Critics had wondered why older players with Test pedigrees like Kallis, Vaas and Tendulkar were even bothering with the IPL. Maybe for the money, because their games are not built for the crash bang format.

It's a situation many older club players can relate to as well.

Every team has had the dour opener looking to see off the new ball and reduce the run rate to a walk rate. The creaky medium pacer who has relied on line and length as the main weapon for years is never far behind.

But as the seniors in IPL 3 have proved; with a bit of work you can have success in the autumn of your career:

• Tendulkar scoring a technically perfect 71 to win easily against KKR.
• Kallis hitting 283 runs in the first 5 matches with just one dismissal for Bangalore.
• Retired metronome Vaas making the new ball sing when he had been written off for lack of pace and not enough variations.
• Anil Kumble going at 4.5 an over against Mumbai

If these old boys can do it, so can any player with the right motivation.

It's just a matter of working hard on the right things.

So what should you be working on in the nets to reflect the success of the IPL oldies?

Kallis (and Tendulkar for that matter) started IPL 3 so well because he didn't change his technique to the game; he played the same way just looking to score off more deliveries. He did that by:

• Hitting length balls with a straight bat. Kallis is adept at getting his hands high so he can hit length balls on the up with a straight bat. As this is simply and adaptation of an existing safe technique it's much easier to learn. You can find out how to learn it here.
• Taking responsibility to bat through. The Royal Challengers strategy was to let Kallis score at a slower rate while his partners gave it the long handle. This way he could take less risks and increase the average runs per wicket for his team.

Vaas also played to his strengths to have success. He knew top order batsmen were looking to come after him and adapted by:

• Being subtle. Vass varied his pace and length and swung the ball enough to deceive batsmen who felt they could go after his pace. His experience was vital in knowing when a batter was looking to attack and making a slight change to upset his rhythm.
• Being realistic. Vaas also was happy to have the keeper stand up as his pace was down on his peak years. He knew 145kph inswinging yorkers were not for him. The tactic allowed Deccan to squeeze at the top of the innings and take crucial wickets by applying pressure.

But what these tactics and methods are really about is doing as little as possible to adapt to a new format. Slight adjustments are far easier than trying to change everything. You still need to get in the nets and practice of course, but not for as long, which is handy when you are in your 30s.

image credit: SJ Jagadeesh