that they can retain the status quo, whereby we win at home and, on a good day, away against Australia, West Indies and South Africa but leave ourselves open to ridicule against the spin nations.
I say, why not let our young cricketers play a season on pitches that are dry and turning? And when the rain does come, leave the covers off and let them cope with what nature has dealt them.
There have been all sorts of reasons put forward as to why we failed, mostly revolving around the sweep shot, why it's played, when it's played and how it's played. It has also been noted that we don't play enough in those conditions and when the players return next month, it'll be back to the safe haven of our green and seaming land. Until they head off back to India for further humiliation next winter.
Well good news is here. Section 76 Water Industry Act 1991 is being enforced in many parts of the country in an effort to ensure our next generation of batsmen do not grow up equally inept at playing spin bowling. Far sighted cricket enthusiasts at water companies throughout England are imposing hosepipe bans with a view to creating raging bunsens of most of the squares in the southern half of England. The ECB, of course, are issuing guidance to clubs to try to overturn these bans in the hope that they can retain the status quo, whereby we win at home and, on a good day, away against Australia, West Indies and South Africa but leave ourselves open to ridicule against the spin nations.
I say, why not let our young cricketers play a season on pitches that are dry and turning? And when the rain does come, leave the covers off and let them cope with what nature has dealt them.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Pleasure and Pain
I recently had a heavy fall, ended up in hospital and spent some hours in A&E on one of their beds before being discharged. As a result of all this, I now get terrible pain in my lower back when I stand for more than a few minutes. It is a recurrence of problems from 20 years ago and it is not a good thing for a cricket coach to have, given I spend most of my time on my feet in this job. I will need to keep moving as much as possible to stop the back seizing up.
On the plus side, the programmes we have been running for the Herts East Area boys are coming to a conclusion. There have been one or two small hiccups but on the whole everything has gone pretty well. The Under 15 age group has been completely under-subscribed but will be topped up with the better Under 14s, who will benefit greatly from playing up a year. Since there have been so few Under 15s, they have had a good ratio of coaches to players and we have used the bowling machine to good effect this year as well.
The Under 14s have had some very good tactical sessions recently. Unfortunately I won't now see most of these lads again until the first matches in the half term break, so will have to try to keep in contact with the club and school coaches and check the results on the web to find out if our hard work has paid off.
The Under 13s continue to improve and I hope have a better understanding of what is required now. Last year there were a couple of distinctly average performances from this group. Although I know that there are stronger players elsewhere around the County, strength of character counts for a lot and this could be what takes them through.
The Under 12s punched above their weight last year. They don't have any "superstars" but are a great bunch of lads who will be a good team. With hard work I hope that one or two of them might get an opportunity with the full County squad.
The Under 11s have some real talent amongst the group. They have all trained very hard and are extremely enthusiastic. I look forward to great things from them, although that doesn't necessarily mean I expect them to win all their matches.
The Under 10s again have some top notch cricketers, a couple of whom should probably be in the County squad. That's another story though and if they perform the way I expect this year then the County squad beckons next season. The team as a whole should do well and at this age, everyone seems to improve with every game. By the time I next see them at half term, who knows what the story might be?
Chance 2 Shine starts with the school term, with its own special challenges. I'm looking forward to that and will report back next time.
On the plus side, the programmes we have been running for the Herts East Area boys are coming to a conclusion. There have been one or two small hiccups but on the whole everything has gone pretty well. The Under 15 age group has been completely under-subscribed but will be topped up with the better Under 14s, who will benefit greatly from playing up a year. Since there have been so few Under 15s, they have had a good ratio of coaches to players and we have used the bowling machine to good effect this year as well.
The Under 14s have had some very good tactical sessions recently. Unfortunately I won't now see most of these lads again until the first matches in the half term break, so will have to try to keep in contact with the club and school coaches and check the results on the web to find out if our hard work has paid off.
The Under 13s continue to improve and I hope have a better understanding of what is required now. Last year there were a couple of distinctly average performances from this group. Although I know that there are stronger players elsewhere around the County, strength of character counts for a lot and this could be what takes them through.
The Under 12s punched above their weight last year. They don't have any "superstars" but are a great bunch of lads who will be a good team. With hard work I hope that one or two of them might get an opportunity with the full County squad.
The Under 11s have some real talent amongst the group. They have all trained very hard and are extremely enthusiastic. I look forward to great things from them, although that doesn't necessarily mean I expect them to win all their matches.
The Under 10s again have some top notch cricketers, a couple of whom should probably be in the County squad. That's another story though and if they perform the way I expect this year then the County squad beckons next season. The team as a whole should do well and at this age, everyone seems to improve with every game. By the time I next see them at half term, who knows what the story might be?
Chance 2 Shine starts with the school term, with its own special challenges. I'm looking forward to that and will report back next time.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Take All The Help You Can Find
I regularly visit the excellent cricket coaching website PitchVision Academy http://www.pitchvision.com/academy . They provide some fantastic coaching tips and have regular contributions from high quality coaches from around the world, as well as getting international cricketers to offer online coaching masterclasses. Occasionally I make a comment on their coaching forum, which prompted a phone call out of the blue asking them to interview me for their podcast this week. Of course I was delighted to be asked and said yes, giving a stuttering interview about my work with Hertfordshire's East Area cricket programme.
What this was intended to do, as with all the interviews, podcasts and postings on PitchVision, is to give coaches and players an insight into how they can improve and develop their abilities in any and every department of the game. Over the years, I have attended coaching seminars and courses with numerous former first class and international cricketers. I have coached with some superb coaches with wonderful experience of coaching first class cricketers, experienced coaches from club cricket and those coaching playground cricket for just one year and every level in between. And I always look out for how they coach, what they say, what drills they have, all as a way to improve my own coaching techniques. Every coach does it and we all pass around bits and pieces of information amongst the coaching fraternity.
Why are we like this when we might be competing for work? It all comes down to a common desire to improve and develop the cricketers that we coach. If we find a different way of doing something that might help to improve a cricketer we are coaching, we are usually open to trying it.
Any player out there should do likewise, taking every opportunity to watch, listen and learn from not just the coaches but other players. If there's a chance to watch or attend a masterclass, do so. If the club's all-time leading wicket taker wants to offer some advice, then listen. He must have done something right, even if he is a cussed old basket.
What this was intended to do, as with all the interviews, podcasts and postings on PitchVision, is to give coaches and players an insight into how they can improve and develop their abilities in any and every department of the game. Over the years, I have attended coaching seminars and courses with numerous former first class and international cricketers. I have coached with some superb coaches with wonderful experience of coaching first class cricketers, experienced coaches from club cricket and those coaching playground cricket for just one year and every level in between. And I always look out for how they coach, what they say, what drills they have, all as a way to improve my own coaching techniques. Every coach does it and we all pass around bits and pieces of information amongst the coaching fraternity.
Why are we like this when we might be competing for work? It all comes down to a common desire to improve and develop the cricketers that we coach. If we find a different way of doing something that might help to improve a cricketer we are coaching, we are usually open to trying it.
Any player out there should do likewise, taking every opportunity to watch, listen and learn from not just the coaches but other players. If there's a chance to watch or attend a masterclass, do so. If the club's all-time leading wicket taker wants to offer some advice, then listen. He must have done something right, even if he is a cussed old basket.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
Cricket for Golfers
I play a bit of golf, very occasionally these days, and would never classify myself as better than moderately average. During my time as a regular, I made use of a fair bit of the most up to date technology available, as allowed by golf's arbiters, the R & A, the equivalent of cricket's MCC. Every year equipment manufacturers push the boundaries with new clubs, new materials, new dimple patterns on the balls, new grooves etc. All with a view to getting the gullible hacker to spend more to make them a better golfer. New equipment comes under scrutiny every year.
Cricket, on the other hand, rarely has such equipment controversies. The dimensions of bats and balls are clearly laid down in the laws, as are the materials of which they are to be constructed. The idea has always been to try to keep a fair contest between bat and ball and to ensure the relative skills of the players is what wins the contest. Sometimes there are controversies that lead to clarifications.
The biggest in my time was when Denis Lillee walked out to bat with an Aluminium bat against England in a Test against England in Australia. After heated discussion he was made to use a traditional bat but it lead to a change in the wording of the laws to confirm that the blade should be made of wood. Later, innovations have been tried by Kookaburra and Hunts County which have added or inserted other materials. The law not states "solely of wood". There is also confirmation that the dimensions are inclusive of blade and handle together.
But the handle is a different matter. Traditionally, the handle has been of cane, sprung with rubber inserts, bound with twine and covered with a rubber grip. Newberry pushed the boundaries by putting a counter weight in one end, effectively lightening the pick-up. A few years ago the went further and tried something completely different, with a carbon fibre handle that allowed a shorter splice and lighter, more flexible handle. The MCC banned it and decided to keep the tradition of cane handles.
This might make the MCC seem like dinosaurs but I like the way the MCC want to keep a rein on technology in order to keep the balance between bat and ball as much as possible. Bat technology has improved over the years, with more wood going into bats that pick up like a feather. The wood is not pressed as much and a "trampoline effect" (comparable to golf drivers) increases. It's legal and I wish I had the benefit of it 20 years ago. What the bats don't do (like the golf technology) is give you the technique to play good bowling.
This brings me to possibly the most innovative recent change within the laws and the spirit of the laws. Mongoose. Everyone in cricket will have heard of the Mongoose bat, launched in a blaze of publicity two years ago, it has a really long handle and really short blade, which is packed with willow. Unfortunately it suffered a bit from being launched around the perception of the T20 slogfest which meant that the technology behind the bat got lost in the mood of "hit it as hard as you can". In fact the technology involved, including the longer handle, allows you to get greater bat speed without having to swing any harder. In this respect, it's not dissimilar to some golf club technology.
Personally I still cannot get my head around how you can use a bat with a tiny blade to play a quick bowler on a bouncy pitch as the ball arrows in at your chest. However the concept of a longer, whippier blade does make sense and in addition to the original MMi3 Mongoos also make a more traditional looking bat, the CoR3, with slightly longer handle and slightly shorter blade and have now gone totally conventional as well.
If you think about it, a long, whippy handle is bound to give you more bat speed and I have often heard club cricketers talk of how much they like playing with a bat just as the handle is starting to split. As for making the handle longer, think of Adam Gilchrist and how high on the handle he held the bat, which helped him get incredible bat speed and hit it miles.
At the end of it all though, if your technique cannot cope with the bowling, all the bat technology in the world won't help. So whatever bat you're going to be using, you need to have a technique that works. Get practising and perhaps I can help.
Cricket, on the other hand, rarely has such equipment controversies. The dimensions of bats and balls are clearly laid down in the laws, as are the materials of which they are to be constructed. The idea has always been to try to keep a fair contest between bat and ball and to ensure the relative skills of the players is what wins the contest. Sometimes there are controversies that lead to clarifications.
The biggest in my time was when Denis Lillee walked out to bat with an Aluminium bat against England in a Test against England in Australia. After heated discussion he was made to use a traditional bat but it lead to a change in the wording of the laws to confirm that the blade should be made of wood. Later, innovations have been tried by Kookaburra and Hunts County which have added or inserted other materials. The law not states "solely of wood". There is also confirmation that the dimensions are inclusive of blade and handle together.
But the handle is a different matter. Traditionally, the handle has been of cane, sprung with rubber inserts, bound with twine and covered with a rubber grip. Newberry pushed the boundaries by putting a counter weight in one end, effectively lightening the pick-up. A few years ago the went further and tried something completely different, with a carbon fibre handle that allowed a shorter splice and lighter, more flexible handle. The MCC banned it and decided to keep the tradition of cane handles.
This might make the MCC seem like dinosaurs but I like the way the MCC want to keep a rein on technology in order to keep the balance between bat and ball as much as possible. Bat technology has improved over the years, with more wood going into bats that pick up like a feather. The wood is not pressed as much and a "trampoline effect" (comparable to golf drivers) increases. It's legal and I wish I had the benefit of it 20 years ago. What the bats don't do (like the golf technology) is give you the technique to play good bowling.
This brings me to possibly the most innovative recent change within the laws and the spirit of the laws. Mongoose. Everyone in cricket will have heard of the Mongoose bat, launched in a blaze of publicity two years ago, it has a really long handle and really short blade, which is packed with willow. Unfortunately it suffered a bit from being launched around the perception of the T20 slogfest which meant that the technology behind the bat got lost in the mood of "hit it as hard as you can". In fact the technology involved, including the longer handle, allows you to get greater bat speed without having to swing any harder. In this respect, it's not dissimilar to some golf club technology.
Personally I still cannot get my head around how you can use a bat with a tiny blade to play a quick bowler on a bouncy pitch as the ball arrows in at your chest. However the concept of a longer, whippier blade does make sense and in addition to the original MMi3 Mongoos also make a more traditional looking bat, the CoR3, with slightly longer handle and slightly shorter blade and have now gone totally conventional as well.
If you think about it, a long, whippy handle is bound to give you more bat speed and I have often heard club cricketers talk of how much they like playing with a bat just as the handle is starting to split. As for making the handle longer, think of Adam Gilchrist and how high on the handle he held the bat, which helped him get incredible bat speed and hit it miles.
At the end of it all though, if your technique cannot cope with the bowling, all the bat technology in the world won't help. So whatever bat you're going to be using, you need to have a technique that works. Get practising and perhaps I can help.
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