As mentioned before, practicing with net practice is one of the most important things you can do as a cricket player. Not only does it help develop your skills in the sport, but also helps improve your mental game.
The more times you practice batting with a bowling machine or net, the better you will get at it. That’s why it is very important to be prepared for your next net session!
Luckily, there are some great tips that can make sure you are never unprepared when doing so. Read on to find out what they are and how to implement them into your routine!
Image source: cricket-net-practice.com
Keep an eye on the ball
As seen above, one good way to prepare yourself for net practice is by keeping an eye on the ball. This way, you won’t have to worry about looking down which could cause you to drop a stroke.
Make sure to focus mostly on watching the top of the ball though, as going lower than needed is just wasting your time.
Practice your footwork
When batting with a net, chances are you’ll need to move around it. This means you’ll need to know where the net is and how to avoid it. Make sure to work on this in your training!
Knowing where the seam is and being able to predict where the bounce may take place is key to getting through a few balls.
Teach the correct technique
Even though there are many different types of cricket, net practice is still quite simple. Just because you never saw it done that way before does not mean it is wrong!
There are only two main things to focus on when practicing your net skills-ball control and timing.
Control refers how well you can manage the ball with both hands as it comes into contact with yours. You want to be able to hold onto it for as long as possible before throwing it or passing it back to a teammate. This will help you feel more confident going up against real size balls in an actual game.
Timing is just knowing what time frame you have to do something. For example, if the bowler runs at you top speed then you need to go ahead and run after his ball, but only for so long. Once he has let go then you must act quickly by picking off any loose shots or passes.
Be consistent
As mentioned before, practicing with your net cricket stick is one of the most important things you can do as a player. How often you practice will determine how well you are at this game!
Practicing with your own equipment is the best way to ensure that you’re doing everything right. It also gives you an opportunity to perfect all of the different shots with yours.
By practicing with someone else’s gear, you lose that personal touch and it may be easier for them to improve their technique because they don’t have your style or quirks of swing.
So, make sure to use your net cricket bat frequently! And if there’s anyone around who wants some tips, let them know about our article here so they can try out these practices for themselves. 🙂
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Focus on your skills
As mentioned before, practice makes perfect! If you are struggling to hit a cricket ball with the bat, try practicing with a tennis ball or a beachball.
You can also take some of your favorite shots and aim to do them as many times as possible without any help. This is helpful because it removes distractions and allows you to focus only on your shot.
Another good way to improve your batting is by working on different types of strokes. There are five main types of batsmen including pullers, cutters, loopers, hookers, and swimmers.
Knowing which type of stroke you struggle with can give you an idea of what areas you need to work on. By doing this, you will find that your self-confidence grows as you realize you know how to do at least one type well.
Equipment is important
As mentioned before, you do not need expensive equipment to start practicing! There are many great resources that can help you get started with cricket net practice. You do not have to own an upright bowler’s ball or a bowling machine to begin your journey as a cricketer.
Many sports stores will loan you their equipment so that you can try out different things without having to invest in anything major. They also sometimes offer discounts if you bring your own gear!
There are even ways to earn extra money by going into sports shops and selling or giving away equipment. All of these sources of income are very common and helpful for aspiring cricket players to know about.
General tips: Make sure to organize your equipment according to season and level. For example, winter nets should be organized into fast pitch, slow pitch, and green-grass pitches. Spring nets should be separated into one-wicket bowls and two-wickets bowls.
During summer, outdoor nets should be divided into short game (bumpers, back fence), long game (slopes, wide batsmen areas), and Twenty20 games (chinaman, circle bays).
Know the rules
While some people feel that watching cricket is enough, it is not! There are lots of different types of cricket that you can watch, so there is no need to skip this one unless you have already mastered the basics.
Most importantly, know what the laws of the game are! The Laws of the Game tell you how the field is set up, what kind of throws are allowed, when the bowler has to run back, and more. Make sure to look out for these during matches as well as net practice.
There will also be an umpire who will oversee everything happening around the pitch, make sure your foot position is correct before the ball is thrown!
Net practices are a great way to familiarize yourself with the game even if you do not play. It is also a good opportunity to learn about the sport since most of these sessions focus on the rules.
Have a plan to improve your skills
As mentioned before, practicing with the net is an integral part of cricket. If you do not practice using the net, then how would you know what areas need work?
Net practices are a great way to hone your skills as a cricketer. The best way to make progress is by having a goal. This can be for skill-based purposes or time-related goals (for example, to learn how to hit through a gap).
If you want to take your game up a level, set a goal to play against more experienced teams in lower levels of competition. Or if you want to become a better bowler, try and bowl less balls than usual to get some cost effective practice.
Stay hydrated
If you are looking to improve your cricket net practice, then one of the first things that you should do is make sure that you are drinking enough water.
Drinking eight glasses of water per day can help keep your body hydated, which helps promote weight loss and healthy digestion. Also, staying hydrated can aid in helping your muscles relax and function properly.
For some people, they find it difficult to drink enough water due to symptoms like thirst or dry mouth. If this is the case for you, try experimenting with different water bottles and see what works for you.
You can use the bathroom as we did before to determine if someone needs a glass of water. If you notice that they are thirsty, get them a cup.
Practice makes perfect
As mentioned before, practicing your cricket net skills is an integral part of becoming a better player. Once you have mastered the basics, it’s time to move onto more advanced concepts.
There are several ways to improve your cricket net game, so pick one that fits into your schedule and go after it with vigor!
Net practice can be done at home, in a dedicated room, or even outside if weather permits. Just make sure you don’t hit any people or things with the ball :).
Whatever method you choose, just focus on developing your skills and having fun. In fact, you could even try playing against yourself using the net as your boundary!
Hopefully you will soon reach the level where you feel confident enough to take the field and play some actual games.
