answered
Q: My son is 15 and loves cricket. During the off-season last year, he worked really hard on his batting.
He was opening the batting and really enjoyed it and wanted to get a lot better. But after two games and he scored 33 and 41 the coach said he batted too slow and for the rest of the season he was batting down the order and didn’t get many chances.
No, he says what’s the point of training this off season. It’s sad as he really does love batting and the game. What advice could anyone offer?
A: This is a very tough one. The situation reflects the modern era of cricket whereby limiting overs leads to coaches and managers looking for batsmen to attack the bowling. The only thought that comes to mind is to find a club that is prepared to give your son a go at the top of the order.
Drew Sommersby
3 weeks ago
question
Q: Mark Van Epen – my best captain
The best captain I played under was Keith Stimson at Balmain.
He was captain of the 3rd grade team at around 50 years of age. He played many years of first grade as a successful left hand bat and captained the 1st grade team for a number of seasons leading them to the 1st grade premiership in 1967/68. His oozed experience on the field and in the dressing shed.
He was always calm and read the game well, knowing when to attack, when to defend and when to try something different. He had the respect of the players through example and knew how to get the best out of his players.
Keith’s two best leadership qualities were reading the situation of the game and man management.
One specific example of his leadership was in a game against Uni of NSW in which we had 6 overs to get 55 runs to win outright. I wasn’t confident we could do it, but Keith was always positive and looking for a way to win.
I was an opening batsman and Keith batted 6. Keith said, “Mark you and I are opening, and we are going to get these runs”. After 5 and half overs we got the runs at 0-56, I was 5 not out and Keith was 51 not out.
Keith was a life member of the Balmain District Cricket Club and the new Sydney Cricket Club. He passed away in 2018, aged 92.
Mark Van Epen
4 months ago
question
Q: Mark Van Epen – my best captain
The best captain I played under was Keith Stimson at Balmain.
He was captain of the 3rd grade team at around 50 years of age. He played many years of first grade as a successful left hand bat and captained the 1st grade team for a number of seasons leading them to the 1st grade premiership in 1967/68. His oozed experience on the field and in the dressing shed.
He was always calm and read the game well, knowing when to attack, when to defend and when to try something different. He had the respect of the players through example and knew how to get the best out of his players.
Keith’s two best leadership qualities were reading the situation of the game and man management.
One specific example of his leadership was in a game against Uni of NSW in which we had 6 overs to get 55 runs to win outright. I wasn’t confident we could do it, but Keith was always positive and looking for a way to win.
I was an opening batsman and Keith batted 6. Keith said, “Mark you and I are opening, and we are going to get these runs”. After 5 and half overs we got the runs at 0-56, I was 5 not out and Keith was 51 not out.
Keith was a life member of the Balmain District Cricket Club and the new Sydney Cricket Club. He passed away in 2018, aged 92.
Mark Van Epen
5 months ago
question
Q: I remember reading a detailed piece on captaincy by a long term first grade captain at Sydney University back in the 1980s (can’t remember his name). His advice was never to over attack tailenders because they get themselves out. I put this into practice and it worked for me in 2nd grade level. Therefore, Greg Rowell’s bowling strategy to a semi attacking field. Not sure if this would work at the modern test level but Greg’s comments make me think yes.
https://www.cricconnect.com/question/574/stuart-broad-had-a-couple-of-his-magic-spells-during-the-first-test-but-did-he-get-his-tactics-wrong-with-the-new-ball-in-the-second-innings-in-hindsight-was-he-trying-too-hard-to-york-the-lower
Mark Van Epen
10 months ago
answered
Q: Stuart Broad had a couple of his magic spells during the first test but did he get his tactics wrong with the new ball in the second innings in hindsight? Was he trying too hard to york the lower order batsmen out when good lengths would have been more difficult. At this level, what sort of bowling troubles the lower order?
A: Some great comments there. One thing that is missing though is field settings for tailenders. I remember reading a detailed piece on captaincy by a long term first grade captain at Sydney Uni back in the 80s (can’t remember his name). His advice was never to over attack tailenders because they get themselves out. I put this into practice and it worked for me in 2nd grade level. Therefore, Greg Rowell’s bowling strategy to a semi attacking field. Not sure if this would work at the modern test level but Greg’s comments make me think yes.
blog post
I was playing a 2nd grade for Balmain against St. George at Hurstville Oval. I was fielding at silly leg and Andrew Jones was bowling with the new ball. Andrew was 19 at ...
answered
Q: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen happen in a game of cricket?
A: Captaining 2nd grade for Balmain one day. A big partnership had developed and my vice captain ”Thommo” asked me “how much would you like a wicket Mark”. I said I would kill for a wicket. Thommo responded “well give me an over and I will mankad the #*!#+”. I told him to go to fine leg.
The next season I was in 1st grade and Thommo was the 2nd grade captain. I looked in the paper on the Sunday to check how the other grades went. Under the 2nd grade results it stated under Mosman’s innings “A Milenko 62 (mankad)”. I rang Thommo up and asked him what happened. He said the opposition batsmen were in a big partnership. He gave himself one over and mankadded the opposition captain and the other batsman in his anger tried to hit him out of the park and skied one and got caught.
The year before I thought he was only joking.
CricConnect Fans
last year
answered
Q: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen happen in a game of cricket?
A: 1st grade game Balmain v Gordon at Drummoyne Oval. Was the greenest wicket anyone had ever seen. Mark O’Neill was batting against Andrew Jones and the ball flew off the wicket, hit him in the helmet and knocked him out. After awakening and reassuring us he was okay we told him the bad news that he was out as his helmet had fallen onto the stumps and dislodged the bails. Quick as a flash Mark pulled out a $20 note from his pocket and said “here is $20 so the groundsman can buy a lawn mower”.
CricConnect Fans
last year
answered
Q: What's the funniest thing you've ever seen happen in a game of cricket?
A: I was playing a 2nd grade for Balmain against St. George at Hurstville Oval. I was fielding at silly leg and Andrew Jones was bowling with the new ball. Andrew was 19 at the time and was one of the fastest bowlers in grade cricket. The batsman went for a full blooded on drive and got a thick edge straight into my mouth. The force removed one of my large upper front teeth and snapped two of my lower front teeth. I was a very sick guy and was rushed off to St. George Hospital where they stitched up my mouth and forced my two lower teeth upright. I then went to an emergency dentist to have exposed nerves removed and my two lower teeth glued together. I returned to Hurstville Oval feeling very unwell. My vice captain Terry McMahon quizzed me as to how I was feeling. I put on a brave face and said I was okay. He asked me for reassurance that I was okay and I said I was. Upon this Terry stated “you know what Mark, I reckon you should have swallowed that catch”.
CricConnect Fans
last year
