Long Live analysis. Scoring is Dead

Scoring is dead. Long live analysis.

Alongside this is the growing trend for using statistics to aid with coaching and developing players. The old fashioned scorebook is no longer enough. Top sides have started to employ analysts to watch and record every ball.
Unlike the scorer, analysts are tactically and technically savvy. They take details like a scorer would, but they also analyse trends in play to feedback to the coach and captain so they can work on weaker aspects.
Want some examples?
Here are some key areas the traditional scorer either doesn’t record or ignores:

• Contacts: It’s a statistical fact (and common sense) that the more a batsman plays at a ball the more likely he is to get out. A scorer records a dot as a dot. An analyst records what happened (the ball was struck cleanly, the ball was edged, the ball was played and missed and so on).
• Scoring Percentage: Most scorers present batting averages, some even during the season. The analyst will know batting average and strike rate. He or she will also know what percentage of balls a batsman makes a scoring shot. It’s also handy to know what percentage of scoring shots are boundaries.
• Bowling Partnerships: Modern coaches talk a lot about bowling in partnerships. Unlike batting partnerships the scorer never looks at how well bowlers bowl in pairs. Analysts look at rates per over, averages and strike rates of bowling partnerships.
  

But these stats are just the start. The real job of the analyst is to provide more than raw numbers.

An analyst links stats to real life cricket improvements

To illustrate what I mean, let’s take a typical example of an analyst in a club situation.
The captain wants his side to be better at running between the wickets. The team have a tendency to want to score with boundaries in a blaze of glory and it’s leaving the side short of runs with opportunities missed.
The analyst, captain and coach get together. The analyst demonstrates that the side score a lot of runs in boundaries but also pat back a lot of balls that could be worked as singles. This is especially true in the first 20 overs. The analyst suggests setting a target of 40 singles in the first 20 overs and 40 singles in the last 30 overs.
The coach and captain agree. The coach goes away and designs a training plan to coach players to reach the newly set target.
As time passes the analyst watches the result and reports back, allowing the coach to see how well his training is working while the captain can decide if the targets are realistic and testing but still achievable.
At club level analysts won’t have access to equipment to video and notate every ball, but a knowledgeable person in the scorebox is just the edge your team needs to spot problems and deal with them in training.

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In-depth analysis makes your coaching much more efficient

• Capture every aspect of matches and practice sessions . . . and not just the good stuff, through ball by ball match notes
  • Dropped catches
  • Missed stumpings
  • Mis-fields
  • Singles not taken
  • Shots not played . . .
• Don't just tell them - show them!
  • Back up your coaching messages with hard evidence
• Better understand their coaching needs
• Tailor your coaching to individuals
• Build on strengths, work on weaknesses
  • Shot selection
  • Running between wickets
  • Bowling tactics and accuracy
  • Field placings (captains and bowlers)
  • Wicketkeeping
  • Fielding (mis-fields, dropped catches . . .)
• Easily umpire and score at the same time!
• Share team performances with the players, parents and fans!
• See the improvement more tangibly than ever before
• PitchPad helps you demonstrate graphically to your players where their weaknesses lie. When players are shown a wagon wheel or chart of their performance, it can hammer the point home in a way that mere verbal explanation could not do.
• Your scorer can upload the match for online review even during the match, allowing you to assess your strategy and tactics during play.
• Youth coaches: we've found that kids are very highly motivated by seeing their own wagon wheels. It encourages them to compete against their own past performances, and helps to bring out the best in them.   

Cricket Batting Tips to Take You to The Top

Nothing can very be more beautiful to watch on the cricket field, than to see a batsman in full flow. Even world class bowlers have admitted to being overwhelmed when they see a batsman in full swing. So we mortal beings stand no chance but become overwhelmed by a good batting display. Batting is not an easy thing to do in a cricket field, be it any condition. There are several cricket batting tips that need to be implemented properly, if a player wants to bat really well in a cricket match. The batsman must have a proper knowledge and idea about all the batting tips that he can catch hold of. The ability of a batsman is ably displayed if he knows all the cricket batting tips. The real test of the character that a batsman goes through is in the test matches, where the batsman needs to stay at the crease as long as possible.

The first and foremost batting tip, which every cricketer needs to follow is proper footwork. Footwork is the most crucial aspect of batting and a batsman must have excellent footwork to play different kinds of shot. In this modern era of fast paced Cricket, still there are lot of players who are well- known for their footwork and sound temperament. Great players like Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, Brain Lara of West Indies and Ricky Ponting of Australia are renowned all over the world due to their excellent footwork and strokeplay. Apart from these players, the Indian Captain Rahul Dravid has gained the tag of “The Wall” because of his footwork combined with excellent timing. So if you are dreaming of one day becoming like any of these great players, you surely know from where to start now. Well this is just the beginning.

One of the major advantages of having a good footwork is that it allows you to time the ball very well and place the ball perfectly in the gaps. Proper footwork enables you to be in the best position to hit any ball perfectly with your cricket bat. Work really hard on your footwork if you want to perfect the art of batting and hit different types of shot. Timing of your shots also becomes perfect if you have a good and proper footwork and sound technique.

A batsman must have the ideal grip to be able to play all the strokes properly. The ideal grip on the bat must be both the hands together at the handle of the bat. Make sure that your grip is neither too loose nor too tight. The correct grip allows you to bat with flair and also does not restrict you in playing any of the shots. So take care of the grip you have and see if you need to make any correction in your existing grip. Maybe the grip is that thing which is not working out properly for your batting.

Batting is one of the most exciting components of a cricket match. One way of perfecting your batting is through playing each ball according to its merit. It is not possible every time for a bowler to ball six good balls in an over and also it is very rare that you will receive six bad balls in an over. Remember it takes only one good ball to get you out. So watch each and every ball very carefully and watch out for balls that may prove for your undoing. Watch out for that ball.

Keep watching the ball in the bowlers hand till the ball is delivered. If you follow this meticulously you can very easily find out what type of ball the bowler is going to deliver. If you do this then you can be prepared in advance to face the type of ball being bowled to you and then adjust your footwork and shots accordingly. Always remember to follow cricket batting tips if you want to be a successful batsman.

Summary: - Cricket batting tips will surely make you a better batsman if you follow them properly. You can get the tips everywhere, from your coach, your playing mates and senior cricket players. You just need to implement the tips correctly if you want to perfect your batting.

6 Ways to Bowl Against Slogging Batting

The Slogging is the clichéd image of the burly guy in the village team who goes out to smash everything from beginning to end.

Mostly he fails and it’s a mess. He swipes across a straight ball and is sent packing.

Sometimes he succeeds, especially if he has a reasonable technique to go with the power. When that happens you have to outsmart and out-skill the batsman.

Here is how:

1. A do-or-die attitude

When you begin a spell with the Slogging at the crease you have to kill or be killed; bowl well or you will leak runs.

Throw everything you have. Bowl your heart out. Gear up and be on top of your game. Put more energy, effort and thought into you’re bowling. If you have the do-or-die attitude and you put everything you have, you will become a lethal weapon for your captain.

2. Observe the batsman

To outdo a Slogging you first have to know what he is doing.

• What are his techinical information
• Does he favour leg or off side?
• Does he calculate his hitting or he is slogging blindly?

When you know all these things, it becomes easy for you to script out your bowling strategy. You start bowling to the batsman in his least favourite area and get him out in no time.

3. Surprise and outplay the batsman

After the observing the batsman, when you get to know his strengths and weaknesses, it time for you to take your shots. Make life hard for him by bowling in the areas he doesn’t want you to bowl.

If a batsman favours hitting over long on and long off, drop in short and limit his shot making. Similarly if he is good in hooking, pulling or cutting, bowl fuller lengths to him.

4. Play the yorker/bouncer card

No matter how skilled a batsman is accurate yorkers and bouncers make them tremble. These two deliveries are ideal against slogging blacksmiths. They not only bog the batsman down but multiply the chances of him getting out.

5. Vary your speed

If you are bowling accurate lines according to batsman’s weaknesses, throwing in yorkers and bouncers, it’s not a bad idea to slip a slower ball every now and then to surprise the batsman. Also If he doesn’t know what’s coming next: a slower ball or at regular speed, he cannot pre-meditate a shot. 

All the great bowlers in the world like Dale Styen, Umar Gul and Shaun Tait etc, bowl exceedingly well against slogging. If you develop the skill of countering the slogs, you not only become a plus point for your team’s bowling attack you also sit in the heads of the opposition.

If they know that they won’t be able to score when they need to, they will obviously become very nervous and more likely to fail

6. Bowl with in the Stumps

When ever batsmen desiccated to hit on everything. 50% chance to miss the bowl. And the batsmen miss the make sure boll hit the stums. 

Run Out... hhuuuuuu

Being run out is probably one of the worst ways you can be dismissed - why? It's because the fielding team has just scored a free wicket by just doing what they're supposed to be doing... stopping the ball. Run outs can be easily avoided - that is why they're annoying, especially when you're on the receiving end of a shocking call, or a non-existent one.

With cricket being a team game, it's no surprise that teamwork is an essential facet in winning matches. Not only is team work fundamental in the field, it is also definitely a massive factor when you're out there with one other team member with the bat. If you've got a batsman at the other end who either: a) Doesn't call whether to run or not properly or b) Doesn't call at all (so you just see him/her ran at you in silence) you're definitely asking for it. And if you're one of those batsmen yourself, I'm not surprised if every one else hates batting with you.

So for all you mutes or confused callers out there, here are the essentials:
1) Call loudly - there's no point calling a run when you're saying it as if the guy at the other end has a sound gain device stuck to his/her head. Make sure they can hear it. The best way is to almost yell.

2) The three calls - There's also no point in going into a deep conversation when calling a run. It's either 'Yes', 'No' or 'Wait'. Nothing else. And when you say 'yes' you go, and when you say 'no' there's no use running down to the other end. That's why there's 'wait'. This is used to let the other batsman know that there might be a run possible and to be ready to go if for instance, the ball pierces a small hole in the field. Then either a 'yes' or 'no' decision can be made. The batsman who strikes the ball normally calls this one as he knows how well they have struck it as soon as the ball leaves the bat.

3) Who calls when? - Two basic rules. If the ball ends up behind the batsman facing, the non-striker calls the run. If the ball ends up in front of the striking batsman, then most likely they will make the better call. Simple.

4) Running between wickets - Always make sure that you're facing the ball, whilst you are turning, and that you're taking a sneak peek at the ball when you're running. Also, there's no use keeping this information on the whereabouts of the ball to yourself, let your partner know how many runs that could be possible from the shot, and go from there. Try not to leave at full pace after turning, always have a quick look and assess the risk of the next run. If you've smacked the ball close to the boundary, there's no point in pondering over the second run when you know there's an easy three runs in it... just use your common sense.

How to Choose a Bat You Are Proud Enough to Sleep With

The cricket bat is more than a lump of willow with a rubber handle. It is your only weapon in the quest for the runs you need to succeed.

No wonder so many batsmen love their blade so much they can’t even be parted with it at bedtime. It‘s like losing a beloved family pet when the time comes to replace it. Sometimes it has to be done. Sometimes tape and sandpaper and oil are no longer enough.

Take a deep breath and buy a new bat.

 

Selecting a cricket bat is tricky. Walk into any shop and look at the range of bats. They don’t seem too different. It’s easy to make a mistake. In my days I’ve been tricked into buying the wrong bats a few times. There are plenty of things to look out for.

Size

 

A bat either too big or small will not to your batting any favours. When you are buying a bat, stand into stance and play an imaginary straight drive. This will give you an idea if the bat is according to your size or not. If it is small you’ll notice when you take your stance. If it is big it will hinder the straight drive. You’ll know without much effort if the bat is the right size or not.

As a rule of thumb, if you are 5’9” or over (174cm) you can use a short handle/full size bat.

Shape of the handle

There are two shapes of bat’s handles. Some are round, others are oval. Both are fine as long as they are not misshaped. Before buying a bat, carefully examine the shape at the end of its handle. A misshaped handle will cause the bat to rotate in your hands after you play a shot.

The type of wood used

The cricket bat wood is categorised in grades (willow quality). Grade 1 plus is the highest quality of wood with all the necessarily oiling and polishing. It is normally used by professionals as it is expensive. In contrast Grade 4 is a rather roughly made willow without much lubricant treatment. The important thing to remember here is your budget. If you cannot buy G1 plus, do not sweat over it. Buy the quality you can afford. With the passage of time when the standard of your cricket goes up, you can go for higher quality.

Brand name

 

This is more of a personal liking thing than a technical one. All the quality brands have little difference in their products. If you buy a brand that you like, you will be extra proud of your stick. That is when brand name comes in.

Weight

 

The weight of the bat is the most important for you. Young players often buy too heavy bats. Your priority should be to buy the most light weight bat possible. Heavy bat won’t allow you to swing freely and you’ll shoulders will be stiff after a long stay at the crease.

By keeping these things in mind, you can buy a bat that can serve you for a long time to come. When you have a bat make sure you take good care of it. His cricket equipment is like a best friend to a cricketer. Just as teachers tell you to respect books to be knowledgeable, coaches tell you to respect your equipment to be a good cricketer.

The hierarchy of playing spin

How many good players of spin are there in club cricket?

I would hazard a guess there are very few.
Playing spin is difficult and takes practice, but good spinners are rare in the non-professional game and so batsmen don't get to face them much in the nets or in matches.

The result is batsman who can defend or slog, with not much in-between.

So how do you improve your play against spin with limited time to practice and play?

I think the easiest way to develop a game-plan is to treat playing spin techniques as a hierarchy of risk vs. reward.

1. Play straight with the spin

The underlying principle of playing spin is always the same: first play with the spin using the full face of the bat.

That means driving with a high elbow on the front and back foot. The exact target area will vary depending on the way the ball is turning.

Ball turning in: Look to drive/flick the ball in an area between midwicket and mid off. 
Ball turning away: Look to drive the ball in an area between cover and straight mid on. 
At this level simply wait for the over pitched or slightly short ball then get in position and swing the bat through the line towards the target area.

Simply playing like this will get you plenty of runs without having to do anything else.

2. Use your feet
Now imagine the spinner is tying you down enough so you are behind the rate you would like to be scoring at.

The first tactic is to use your feet to move down the wicket and turn a good length ball into a half volley that you can drive straight.

This is slightly riskier than staying in your crease because if you miss it you can be stumped, but because you are still playing straight you can pick up runs in your chosen scoring area (which hasn't changed).

Pick the right line to move and do it with confidence. You can find out more about how to move down the pitch to spinners here.

3. Sweep
Sweeping is a riskier way to score against tight bowling because you are playing across the line, which is why it's third in your list of options.

If the mid on and mid off are back and the ring fielders are tying you down then the sweep is a handy option to manipulate the field.

It's best played against a bowler pitching the ball on or outside leg stump with the ball turning away (for example left arm over to a right hander) because LBW is out of the picture. 

You can also sweep to the ball turning in if you hit it square.

If you are right handed the riskiest sweep is the off spinner bowling around the wicket (for left handers the risk is the left arm round bowler). This is because if the ball straightens and hits you in line you are likely to be out LBW.

If you want more tips on playing the sweep, look at this article.

4. Improvise
If you are looking to score quickly and off almost every ball (say at the death of a one day innings) you must take risks, however you can still look to score in safer areas, even when you are hitting sixes.

One way of doing this is the modern "forward press" of taking a small step onto your front foot just before the delivery. This means you have the option to move down the wicket and hit straight, or to go really deep in the crease on the back foot and drive or pull.

To the ball moving away you also have the option of cutting and late cutting safely if you are deep in the crease.

Other improvising options are:

Ball turning in: Move the front leg out to the leg side, opening yourself up to hit the ball over mid on or midwicket if it's full or square leg if it's on a length with a slog sweep. 
Ball turning away: If the line is leg side you can sweep or slog sweep the ball over midwicket. A straighter line means you can move down the wicket and hit with the spin over extra cover, going 'inside out'. 
The trick to playing spin well is to not try and move up the hierarchy unless you have to. If you can score at the required rate by sticking with number 1 then why take additional risks?

This is especially true if you have little practice time against decent spin. Focus on the basics of 1 and 2 then, if you have more time, start practicing 3 and 4.

How to become a professional cricketer (Pakistan edition)

This article was only possible thanks to the expertise of former First-class leg spinner Mohammed Haroon, who provided the insights into becoming a professional cricketer from Pakistan.

It's difficult to become a professional cricketer in Pakistan.

With such a deep love for the game, everyone in the country seems to want to play at the highest level.

Competition is hot.

So how do you go about making it as a professional if you live in Pakistan?

The structure of cricket in Pakistan

To make it as a professional, you need to play First-class cricket.

Most professional teams in Pakistan represent Pakistan companies (such as Habib Bank and Pakistan International Airlines) are known as 'departmental teams'. They play in a first class competition called Patrons Trophy. These are split into two grades.

There are also several regional professional sides taking part in the Quaid-E-Azam Trophy, this is also split into two grades.

The teams play between September and April every year.

In order to gain selection for one of these sides you will need to show potential at a lower level. Mostly this is at regional and national Under 19, although older players can break through.

As school and University cricket is on the decline in the country, this means scoring runs or taking wickets in club cricket is the key for a youngster to get selected in regional side.

Club games are played with passion. The 'season' lasts 12 month a year, with teams playing several limited over matches a week. It's common to net every day.

Clubs are run by volunteers, often former players, who put in huge amounts of effort, time and sometimes money to keep the sides going with no financial support from the PCB. These men are the unsung heroes of Pakistan cricket, unearthing and nurturing talent through to the highest level on nothing but love for the game.

However, despite these heroic efforts, club cricket is not formally structured to lead in into the top level like it is in Australia. This means getting the attention you need to make it is difficult. Talent is often overlooked because players perform in local competitions but their success is not noticed outside the local club matches.

To avoid this, talented players need to make sure they are playing for the right clubs with the best connections to departmental or regional sides. One such club is Ludhiana Gymkhana in Lahore, who has a history of producing International players like Wasim Akram, Atta ur Rehman and Ijaz Ahmed.

Another club; Sheikhupura Gymkhana has produced players like Mohammad Asif, Rana Naveed, and Aqib Javed. In Karachi club like Malir Gymkhana has produced players like Rashid Latif and Younus Khan.

As there is little in the way of formal coaching, you may also want to consider the online coaching options at PitchVision Academy, giving you access to top level coaches and a better chance of making it.

An alternative to this method is to enrol in a private cricket academy such as Pakistan Custom’s Cricket Academy in Karachi. There are very few of these and are expensive to attend. However, the standard is high so if you can afford it, this is an excellent route to the top.

Players who are spotted at club level can move on to professional cricket.

Becoming an overseas professional

In England there are more professional opportunities, so many Pakistani cricketers want to come to the country during the English summer (May-September).

Getting a work permit is very difficult and at the very least you will need to have played five First-class matches in the recent past (18 months). If you do qualify there are many non-professional clubs in England looking for good overseas players. To find out who these clubs are and what they are offering, contact an agency. We recommend CricX.

Of course, you can't make it without a certain amount of talent and a lot of dedication to improving. Something you can read more about in the last section of this article.

Finally, you need a thick skin to deal with setbacks.

However, with the right attitude, enough practice, a slice of luck and a subscription to PitchVision Academy's newsletter you have a shot.

Good luck.