Practicing in Front of a Mirror
At the beginning of the season there are a number of things that players can do to prepare themselves to play. These may include:
- Involvement with small ball games [eg. squash, table tennis] which will assist with footwork, concentration and eye and hand coordination
- Practise throwing and catching a tennis ball before progressing to a MILO Kiwi Cricket ball or incrediball, and then maybe an old cricket ball
- Practise batting and bowling in front of a long mirror
For the latter:
- Find a long mirror [or a window] where you can see your full reflection.
- Make sure you have plenty of room in all directions, including above you. Be careful not to hit furniture, walls or the ceiling.
- For batting:
- Place a set of stumps behind you and take up your batting stance facing the mirror.
- Check your stance [especially the position of your feet, head and eyes] and grip.
- Play a number of front foot strokes and/or back foot strokes against an imaginary ball while watching your backswing and downswing in the mirror. The bat should go back in line with the off stump. On completing your strokes check your finishing position, especially the position of your head, eyes, hands and feet.
- For bowling:
- Stand side-on, feet shoulder width apart, head towards the batter, hands together with the ball under the chin. Check in the mirror:
- Your grip
- The position of your head, eyes, hands, arms, front shoulder, hips and feet.
- From a stationary position bowl an imaginary ball:
- Watch the movement of your hands and arms
- Check the finishing position of your hands, arms, shoulders, hips, head and eyes