Online Profile: Oliver Ashton
RHB
Whitley Hall CC

27/2/17
Batting

The objective of the session was for Oliver to have the opportunity to hit balls once again, build his appetite for batting back up once again as well as his confidence after such a lengthy absence from playing.

Oliver showed he has good hand-eye coordination and the ability to hit the ball well at times. 

In order to play the ball effectively on the front foot it is beneficial to create a stable, strong, well balanced position - courtesy of a comfortable and purposeful stride forwards towards the line the ball is approaching on, quite close to the ball enabling head to get over the ball on that line and weight to transfer through on that line/angle.

Oliver did set this up at times and hit the ball well, but did at times tend to send quite a bit of weight downwards, which would be more useful to transfer this through the ball to gain a better contact more often.
​Opportunities for improvement:

​- In stance/setup, try to manage the bat in backswing, does try to push outwards a little towards the angle of slip - this can then encourage pulling slightly leg side if not managed efficiently on the downswing (can also be encouraged with a strong, dominant bottom hand also). Bat ideally straight or over off stump at its widest, to provide the opportunity to gain a good contact at ball striking.

- Balls angled in towards your legs in stance, try to challenge yourself to get them as straight as possible (full thickness of the bat - especially early doors in your innings; less risk). Trying to work balls through mid-wicket region can be encouraged as above top when the bat pushes out towards slips on back swing.

- Back leg has a tendency to collapse at times encouraging weight to go downwards and also increase the likelihood of making contact away in front of the body and therefore hitting upwards.

- Try to remain a little more upright in general when playing the ball, as well as the above back leg collapsing sending weight downwards, head and hands tend to get a little low quite early again meaning that weight is going downwards when in an ideal world want to gain as much going straight through the ball to benefit the type of contact gained when ball striking.