One of the worst things I can hear at cricket training is the dreaded phrase "I just want to hit balls".

Why is this so bad?

Holding the ball cross seam is horrifying to swing bowlers, but vital on good batting days.

I would not call myself particularly old fashioned in my approach to coaching batting yet I have really enjoyed the purist first week of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Our captain, the canny character, has a saying. "Just bowl dots". Does this tactic really work?

Every bowler, whether they admit it or not, knows how many wickets they have taken.

You have been bowled out for a frankly humiliating score.

All the opposition need to do is knock off the runs, doff their caps and shake hands while holding back a snigger.

In the changeover of innings the team atmosphere says it all. Everyone is wondering how to get out of the mess.

What's the best length to bowl to take wickets?

If you have bowled, you have a good idea of a good length. Yet, how much better would things be if you could know exactly what that length is?

Cricket - even limited overs - is a game that can be won and lost with tactics. Here's an example.

I know you don't like to think about it - nobody does - but there will be times where your innings has collapsed and you are at the crease. If you have the right approach, you can see this as your moment to shine.

Picture the scene in your mind: The let's say the score is 140-7 in 40 overs.

There are 10 to go and you are batting first. You know a winning score on this ground is close to 230. Numbers nine, 10 and 11 are all tail-enders who can hang about but are not going to score a match winning innings.

You have two options.

On Saturday the team I coach won their game by 307 runs. Where do we go from here?