Online Profile: Kade Fletcher
RHB / RA Seam
Thorncliffe
Batting v Spin:
- Positive, without looking to be reckless (unless the game situation dictates that high risks are a necessity of course)
- Try to encourage getting on the front foot as much/often as possible to prevent the likelihood of getting trapped on the crease through being indecisive, given your height advantage and stride length. So often you should have the time to rock onto the back foot, using the depth of the crease to defend, punch, cut or pull still even with a potential slight forward press in weight.
- Be prepared to use your feet (positive), but more after trying to see how much the ball is tending to spin off the surface which will then enable you to make clearer decisions about where you could look to play - i.e. not spinning = consider play as a seamer, if turning big, then understand your 'hitting areas' with the spin first, but if you are going against the spin, is it full enough to negate? Or short enough to still allow for spin and get against the way it's turning?
- When using your feet it's important to understand it's not an 'All or nothing' type of movement and that you can still hit the ball powerfully and positively through keeping it on the floor. Practice as much as possible calculating balls which you feel are in an area to get underneath and gain the elevation to hit over the infield, and when balls are difficult to get underneath as you may have got too close too it then consider manipulating or just defending (by just showing a willingness to use your feet you are making the bowler think - irrespective of what your shot selection is). Consider the surface in these as well - how much is the ball likely to bounce (as well as the spin, of course).
- If/when hitting over the top, try to keep head as still as possible, eyes remaining level and keep your shape (this will be harder if genuinely looking to clear the ropes). This then still gives you the opportunity to hit both sides of the wicket, advancing down the wicket will always likely encourage head to fall off-side, and subsequently then hands to drag across the ball towards the leg side (unless ball is wide outside off).
- Sweep: Less riskier options, but certainly a scoring option to balls outside leg stump which should take LBW out of the equation and also a reduced risk of being bowled (consider amount of spin). Could be a go to option, if you feel like your options are limited through a bowler bowling extremely well, making it difficult to advance down the pitch by bowling it quite flat, and turning consistently (not many of these bowlers around outside of First Class level!).
In a nutshell - have a good plan of where you are looking to get the ball, whether for 1's/2's etc or where could you boundary options be, based on what the bowler is trying to do and how they have their field set. BE POSITIVE!
- Positive, without looking to be reckless (unless the game situation dictates that high risks are a necessity of course)
- Try to encourage getting on the front foot as much/often as possible to prevent the likelihood of getting trapped on the crease through being indecisive, given your height advantage and stride length. So often you should have the time to rock onto the back foot, using the depth of the crease to defend, punch, cut or pull still even with a potential slight forward press in weight.
- Be prepared to use your feet (positive), but more after trying to see how much the ball is tending to spin off the surface which will then enable you to make clearer decisions about where you could look to play - i.e. not spinning = consider play as a seamer, if turning big, then understand your 'hitting areas' with the spin first, but if you are going against the spin, is it full enough to negate? Or short enough to still allow for spin and get against the way it's turning?
- When using your feet it's important to understand it's not an 'All or nothing' type of movement and that you can still hit the ball powerfully and positively through keeping it on the floor. Practice as much as possible calculating balls which you feel are in an area to get underneath and gain the elevation to hit over the infield, and when balls are difficult to get underneath as you may have got too close too it then consider manipulating or just defending (by just showing a willingness to use your feet you are making the bowler think - irrespective of what your shot selection is). Consider the surface in these as well - how much is the ball likely to bounce (as well as the spin, of course).
- If/when hitting over the top, try to keep head as still as possible, eyes remaining level and keep your shape (this will be harder if genuinely looking to clear the ropes). This then still gives you the opportunity to hit both sides of the wicket, advancing down the wicket will always likely encourage head to fall off-side, and subsequently then hands to drag across the ball towards the leg side (unless ball is wide outside off).
- Sweep: Less riskier options, but certainly a scoring option to balls outside leg stump which should take LBW out of the equation and also a reduced risk of being bowled (consider amount of spin). Could be a go to option, if you feel like your options are limited through a bowler bowling extremely well, making it difficult to advance down the pitch by bowling it quite flat, and turning consistently (not many of these bowlers around outside of First Class level!).
In a nutshell - have a good plan of where you are looking to get the ball, whether for 1's/2's etc or where could you boundary options be, based on what the bowler is trying to do and how they have their field set. BE POSITIVE!
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BATTING
Shown he is capable of hitting the ball very well and his hand-eye coordination especially very good. Times the ball effectively despite not always getting in strong positions for someone of such a tall stature (i.e. not necessarily getting a good stride into good length and/or full’ish length balls).
Can be a little tentative when defending the ball and as such plays very late and as seen, is running the risk of potentially missing it by looking to play so late, or make contact as the bat is still on the downswing and then at risk of hitting onto the stumps.
Strong bottom hand (as many people are) and can tend to lack strength from his top hand and respective wrist/forearm to enable a clean contact on the ball consistently (but can strike the ball very well) so on occasions can come through the ball in a ‘slicing’ manner (can be encouraged by front foot and shoulder being ever so slightly open in setup).
Strong area outside off-stump where Kade likes to release his hands, can hit well in that area despite again footwork not always getting him as close as maybe he could.
Opportunities for improvement:
Shown he is capable of hitting the ball very well and his hand-eye coordination especially very good. Times the ball effectively despite not always getting in strong positions for someone of such a tall stature (i.e. not necessarily getting a good stride into good length and/or full’ish length balls).
Can be a little tentative when defending the ball and as such plays very late and as seen, is running the risk of potentially missing it by looking to play so late, or make contact as the bat is still on the downswing and then at risk of hitting onto the stumps.
Strong bottom hand (as many people are) and can tend to lack strength from his top hand and respective wrist/forearm to enable a clean contact on the ball consistently (but can strike the ball very well) so on occasions can come through the ball in a ‘slicing’ manner (can be encouraged by front foot and shoulder being ever so slightly open in setup).
Strong area outside off-stump where Kade likes to release his hands, can hit well in that area despite again footwork not always getting him as close as maybe he could.
Opportunities for improvement:
- Stance/Setup looks well balanced, perhaps look at creating slightly more distance with feet separation to encourage a slightly bigger stride when playing front foot (looks a little narrow for someone of his height, which can make it a little harder to work with a comfortable stride when length of the ball pitching allows).
- When defending, ensure still committing to the shot, not just playing tentatively and feeling for the ball. Ideally to either seam or spin, bat just in front of front pad showing positive intent.
- Try to allow hands the opportunity to work together, as opposed to sometimes strong bottom hand pulling through the ball and top hand giving way (creating a pulling affect with the bat trying to work across towards mid-on/mid-wicket angle). Back yourself to be in a strong position and time the ball.
- Balls attacking the stumps – Try to remain a little more upright with head position to offer the opportunity to play down the ground (full face = less risk) rather than falling over slightly which can encourage playing through mid-wicket (and therefore across the line). Something to be very careful about doing to seam bowling, especially early doors.
BOWLING
Kade can clearly bowl at good pace and will most likely challenge the majority of batsman of, or around his age. His run up creates a good amount of momentum and is purposeful
Opportunities for improvement:
Kade can clearly bowl at good pace and will most likely challenge the majority of batsman of, or around his age. His run up creates a good amount of momentum and is purposeful
Opportunities for improvement:
- Kade could gain more from both his front arm and bowling arm through his front arm being stronger and pulling down vertically with more purpose and also his bowling arm momentum through a stronger and more purposeful ‘load up’ all the way around into his bound and through delivery. At present he is only benefiting his arm coming half way around in his bound.
- Alignment; Generally well aligned with a side on action and top & bottom half’s are match up quite well. But Kade could try to focus on remaining a little more upright in his action to allow more opportunity to create greater forward momentum (falling away slightly, which is understandable as he is trying to create maximum torque from his arms – but could generate plenty by staying upright and create power from the ground all the way up his body). Alignment drills would encourage this and gain a better feeling for standing a little more upright, driving over front leg.