Observations on Batting Techniques, Coaching & Fitness

Central Districts - Season SummaryAs a coach I like to see players develop overtime, and teams create plans and successfullyimplement them, but winning and seeingyoungsters perform up to their potential are,for me, great examples of instant gratification.Central Districts has worked industriouslyover the past few years and to have playersperforming at all levels and age groups is areassuring return for these efforts. We haverecently had pockets of good performers butconsistency across the board is what hastranspired this season. However, in sayingthis, teams have not won competitions anddominated tournaments so our work is notcomplete!Having 4 of the top 6 test batsmen fromCentral Districts has placed strain on ourbatting resources but Greg Hay has hardlysuffered from ‘second season blues’ and musthave forced his way into consideration forthe BLACKCAPS tour to England. The gapbetween international cricket and first classcricket was highlighted when with the returnof ‘the big boys’ the Stags won the Twenty /20 competition. With their departure the Stagsfailed to make the semis of the State Shieldbut at least they were the masters of their owndestiny and failed to qualify after losing theirlast two games rather than relying on otherresults. The State Championship has been abattle.New players have been exposed at first classlevel but injury and an inability to bowl teamsout has made for a tough season. GeorgeWorker is one of these new players. It hasbeen a very good reward for him after anexcellent season at school, district, age groupand New Zealand U19 level.He and Andy Dodd were selected for theU19 World Cup in Malaysia. Andy did not getto play but it was a great trip for them both.Numerous others made quite an impressionat this year’s U19 tournament.The emphasis, at Lincoln, for the U19 andProvincial ‘A’ tournaments, was on one daycricket. For the first time coloured clothingand the white ball were used and even thoughsome associations entered into the spiritof it all more than others, by dressing theirteams in full colours and pads, it was a hugesuccess making these players feel special.The tournaments, each with a pre-tournament3 day game, were shorter than they havebeen in the past and both were moreenjoyable. In my opinion it is so important toplay 3 day cricket at this level as it is in thesegames that real learning about the gametakes place. Why is that bowler bowling?How can the field be manipulated to attacka batsman? How should the bowlers bemanaged as the new ball approaches? (fromboth a bowling and batting point of view).When should the spinners bowl? What are thebatting targets? How can they be achieved?Can the batting momentum be changed? Howlong until lunch? tea? stumps? Where is thegame going?The Central Districts v Northern Districtswas a great advertisement for ensuring thatby giving the opposition a good chance towin your own team is provided with a betterchance too. Central Districts won by 6 runsand all involved enjoyed the experience whichcannot be said of some games at this level inthe recent past.Seeing the fifty overs of a one day gamebeing bowled in two and a half hours was asight to behold. Lunch was very early –almostat a normal lunch time – and there was noneed for a second drinks break. 45 oversof spin were bowled. The use of spinners ispossible very early in an innings and theseU19 lads showed that it is possible to utilisepower plays with slow bowlers and a littlethought. (Question – When defending amediocre total why are the 2nd and 3rd powerplays even taken? To win, the fielding sidemust bowl the opposition out probably before45 or 40 overs are even up).After leading the tournament early the CentralDistricts “A” side slipped to fourth while theU19’s finished 3rd in the round robin and lostto Northern Districts in the play-off.The Hinds led from the front throughout theseason but after losing momentum in the final