BATTING:

Former West Indies great Viv Richards gives an insight into the thoughts of a great batsman - and some hints to those aspiring to greatness.

My first cricket was on the beaches of Antigua on the hard, wet sand close to the sea. Often the ball would skim through fast in a spray of water. Our bats were often flat pieces of wood shaped to be like the bats of the heroes we watched playing the occasional game of first-class cricket that we were able to see. When I was older, the fields we used for matches were rough and uneven. I am still amazed how we used to race in to field the ball, picking it up in one hand although it was bouncing in every direction, and hurling it into the wicketkeeper or at the stumps. The Antiguan way was the natural way and that is what I ask all readers of this book to consider seriously. I say to coaches, consider the natural instincts and talents of the young player and let him develop his own style. No-one will ever persuade me that there is one method of batting, common to all, which can be imposed on young cricketers by the book. I do not see it like that.

There is a balance between suggested methods, orthodox and well-tried. Allow young cricketers to be free and relaxed; do not complicate batting with too much theory before they can hit the ball. I will never confuse a young mind by talking about the bat and the pad being close together so that the ball does not squeeze through. I will say, show me how you can hit the ball to all parts of the ground and bowl accordingly to help him. This is why the greatest West Indian batsmen have looked to score off every single ball they faced. When they have played a defensive stroke it has been the secondary instinct taking over; they were simply rejecting the ball saying, sorry, can't hit that for runs, I'll just stop it. It is not a technical matter. It is to do with the approach in the mind to batting. Let the mind of the youngster fly; let him see the best cricketers play and show him a big field with no fielders, no barriers, no batting rules, and let him whack the ball in all directions.

When you develop such enthusiasm for scoring runs the young player will be so heartbroken at getting out that quickly his curiosity will be aroused about some hand-me-down safeguards. When I first went to England I attended the Alf Gover Cricket School where I was told that my left elbow should be pointed upwards and my left shoulder ought to be leading down the pitch and so many other physical adjustments while the ball was coming my way. In fact all I learned - all I required to learn - was that I needed to play a little straighter.

Again I concentrated on the mind not on the body. I began to look to play the ball much straighter down the pitch within the arc of mid-on and mid-off. It meant ignoring some of my favourite areas square with the batting crease, but I was soon playing longer innings and avoiding the disappointment of being out early. It is the same with the grip and the stance. Do not tell young people that they are standing too open or too closed unless they appear to be getting out because of an obvious fault. Emphasise the ability to be balanced on their feet and able to see the ball right the way down the pitch from the bowler's hand. Relaxation leads to sharp reactions; tension slows down the mind to body messages.

Playing an innings

The night before a match I often dreamed that I would make a century. I never dreamed that I would make a duck. Some things play havoc with your mind before you get out to the middle and have an innings, but fear of failure was something which never hit me, I am delighted to say.

I have often been called arrogant and over-confident but I do not believe that any cricketer should ever go for second best. Always expect to play right to the limits of your ability. Go right for the top.

As a young boy I was always playing innings in my mind and I was always scoring centuries by hitting sixes to get from 94 to the three figures. My actual career was in part a realisation of those dreams. I always encourage the youngest batsman to have a vision of success.

In the Caribbean we enjoy hitting the ball hard and I must remind all coaches that enjoyment is one of the keys to creating entertainment, and both are the fathers of victory because winning cricket is positive cricket - the only cricket worth playing and watching.

Keep cool when bowlers try to annoy you and wind you up into a temper. Always believe that you can master the best even though they get you out from time to time. I think back to my battles with Dennis Lillee, the Australian fast bowler, and think what a superb clash of personalities it was.

Batting is not war - relax and express yourself. Some of us are belligerent, some are coaxers of the ball, some delight in hearing the ball smash against the hoardings, others love to steer the ball wide of fielders for just a couple of runs. Each approach can be dominant. And come what may, you must always be trying to be on top.