What We Could Learn From Warner - Dedicated To Chittimallu!

[krldr871]

On Sunday, I fly to Adelaide for the fourth Test between India and Australia. I'm due to arrive just in time for the first ball. I hope the plane isn't late: [url="http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/219889.html"]David Warner[/url] might have scored a hundred by lunch.
In smashing 180 off 159 balls [url="http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/518952.html"]in Perth[/url], Warner proved quite a few people wrong - not least those who said that Twenty20 would never produce a Test cricketer. Warner, of course, played T20 for Australia and in the IPL long before making the step-up to Test cricket - well, I suppose it's up to him to judge whether it's a step up.
We've all heard the arguments against the Warner career path: that T20 ruins technique rather than developing it, that you have to learn to bat properly before you can learn to smash it, walk before you can run etc.
But the naysayers may be wrong. The Warner story reveals deep truths about how players bat at their best. In fact, I think it is time we reconsidered the whole question of what constitutes good technique.
Cricket gets itself in a tangle about the word. In football, technique is short-hand for skill. Pundits explain how Cesc Fabregas' brilliant technique allows him to make the killer pass or eye-catching volley. Technique is not the enemy of flair and self-expression: it is the necessary pre-requisite. "Technique is freedom," argued the ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky.
Sadly, the word "technique" in cricket is often used as short-hand for controlled batsmanship, even introspection. It is true that some great technicians are very controlled players (think of Rahul Dravid - though even he plays best technically when he is positive). But it is not compulsory that good technique has to be accompanied by caution or repression. After all, Adam Gilchrist had a wonderful technique: there is no other explanation for how he managed to hit the ball in the middle of the bat quite so consistently.
In fact, good technique has a very straightforward definition: it is the simplest, most efficient way of doing something.
Andre Agassi had near-perfect technique on his groundstrokes. He could hit with exceptional power and consistency. How did he learn this technique? When Agassi was a boy, his father used to get him to hit thousands of tennis balls as hard and as cleanly as possible. "Hit it, Andre!" That was the essence of his coaching. If you learn how to hit the ball hard in the middle of the racket, you have to move your body and feet into the right positions to do so. In the same way, Jack Nicklaus summed up his approach to learning golf: "First, hit it hard. Then we'll worry about getting it in the hole."
I should have remembered Agassi and Nicklaus when I was out of form as a batsman and needed to go back to basics. Not only did I suffer prolonged periods of bad form, I would often get out in similar ways - nicking off to the slips, or getting trapped lbw. There were usually plenty of theories about what I was doing wrong. As one coach memorably put it to me, "If you stop getting caught and lbw, you'll be a top player." Er, yes: it would take great ingenuity to get bowled or run out throughout your career!
Many coaches tried to persuade me to change my shot selection. But that rarely helped. When I was nicking off, it was usually because I was driving badly rather than driving at the wrong ball. And I was a far less good player when I was knocked off my instinct to play positively. I came to realise that good form was a very simple issue, almost binary - like a switch that just needed to be clicked back on.
Here comes the difficult part that used to get me into trouble. I learnt that the best way to click the switch back on, to get back into the groove of playing well, was to practise driving on the up. You've probably guessed why it got me in trouble. Imagine a situation in which I had failed three or four times in a row, each time caught in the slips, and the coach walks into the nets and sees me…practising drives! I'd sense him thinking: "Doesn't he ever learn?"
But I knew what worked for me, and I think there are good reasons why it worked. To play at my best, I needed to get into good positions to attack. Why? Because when I was in position to attack, I was inevitably in a good position also to defend. But when I set out my stall to play a defensive shot - before the ball was even bowled - then I not only attacked badly, I also defended badly. Having the intention of defending caused me to be passive and late in my movements. The shot would almost happen to me, rather than me determining the shot.

On the other hand, having the intention of attacking was a win-win: I defended [i]and[/i] attacked better. I would set myself to play positively, which had the effect of giving me more time at every stage of the shot.
I think many players are the same. The key to their batting - whether it is defence or attack - is the question of [i]intent[/i]. That has nothing to do with recklessness, or even scoring rate. Intent merely determines the messages you send to your brain. Imagine batting as a series of dominos that culminates in the ball being struck. The very first domino, the critical one that begins the whole process, is not physical, but mental. We might call it your "mental trigger movement".
I know it sounds ridiculously simplistic - technique from kindergarten - but many players find that the best mental trigger movement is setting themselves to move towards the ball to strike it back in the direction that it comes from. That does not mean you [i]commit[/i] to lurching onto the front foot or playing a drive; you still react to whatever is thrown at you. But your intent is positive and pro-active.
Greg Chappell used the science of physiology to examine the connection between intent and good execution. He studied the preliminary movements of the world's greatest players. Though they all had unique styles and methods, their techniques shared one common thread: at the point of delivery, they were all pushing off the back foot, looking to come forward. Chappell argued that this trait gives great players optimal time to judge length. Why? Because a full ball is released from the bowler's hand early, a short ball is released later. So when batsmen set themselves for the full ball, they will inevitably have time to adjust for the short ball.
Here is my heretical conclusion: by encouraging them to have the intention of striking down the ground with a proper backlift and swing of the bat, T20 may help batsmen get into some good technical habits. Admittedly, T20 will not develop the refinements of sophisticated Test match batting, such as soft hands and the ability to concentrate for six or seven hours. But in terms of basic technique, there is a lot to be said for keeping cricket as simple as possible. The foundation is positive intent and a clear head. In short, we could all learn something from Warner.
The counter-argument is that Warner is a freak of nature, and that no one should try copying him just yet. Either way, I can't wait to watch him in Adelaide and judge for myself.

[pirra_gichhutha]

already indhake chadiva idhi...I agree...but andaru warner lu kaaleru...and also we cannot expect our Indian players to be like warner...endhukante we cant compare the killer instinct of aussie players with our Indian players....however great our individual players like sachin or rahul be, but killer instinct ki vachhe sariki vallu kooda bacha gallaina new aussie players mundhu paniki raaru....

[krldr871]

[quote name='Chittimallu' timestamp='1326943464' post='1301322312']
already indhake chadiva idhi...I agree...but andaru warner lu kaaleru...and also we cannot expect our Indian players to be like warner...endhukante we cant compare the killer instinct of aussie players with our Indian players....however great our individual players like sachin or rahul be, but killer instinct ki vachhe sariki vallu kooda bacha gallaina new aussie players mundhu paniki raaru....
[/quote]

Ittanti instinct ee sachin ki 90s lo undedi..aa bhayankaramaina aggression, ee situation nunchi ayina gelicheyyali ani..of course not to the extent of aussies anuko..I agree partially..kani IPL meeda blame antha tosesi oorkolemu..A tours unnayi, make the ranji more competitive..Aus SA nunchi pitch lu techkondiii..curator ni techkoni bouncy wickets cheskondi..chala cheyyachu bhayya, we have the money too..blame bcci more and not T20 all the time..

[pirra_gichhutha]

[quote name='John Galt' timestamp='1326943704' post='1301322332']

Ittanti instinct ee sachin ki 90s lo undedi..aa bhayankaramaina aggression, ee situation nunchi ayina gelicheyyali ani..of course not to the extent of aussies anuko..I agree partially..kani IPL meeda blame antha tosesi oorkolemu..A tours unnayi, make the ranji more competitive..Aus SA nunchi pitch lu techkondiii..curator ni techkoni bouncy wickets cheskondi..chala cheyyachu bhayya, we have the money too..blame bcci more and not T20 all the time..
[/quote]

oka difference undhi mama which u r missing...im blaming IPL but not T20 as a whole....nenu already ninna oka reply lo annanu that T20s now and then are fine but 2 whole months of IPL is bad ani....appudapudu crowd ni entertain cheyyadaniki aadithe not bad but IPL has become an overkill....here IPL = BCCI so nenu indirect ga bcci ne antunna

moreover provided the money thats being pumped into IPL do u think any new upcoming player will be interested in playing test cricket anymore? Is there any guarantee that we can see classical test players like RD, VVS etc in future. Prathi okkadu inka IPL ni mind lo pettukone aadatam start chestharu (at least Indian youngsters) as it fetches quick money and more popularity

[krldr871]

[quote name='Chittimallu' timestamp='1326943958' post='1301322352']

oka difference undhi mama which u r missing...im blaming IPL but not T20 as a whole....nenu already ninna oka reply lo annanu that T20s now and then are fine but 2 whole months of IPL is bad ani....appudapudu crowd ni entertain cheyyadaniki aadithe not bad but IPL has become an overkill....here IPL = BCCI so nenu indirect ga bcci ne antunna

moreover provided the money thats being pumped into IPL do u think any new upcoming player will be interested in playing test cricket anymore? Is there any guarantee that we can see classical test players like RD, VVS etc in future. Prathi okkadu inka IPL ni mind lo pettukone aadatam start chestharu (at least Indian youngsters) as it fetches quick money and more popularity
[/quote]

Anthe mari..janalu edi chuste, danike demand ekkuva..they r all professional cricketers so they have to opt for T20..bcci kuda profit making company ee in many ways..and there is nothing wrong in tht, and they have no option as well..neku antha revenues vastunte why wouldn't u do it..kani young cricketers ni adigite, like kohli, rohit, raina, rahane, they feel proud to represent India in tests..test cricket is the ultimate test of talent and character..so people who r passionate abt cricket will definitely adjust their game to suit the needs of test cricket..i'm very confident..1 year aagu, RD and Laxman will retire and we will see a stable batting lineup emerge..when sachin retires, the transformation should be complete..

[kingmakers]

endhi galt ee sollu anta

[pirra_gichhutha]

[quote name='John Galt' timestamp='1326944197' post='1301322368']
Anthe mari..janalu edi chuste, danike demand ekkuva..they r all professional cricketers so they have to opt for T20..bcci kuda profit making company ee in many ways..and there is nothing wrong in tht, and they have no option as well..neku antha revenues vastunte why wouldn't u do it..kani young cricketers ni adigite, like kohli, rohit, raina, rahane, they feel proud to represent India in tests..test cricket is the ultimate test of talent and character..so people who r passionate abt cricket will definitely adjust their game to suit the needs of test cricket..i'm very confident..1 year aagu, RD and Laxman will retire and we will see a stable batting lineup emerge..when sachin retires, the transformation should be complete..
[/quote]

Ya nenu anedhi adhe...motham meedha cricket ni sanka naakinchesaru ani...

[Bhayya]

Paina Agassi/Jack Nicklaus gurinchi icchina example enta varaku correct ooo ardam kaatledu bhayya...

Oka simple real life example... Nuvvu evariki anna car driving nerpistunnav anuko... First Control anandi nerpistava? Speeding nerpistava?

I believe - Appadam vacchinanka enni experiments anna cheyyocchu driving la...

Similarly, control occhinanka enni kotta shots anna try cheyyocchu...

Kaani players like Sehwag, Dhoni, Warner, Gayle are different emo!!!

[pirra_gichhutha]

[quote name='subba rav' timestamp='1326945055' post='1301322447']
Paina Agassi/Jack Nicklaus gurinchi icchina example enta varaku correct ooo ardam kaatledu bhayya...

Oka simple real life example... Nuvvu evariki anna car driving nerpistunnav anuko... First Control anandi nerpistava? Speeding nerpistava?

I believe - Appadam vacchinanka enni experiments anna cheyyocchu driving la...

Similarly, control occhinanka enni kotta shots anna try cheyyocchu...

Kaani players like Sehwag, [color=#FF0000]Dhoni[/color], Warner, Gayle are different emo!!!
[/quote]

[Bhayya]

[quote name='Chittimallu' timestamp='1326945132' post='1301322454']


[/quote]

Pak meeda 149,
SL meesa 183 kottina roju em anukunnav bhayya?

[krldr871]

[quote name='KINGMAKERS' timestamp='1326944233' post='1301322370']
endhi galt ee sollu anta
[/quote]

nice article baa.. ippudu warner gadini suste kaaluddi anuko, adi vere vishayam

[pirra_gichhutha]

[quote name='subba rav' timestamp='1326945373' post='1301322478']
Pak meeda 149,
SL meesa 183 kottina roju em anukunnav bhayya?
[/quote]

nijam cheppalante vadu vachina starting lo keka ane anukunna....manaki gilly lanti keeper dorikadu anukunna....but vadi overseas performance choosaka asalu bhayya talent endho ardham ayindhi .....vadiki naku thelisi okka century kooda ledhu out of sub continent...that itself speaks volumes about him...I mean with so many records in sub continent versus nothing abroad

[pirra_gichhutha]

[quote name='John Galt' timestamp='1326945518' post='1301322489']

nice article baa.. ippudu warner gadini suste kaaluddi anuko, adi vere vishayam
[/quote]

naku Aus lo evadni choosina kaaludhi...correct ga cheppalante business man lo aa puli jinka dialogue apt ee case lo

[Bhayya]

[quote name='Chittimallu' timestamp='1326945587' post='1301322492']

nijam cheppalante vadu vachina starting lo keka ane anukunna....manaki gilly lanti keeper dorikadu anukunna....but vadi overseas performance choosaka asalu bhayya talent endho ardham ayindhi .....vadiki naku thelisi okka century kooda ledhu out of sub continent...that itself speaks volumes about him...I mean with so many records in sub continent versus nothing abroad
[/quote]

Mari Warner gurinchi oka opinion ki raadam 222 early emo kada bhayya!!!

Any way, I was talking about their approach towards the game. Not their achievements.

[pirra_gichhutha]

[quote name='subba rav' timestamp='1326945776' post='1301322505']
Mari Warner gurinchi oka opinion ki raadam 222 early emo kada bhayya!!!

Any way, I was talking about their approach towards the game. Not their achievements.
[/quote]
yeah I agree with ur warner statement....nenu adhe anna...its too early to decide...but prasthuthaniki aithe vadu anni formats and anni pitches lo baane aadadu...so he proved he can play anywhere and in any format...but now enni years antha consistency tho aaduthadu anedhi key...

emo mama naakaithe dhoni gadu team lo bokka anipisthadu....at least in tests