Fascinating insights into the development of young cricket batsman

In Andrew Wu article in the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday 25 March 2021 former Australian Cricket captain Mark Taylor shared his views and concerns about the development of young batsman in New South Wales and how it could impact the Australian team.

SMH article - Serious Test batting void’: Taylor fears lack of rising NSW stars will hurt national team

 

As an avid supporter of the game I read with interest and found it refreshing that someone with the standing of Mark Taylor would air his views as it just maybe the catalyst for those in power to start listening.

To gauge the thoughts of other I posted the following on facebook with a link to the article

In my opinion, Mark Taylor is 100% correct and his views should sound a significant warning to all involved.

Cricket NSW -  time to act and rethink strategy on pathways, the importance of premier cricket and the coaching of juniors.

There's too many voices not to be listening. 

A little request if I may, please leave self-interest at the front door.  

Perhaps start with this question.  

Can a batsman be successful over an extended period of time in international and first class cricket if they don't have a sound technique and the attitude and desire to bat for 6 hours under any conditions in Premier Cricket?

 

Thankfully the post generated some healthy discussion, as you can see - facebook post

 

I also received private messages from two highly respected coaches currently working within the game and they provided fascinating insights.

I completely understand and respect their wishes not to personally engage in a public forum. They did however give permission for their insights to be shared.

 

Coach 1.

Producing First Class and Test batsman has become a lot harder for a couple of reasons.

Players are playing a lot of T20 cricket these days from a young age and throughout the NSW pathway, the mantra is to take the game forward, be aggressive, so batting time has become redundant. Any young player who can’t take the game forward is shafted. The young players then take this approach into Grade Cricket and top order batsman are getting caught at deep backward square in the first session of 1st grade cricket.

Cricket Australia dumped 2 day cricket from the U/17 and U/19 program a few years ago in favour of 1 day cricket so the focus is white ball cricket from all ends of the spectrum.

Is it any wonder as to why we are finding it harder to produce Test players?

If by the time you are 18 and all that you know is to be aggressive it is pretty hard to change your game.....adapt and bat time when the situation dictates.

Coach 2

The article is 100% correct. One glaring problem has been under the previous dictatorship of the flawed pathway system is the ease of players elevated to the next level without having performed at a premier grade cricket level.

The young players (and not their fault ) have not had to take of the gloves and do the hard yards instead are kissed on the rear end and therefore end up with over expectation and an over rated opinion of themselves.

Having scored a few runs in the pathway system, and with a poor premier grade cricket average they have a state cap something in the past you had to earn, which in the last few years has disappeared.

Covid and excuses has nothing to do with the problem that has been around for some years.

There are major faults in bio mechanics, technique and execution, all brought around by white ball cricket. The most disappointing thing is that kids who cannot play a correct off drive are taught to hit across the line, play inside out and why because the coaches see it on TV and then want to impose it on 12 and 13 year olds, instead of the basics on how to bat correctly.

These kids are the games future. 4 day cricket or 1 day cricket, the basics remain the same.

 

I really do hope people are listening.