Are You Struggling to Play the Big Shots?

Are you struggling to make the big shots? Perhaps as you are developing physically, you may lack the power to play many aggressive shots in front of the wicket and rely greatly on deflections with singles.
There are two matters which you must consider:-
1. Don't make the mistake of trying to slog to overcome your problem. That will only be a short term answer, even if it does succeed.
It is essential for you to develop correct technique at this stage, so that later you will have this sound basis upon which to build your innings Slogging will tend to introduce too much bottom hand into your batting and lead you into hitting across the ball. There will be little long term future in that.
2. Nevertheless you must try to work at keeping the score ticking over. To occupy one end throughout an innings and play no shots is poor cricket. And your teammates will be infuriated!
It's bad for your team and you, and makes it far too easy for your opponents to control the game. The first thing is to try to pick up your singles by intelligent running between wickets. lf you can work away at singles, you put pressure on the bowler and fieldsmen.
You could the bowler to bowl bad balls. If youre batting partner is stronger give him/her the strike and support him. Secondly, practice your attacking shots. Develop a shot or two on both front foot and back foot, both off-side and on-side, which will penetrate the field. You don't need to perfect all the shots. Practice these shots in your net sessions, in the backyard. lf you are a slow, defensive player, spend at least half your time practicing shots; hitting the ball hard. On the other hand, a natural hitter should spend rather more time on his defence. That is, practice your weaknesses as much as your strengths.
But practice in the nets and other non-competitive situations will never be enough. At some stage, they must be introduced into actual matches if you are to master them. Therefore, at any stage of your innings, hit the bad ball hard. lf it is very short or over pitched, you must play a shot rather than defend. Of course, you build your innings, taking fewer risks as you start but even as you build, the bad ball must be hit hard.
As your innings develops and confidence grows, you must try to look for those shots you have practiced. There is no other way, if you wish to be a good player. For long-term success maintain, and consolidate, correct technique. Don't become a slogger. But at the same time practice your attacking shots and introduce them into your game.