My little mate Josh, is a 14 year old batter. Josh loves the game and is has one of the best practice ethics in the whole school. A top boy.

Last night, the team I coach ran an experimental practice drill to improve game sense and raise the intensity of net practice. Here's how it went.

Last night at net practice, one of my team was sent in to bat. In one hand was his bat, and in the other hand was a bunch of cones. I had to ask what he was up to.

We have all heard good old coaching advice: Wait for the bad ball and put it away. But there is another way.

Picture the scene: You walk in to bat. A medium pace bowler stands at his mark while you take guard. You look around and see the classic ring field: everyone saving the single.

From beginner to advanced batsman, one of the most common flaws in driving is weight transfer.

But what is it, and how do you use it to hit your drives harder along the ground?

You wouldn’t go on a journey to a new place without a map. So, don’t go on your cricket journey without goals.

We are all well drilled in playing the forward defence, playing it to prevent the bowler from taking a wicket. In fact, it's a lot more useful than that.

Playing defensively spans everything from "none shall pass" drop to the feet, through to a defensive push that is designed to score runs. It's a shot with nuance that requires skill and practice to get right. ANd if you do it will increase your strike rate!

So, it's time to give the forward defence the time and respect it deserves and learn to play with both soft and hard hards to make more of those balls you can't smash.

You may recall a post-tour review undertaken by our U14 Keeper Batter, Jamie. Well, Jamie is back and he is the focus of a drill that I do to test a players psychological attributes as well as their technique.

Cricket has changed. Coaching needs to change with it.