Gary Palmer has been coaching batsmen for decades and alongside running the high-class CCM Academy, acts as a batting consultant to many professional and International batsmen. To find out more click here.

Don't underestimate the power of coaching the basics well.

Think of good progressive coaching in building blocks: keep building the pyramid from the bottom up. It takes much longer to get it right unless you technically prepare players for the next level.

Kurt asks,

"I currently have a problem with my front foot when the ball is on middle and leg. It seems to always get in way, kind of like the same problem Shane Watson has at the moment. Can you please advise some things I can do to correct this?"

There are a few reasons for this, but one of the quickest ways to correct the fault without a coach to help you is by a simple adjustment of your feed.

And it's such a clever trick it works with throwdowns, drop feed, bowling machines and even bowlers.

I had an article ready to go for you this week, but last night we had an session with the 1st team squad here at Millfield School that I just had to tell you about.

Around 5pm, the coaching team grabbed a coffee in-between squad sessions.

I asked a simple question, "Could either of you two inspire me ahead of the last session of term please?" and my two brilliant assistants came up with a innovative session plan which led to a great session:

One of Bob Woolmer's batting drills was the one-legged drive which I featured right at the start of the Coaching to Win series.

This gem of a drill helps players who lead their forward movement to the ball with their heads. (Not your Pietersen, Amla or Gayle who lead with their feet but more like the Bell, Ponting and Strauss).

Bob would ask the batter to not move their feet, yet wait for the fuller ball to bounce and move their head towards the line of the ball.

What does this drill develop?

During my ECB Level 3 batting modules, I always ask the fellow coaches to throw up any ideas or drills that they have to add value to the module.

Last week Sussex Sharks Cricketer, Chris Nash, demonstrated a great drill that was intended to challenge decision making. The drill achieved its aim and opened up other vital elements of batting.

The basic drill

Get a batter padded up and ready to receive a ball. As a coach you stand 7 metres away from the crease.

Armed with a ball, the coach walks in 2 paces before delivering a fast-paced underarm delivery into either:

Here is a really simple cricket practice hack: Use two net bays instead of one.

This is because it opens out the net which gives the batsman a more realistic feel of batting in the middle. Nets are typically made more artificial by the feeling on being enclosed in the net. It's safe, almost womb-like in there.

Opening out the net suddenly presents the batsman with a more realistic feel of being "in the open". It adds pressure.

Menno Gazendam is author of Spin Bowling Project. Get your free 8 week spin bowling course here

As we frequently discuss the way in which we can make batsmen look silly against spin bowling, you better be good at playing spin when you go in to bat. There is nothing more embarrassing than being outfoxed by your opposite number.

Here are a few tips in batting against spin. (Only fair, right?).

Speaking at an Karnataka State Cricket Association event in Bangalore recently, Sachin Tendulkar was talking about selection.

For him the key to finding the next Tendulkar wasn't about stats.

It wasn't about textbook technique.

Or immense power and timing.

House of Cards is an epic TV show following the dark exploits and political manoeuvring of US congressman Frank Underwood. It's a compelling story of power. You should watch it.

But the lessons from the show are not just for aspiring politicians. There are things batters can learn from the way Underwood understands and manipulates people to his own ends.

Because people are still people. Be they opening bowlers, or Presidential candidates.

Here is the wisdom of Underwood that you can use, or as he may say in that understated southern drawl, abuse:

One of the common tropes of modern cricket is that batsmen have a wider range of shots than ever. While it may be a cliche for commentators to throw out when they have nothing to say, it's also true.

So do you need to learn them; or if you coach do you need to spend time coaching them?

Lets look at each new shot in turn and decide.