Recent content by DarrenTalbotCricket

Qualified Coaches Wanted I'm looking for qualified coaches to work for me on a freelance basis running after school cricket clubs throughout the UK. I'm particularly looking for coaches in Surrey, Midlands, North, North East, North West. We currently have 14 coaches working with us around...

Re: playing slow straight bowlers An excellent follow on question. It obviously depends on what sort of run rate you are chasing but if it's less than 6 an over you still don't need to be trying to smash it everywhere. This is a common mistake. If you watch the pro's playing 50 over cricket...

Re: Sometimes i miss the fast ball It's hard to say without seeing you in action but backlift may well be the issue. Make sure your backlift comes back straight in line with the stumps, no higher than the top of the stumps, with the back of the bat facing towards the square leg umpire. I...

Re: playing slow straight bowlers The tempation with slower bowlers is to try to hit them too hard and to go for the big shots and get caught (or bowled lifting your head). I think there are two options here. 1. Keep the scoreboard ticking over with singles off as many balls as possible. It's...

Re: Breaking a partnership I'm a huge advocate of part time bowlers and regular changes to the field. Trying someone who rarely bowls for an over or two and putting the field back often produces a catch as the batsman relaxes and tries to pick up what they think are easy runs. Also if...

Re: I have no confidence I would recommend setting yourself small targets to help get over this problem. First target might be to survive the first ball, then first over. The next target might be 1 run, then 10 runs, then 25 runs, then 50, etc. This will keep you focussed on a positive...

Re: The Katchet I have one and have not been too impressed by it. I've used it a few times and although it looks good in principle I cannot seem to get it to bounce up enough to be catchable. I wouldn't recommend it.

Re: Trouble With Leg Glance I come across this problem a lot! I tend to find that the problem with most leg side shots is that the front foot is being planted down the wicket or the back foot is sliding backwards slightly making it impossible to get your feet in the right position to be able...

Re: keep going out LB I don't think it's necessarily the problem that you are getting too far across, more that maybe you are not getting far enough forward or are committing yourself to a back foot shoot by being unbalanced at your trigger movement. A common problem I am finding with young...

Re: Leg Glance For me it's a bit too negative just to leave it - I think I'd rather see you play it unless it is very wide down the legside. Would you rather score 4 runs down to fine leg or take 1 for the wide? I'd take the boundary every time. This is a shot which takes more practice than...

Re: Leg Glance My advice would be that you are probably playing the shot a bit too early, hence it goes square rather than finer. How late you play the shot will determine how fine it goes. Also you need to make sure you are properly inside the ball. A common problem is not going "back and...

Re: Uneven Bounce If you're playing on a wicket which is keeping low mainly then batting slightly outside your crease and getting well forward is the way to go. If you're playing on a real minefield and the ball is shooting and popping then it comes down to plain old bravery!

Re: Falling over when batting The trigger movement I would recommend would be a very small "back and across" method. Be careful not to go too far back or too far across, though. From the trigger position you should be balanced enough to be able to play back or forward and far enough across to...

Re: Falling over when batting My advice would be to look to commit yourself as late as possible when the ball is swinging a lot. When the ball is swinging prodigiously you need the trigger movement to be slightly later than usual. If you commit your foot movement too early you will find it...

Re: One for Darren! I think the initial thing to look at would be the initial movement of your feet. I very often find that young batsman don't move their back foot across the stumps enough to get into a good position to play leg side shots. Although all the coaching manuals and coaching...