Good morning all,

Well done on a competative weekend with some excellent performances. We didn’t get the results we wanted however that will take care of itself if we nail the fundamentals below.

Clearly we are in a rebuilding phase with lots of exciting young talent coming through. This bodes really well for the future providing we lay the foundations properly now.

This means we need to get the below items right!

• Senior players attending training regularly. Last Wednesday there were 6 girls from top 3 grades present. I’m sure many of you have valid reasons however this is not representative of a committed group.

If you cant be there for 5.05pm or 530pm getting along at 6pm for a solid 30 mins is better than nothing.

You wont improve if you don’t practice unfortunately and are letting your team and club mates down (unless you have a valid reason of course).

• Nailing the basics: We need to play straight , bowl straight and throw straight! Once you can do these things comfortably then we can expand the skill sets.

•Bowling straight: Too many girls are practicing slower balls etc when we need to be able to land a stock ball consistently first. Slower balls are a variation to the consistent stock ball.

•Playing straight: The most important thing while batting is to keep your wicket. You cant score runs sitting on the side line.

This means you block the good balls and hit the bad ones. This decision process defines all innings!

We need to be working on footwork. Getting forward and weight into the line of the ball when full. Back and across with when the ball is shorter.
Hit the ball into gaps and clearly understand where your pressure release singles are.

YOU MUST KEEP YOUR HEAD STILL WHEN HITTING THE BALL!

•Fielding : Attacking the ball and getting two hands down. If however the field is very bumpy let the ball come to you more in case of a bobble.

Get the ball in the air quickly as this stops the batsmen taking the extra run.

Point your non throwing arm at the target and get elbow level with shoulder.

•Fitness and running between the wickets:

From 505pm every Wednesday you have the chance to do 25 mins of Cricket specific fitness training. Short sharp sprints and bodyweight exercises.

Nobody is judging current fitness levels we just want to see improvements across the club.

This will give us a huge advantage!

Think how many runs we can save and steal if we are faster and fitter than the opposition.

Most games are won and lost in the later overs when fatigue sets in and thought processes breakdown.

Going forward please email or text your Captain if you cant make training for any reason. This makes you accountable to your teammates and shows you are invested the group.

This is now a requirement for all senior playing girls in grades 1,2,3.