Ask the Readers: What is your role?
What is your role in your cricket team? Leave a comment in the comments section to discuss it.
On PitchVision Academy we often discuss the importance of knowing your role in the side. In many teams this is not clear beyond the instructions of scoring runs and taking wickets. Players end up confused at how they are supposed to play.
So today I want to know if your own role in the team is clear, and if it is, what is it?
For example, I'm the captain and wicketkeeper in my club team and I see my role as the heartbeat of the team in the field. I want to keep the team energy up when we flag and help get the best from my bowlers by making sure they are clear what I want from them at any point in the innings.
My batting is weaker than my 'keeping so I tend to bat down the order and avoid big hitting situations. My strength is my defence so I'm useful for saving games that would othewise be lost. The big hitters in the team know I'll always throw them in ahead of me if the situation demands it.
That's my specific role, but I want to know yours.
Some example of roles I have seen successfully used in club and school cricket are:
- Strike bowler: wickets more important than runs given away.
- Miserly bowler: Bowl lots of maidens, keep the rate down.
- Dour opening bat: see off the new ball.
- Big hitter: Score quick runs against weaker bowling in the middle of an innings.
- Specialist ring fielder: Put pressure on the batsman with diving stops and run out chances.
- Team cheerleader: Keeping a side going when there is nothing happening
- Unofficial Coach: The guy who runs the warm up drills before play if there is no coach on hand
You get the idea. There are plenty more.
Now it's over to you.
What is your role in the side? Leave a comment and let us know.
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Comments
I'm an Off-spinner so mostly I am there to rest the pacers, change tempo with the hope (knock on wood ) not give away to many runs. But deep in my heart I know I am there to take wickets.
hi
i am ayush from Bangalore.I am very keen to improve my batting.Many of my teammates and coaches appreciate me a lot but i don't really believe in myself.Can u please tell me a method or drill that i can use to believe in myself.And as i told u i am very keen to improve but i practice only twice a week ,that is on weekends,in a cricket institute.in my school we have practice sessions daily but nothing really serious happens.So can u tell me some ways that i can practice at home not not just mentally, but even physically with the help of another person.
or can u tell me how i can make the best use of the 2 days that i have??
I'm a prime all-rounder for my school team. My roles in the team are mainly:
as strike bowler- I am expected to take wickets through seam & swing (if not present, through line & length and speed), without giving any easy runs or extras.
as a middle-order batsman - I am there in the middle order(1-4 down usually) and my role usually is to play out the designated overs, pacing my innings and playing according to the situation. If these is a hitter at the other end, I give him strike, other times I take charge.
as key fielder- As I am one of the best fielders, I am placed in key positions and I am expected to cut out any easy runs and take the half chances when they come.
In the words of my captain "i am an amazing keeper and a pretty good bat"
Wicket Keeping- since the threat bowlers on our teams are our spinners, i am expected to take many close edges and stumping chances(in fact i lead my league in stumpings). keeping up to the stumps to our medium pacers are a must seeing as we have many. we have just 2-3 really fast men so basic glove work for those guys.. and like all good keepers should, i encourage my bowlers, spot straying fielders, offer advice to the captain and just keep the boys on tempo!
Batting- i bat 6-7 usually, and can (and have) opened the bat if need be. No matter where im batting in the order, my job is to be the rock and anchor. stay up there and bat long!! i pride myself on my defensive strokes and driving shots, ill score slow sometimes but i will score a decent amount of runs! a usual scenario for me entails coming in when its around 98/5 if me and the all-rounder dont make a decent partnership, the game usually gets tight!
funny that you mention bowling dave, because i bowl some mean off breaks, and my team mates will tell you. im pretty sure one day my captain will have me trade the gloves for the ball for an over or 2 during a game
I like to describe myself (somewhat tongue in cheek) as a leg bye specialist.
I bat in the 3-6 area and use my nuggety application and annoying left handedness to work the ball around and get the filfy sloggers back on strike. Although, with Gary's coaching from last Friday in the bank, I'm thinking about remodelling myself as a classy stroke maker.
My second string ability is to dive around like a loon and hurt myself for the enjoyment of others. If I do well and make a great stop, it lifts the fielding effort. If it doesn't go well, at least it puts a few smiles on a few faces.
I'm an opening bowler in a social team. I seem to be first or second back-up opening bat too due to my willingness to play straight and with not a lot of risk - much like Nor_From_Boston there. Would bat anywhere from 6 to 10 normally, and will probably be shuffled down a bit if the slog overs are on.
I play 4 games a week for 2 different clubs, either 20, 40 or 50 over affairs normally.
My role:
First change left arm orthodox spin bowler
Attacking left-handed batsman either at 1, 3, or 5
Slip, cover or mid off/on
Vice-captain in charge of field placings (skipper decides batting order and bowling changes)
Coach during the off season (as the only mug with a coaching qualification)
Don't you like even numbers AB?!
What starts out as mere coincidence often becomes immutable superstition!
i m a good right handed batsman and plays the game fast and i m a medium pace bowler