The young cricketers “the blood of the game” should be molded with a solid defense and correct technique. Once they develop a correct defense and technique each player can adopt their born talents and flair. Once the technique is right the player can then have his own style and so called natural game within the parameters of good techniques
Natural game

Present day context in batting this is the most commonly used word and where most of the coaches go wrong by letting younger generation adopt their own style with they develop by imitating looking at their idals. Each player will have their own style of batting and it is difficult for some one else to imitate a player ex. Sanath Jayasuriya.

Fundamental of batting is timing. When techniques and defense improve automatically timing improves, ex. Mahela’s favourite shot is the forward defense if we does not teach correct techniques and correct defense we cannot produce good players to the country.

As a coach no one can teach timing (hand and eye coordination and brain pulse transmission) which differ from player to player. But we can teach them the correct technique and other fundamentals of batting which will help them to improve their timing which is key to any successful batsman.

Presently why it is difficult to find players who can stay at the wicket and play long innings is due to the present day systems. From under 13 level coaches are compelled to push young players for slogging rather than developing techniques to get maximum number of runs within allotted overs to win matches, which will definitely decide his next contract with the school. Slogging and hitting hard is somewhat will work in junior level as its played on the matting and also the fielding and bowling is not at highest standards. But on the turf when ball start to swing players without proper techniques will find it difficult to survive. That’s the reason why most of the batsmen who score runs in junior level drop out at senior level

At younger age we should teach them the correct technique and develop a solid defense. Player who has a correct technique and a good defense will make less mistakes and stay longer at crease, longer you stay at the wicket you get more runs.

As a coach no one should coach flair (to imitate specialty player and play like him) this does not mean that younger players should not have role model players.

Today at top level bowling and fielding standards are very high on top of that technology is playing a vital part by analyzing batsman’s weak points which will always favour the bowler.

So to survive in these unfavourable conditions a batsman has to improve his techniques. If we coach our youngsters a good defense and correct technique we can produce players like Sangakkara in the future.
Wasantha Jayasekera,
Junior Cricket Coach,
St. Joseph’s College,
Colombo 10.