Training SEDCB - Joe Thompson

Another good session tonight at the freezing cold Fitzwymarc school sports hall. Again another very low turn out. Tonight they set the boys another one of those scenarios in the nets. T20 game; six of the boys were batting and six were bowling. They had two nets and the bowlers were being used in spells with one boy acting as the captain. The spare bowlers were in a third net doing throw-downs with the 'Yet to go in batsmen'. When you were out you rotated with batsmen in the 3rd net.

Captain kid chose Joe to open and Joe bowled well from the outset bowling an off-stump line or in the corridor or uncertainty area. Joe set a field with fine leg and no third man and after a couple of balls, the batsmen were guiding the ball through the 3rd man region so the coach suggested a re-think on his field positions and they came up with the field setting below...

The idea being that he was looking to get the batsman to drive through the space between point and extra cover and get an edge through to 2,3,4 or 5 with the protection of 3rd man at 6 for balls that get through. He bowled well and came away with 3 wickets, all of them going through to slips or the wicket keeper as planned.

At the end the trainers spoke to the boys as a collective. The bats had all been aware of the field positions and were asked why their batting figures were so low and they admitted that the bowling was good "They bowled a good line and length", the coach came back with 'Who bowled a good line and length and bowled to their plan'? A number of the bats nodded towards and said "Joe". Which is really helpful, as that would have massively encouraged Joe, that they had acknowledged his bowling with little encouragement and that'll now make Joe feel as though he has some function in the team, as the group dynamic is still a little cliquey and fractured as far as I can make out. So bit by bit I reckon Joe is feeling a part of the team and as though people are recognising his contribution, which is essential if he's going to do well, he needs to feel as though people believe in his abilities and want him to do well and expect him to do well. So again, another really good session for Joe. 

 Joe discussing the field settings with one of the Essex coaches (Scott).

It's a conspiracy!

Blimey! There's poor old Joe, a  year out of cricket with his leg injury and then when he's on the verge of a come back it sounds like there's not enough kids in his age group for the club to get a team together! They can't even cobble together a team with younger kids because they all play at the same time as the U11's on Sunday mornings, so there's no way that there's going to be enough U11's spare to joing the U13's. The other way round e.g. Joe getting a game in the U15's - that's not going to happen as the U15's is rammed packed with good players! We'll have to watch that and see how it goes.

What was good about the session was that G-Man was there doing the coaching and it sounds like he'll be around for the season on and off helping with the coaching, but not playing. Oliver Bybuke was there too which is good to see, as he's another one of my Protege's and one with potential as an all-rounder. He made a good account of himself facing some of the better bowlers, and coming away with a not-out whilst some of the upper order batsmen came and went, while he hung it out and put runs on the board. This was good for him as he lacks confidence in his abilities and all last summer after initially saying he's play in matches, he bottled out at the last minute, worried that his indiviudal performance would let the side down.

Hopefully this good start along with his Mums insistance that he plays this year or she's no longer bringing him, will see that he plays in a few games. As the weather clears up, I'll be doing as much as I can over at the paddock and at the Rec to ensure he gains some confidence.

4th XI

One of the blokes at the club mentioned the up and coming season, saying that there'd be plenty of cricket for me to look forward to over the summer, as there were more fixtures arranged this year for the 4th XI. On that front I'd been into Boots the chemist today looking at in-step/arch supports for this ropey foot of  mine. I'd found some, but could not believe the price... £26.00 or there-abouts, so I'm going to have to have a re-think on that front.