The majority of cricket training is done in a group or team context. To participate in a session, players get together with their coworkers. Apart from that, there is the time-honoured "one-on-one" training approach, which involves a coach and a player working together for around one hour to concentrate on a particular facet of the game. Lastly, there is the possibility of participating in small group sessions with anything from two to five participants.
Which Option Is Superior?
Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each training method is crucial for determining the most suitable approach for you. Let's review them.
Squad Nets
Working together in a group allows for efficient and productive collaboration. It's no surprise that this is the most popular method of training. It's incredibly convenient.
It will be ideal for both younger players who are still learning tactics and senior players who wish to participate in friendly batting and bowling contests. When there are less than five people in training, the gathering might be categorised as a small gathering. It's really amazing to see more and more gamers getting together to play with each other.
This is the only structure that enables intermediate practice to be done in a practical setting. When players get together for team fielding practice, it is a beautiful opportunity for them to deepen their camaraderie.
From a cricketing perspective, it is always a pleasure to get together with your pals and engage in some playful banter regarding the sport.
In addition to these advantages, there are a few drawbacks.
It can be challenging to handle effectively. Players often tend to spend insufficient time batting and excessively long periods of bowling. Maybe the team's leg-spinner who bats 11 finds satisfaction in a brief moment at the crease and the majority of their time spent bowling, while the opening batter, who doesn't bowl, might experience a sense of frustration. During practice, not all players have the opportunity to bat.
Focused practice in particular areas might take time. Getting everyone on the same page during practice is challenging since everyone has different objectives. Identifying the kind of player you'll be facing will help you hone your abilities. Tailoring your focus to the specific tactics and strategies of your opponent will yield better results.
One-To-One Nets
A personalised solution to the challenges of team practice is a one-on-one session.
Here, you can fully concentrate on your goal: Finding the perfect person to train with will lead you to success. An excellent coach can provide precise ball placements, allowing you to practice bowling at specific targets. You can utilise tools like PitchVision or aim at a stump to receive immediate feedback on your performance. Feel free to take your time and explore different ideas in a secure and supportive setting.
Put, an hour-long, one-on-one session is much more productive than a three-hour group session.
However, it's not all positive.
Your training sessions appear to be distant from the dynamics of a real match, in addition to the lack of team cohesion and light banter that is present. One of the benefits you enjoy is that there are no other people in the vicinity who can put the same amount of pressure on you. Concentrating on certain elements diminishes the unexpected and thrilling character of a cricket game, which is a significant change.
Unless your coach is highly imaginative and experienced, one-on-one sessions might only be helpful if you work hard to make decisions and perform effectively under pressure. This is especially true if you struggle to make decisions.
The procedure for setting up these sessions might take a lot of work. There will be a cap placed on the number of one-on-one sessions that your team's coach can conduct in a given week if your team employs them. If there is a huge demand, you should take advantage of it. When increased in size, it could perform better.
In addition, to emphasise the significance of banter, it is essential to conduct training sessions together to achieve cohesive performance as a group. As a result, there may be better answers than one-on-one training for cricket players.
Small Group Nets
The middle ground consists of a compact group of two to five players. Here, you can enjoy the advantages of both other types of training without compromising much.
A lot of coaches offer five weekly small group sessions. They have a duration of one hour and are divided into two groups: batters and bowlers. Batters have the opportunity to enhance their batting skills by practising against the bowling machine, sidearm, and bowlers (when they are available). The bowlers have the opportunity to practise their aim, and if they become tired of bowling, they can also have a friendly match with their teammates. When a bowler is facing another bowler, they are more inclined to approach their batting in a more disciplined manner, focusing on playing according to the match situation rather than attempting to hit every ball aggressively.
This approach balances team bonding and individual focus, providing a unique and effective experience. To make it more feasible, the coach should consider reducing the time commitment (from 20 hours to five).
Admittedly, this compromise could be more flawless. If you're looking for an exclusive and personalised session, one-on-one is the ideal choice. If you enjoy collaborating with the entire team, then squad nets are a great solution. Small groups are an excellent choice for all other needs.
So, what's the conclusion here?
If you have the freedom to choose how you train, there are numerous options available. Usually, the coach will provide specific instructions on what to do, but if possible, it would be advantageous to explore various approaches:
- A squad net is an ideal tool for training together as a team, dividing up responsibilities, accommodating bigger groups, and honing your hitting and fielding abilities.
- For targeted skill development in a comfortable setting, individualised practice is the way to go.
- There is more opportunity for team bonding and role definition in smaller group nets than in squad nets, and everyone can focus more closely on the game.
The ideal solution involves incorporating elements from all three options and finding a balance that suits your specific needs for improvement. Collaborate with your coach or captain to find a resolution that benefits both you as an individual and the entire team.