At county level and county league level, I would agree with the above advice. You know the bowlers aren't going to give you too much loose stuff so you will need to be positive and be proactive. Also the pitch will be good so you can trust the bounce and be able to work the ball.

However, at club level, most bowlers will give you plenty of bad balls, so why not just block the good ones? Also, on uncovered pitches, the bounce could be unreliable, sometimes keeping low, sometimes popping up etc.

So just wait for the bad ball. Of course, if the bowling is tight with a "saving one" field, there is a danger of getting tied down. That's when you will need to look at areas to hit over the top.

yeah i reckon you should always be on the look out for quick singles. its the easiest way to rotate the strike, keep the score board ticking over and putting pressure on the bowler and fielders. as an opener this is very important. although boundaries are always good as well

"There are just as many gaps in the air as there are on the ground."

Don Bradman hit 6 sixes in his entire test career. 39 of 70 dismissals came from catches. Would your advice to the young Don be to keep it down or hit in the air?
The batsman's first duty is to guard his wicket hitting the ball in the air may have its place but is generally risky. Compare the career of Viv Richards 8 sixes, and 106 ot of 170 dismissals from catches. Two great men, but why is Sir Viv's average of 50 barely half of that of the Don?

Sometimes the aerial route works spectacularly, sometimes the needs of the team demands it and it is a fine sight - but surely the best way to dominate bowlers is to grind them down and give as few chances as possible - ask a man named Jayawardene.

[...] see captain Bueller declaring on a score most people would consider too risky, or batsman Bueller hitting the ball over the top because there is a gap behind the [...]

I think David's point is a good one, all Don Bradman ever knew was test cricket, I myself have never played a longer form of the came, but i'm sure that if I did I wouldn't take too many risks.

England batters these days find it hard to adapt from Twenty20/ODI's to Test format, their mindset is to agressive, hense why they get bowled out for 400 on a good wicket.

All is well the Ausi way of thinking is all about scoring runs. The game has now moved on and the crowd expect runs. Even at test match level. I totally agree the rule of working downwards from 6 4 3 2 1. If you can hit a ball for six why settle for any thing lower. Yes you will not be able to hit ever ball for six. Its all about the mind set. I also agree about looking at Gaps and not fielders. cricket not always about hitting the ball hard. If the kids are taught the simple Technic of guiding the ball in to a gap, then they will have better timing. you can place a ball for six if your timing is good. As now a days players are using bigger bats.

this is a good dissuasion. I have enjoyed all the comments.

I think you should learn to bat for the game conditions. I am a reasonable club cricketer (averaging 37 this year, few 100's to my name) and I have played league cricket for over 20 years, and so often I have seen young batsmen give their wicket away needlessly and a collapse ensues. If playing in a longer form of the game (50 overs) I think if batting first it is vital to build a platform. The openers job is to see of the first 10, regardless of the score - sure if the bowling is loose, then take it, but I have opened against good bowlers where for the first 10 the rate has been less than 2, but we have been able to accelerate to end up 200+ and win the game. Far more often I have seen players trying to force the score, getting out cheaply, it is far harder to build a score from 80-5-20, than say 45-0-20.
Play the ball on it's merits, and recognise the pitch conditions - often at club level the bounce is variable or the pitch slow and play accordingly - keep the bat straight!!
Obviously in 20/20 you do need to force the rate, and I try and adjust accordingly (average 47 in 20/20 this year), and my over 40's team have posted several scores of 140+ this year, for me I find the best technique for 20/20 is to work the ball around in the 3rd man/backward point area, combined with straight drives or through cover area - that works for me, against mostly accurate slow/spin bowling in our league and on slowish pitches

I bat at number 4 and i always get around 30or 40 lowest round 20, I have never really got any big centuries or 50's any help?

ive been sturggling this year so far ive only had one big innings, 4, 56, 33, 22, 35, 0, 2, 0, 137, 44, 8 any tips ?

Denis Compton:- "Don Bradman had a marvellous gift of getting into position quicker than any batsman I have ever seen, played the ball very late and was never off balance or stretching out of control."

Wilfred Rhodes ( A record 4187 first class wickets ):- "No matter how you bowl at him he seems to be able to place the ball just where he likes."

Neville Cardus:- "Apparently he is free to play off any foot."

Greg Chappell:- Bradman was a bit like a boxer who carries his hands low like Mohammed Ali. He was on the balls of his feet light as a feather. He never took the bat outside the perimeter of his feet. If you try to lift the bat straight back, all of a sudden you're using a lot of muscles in your hands, forearms, upper arms, chest and once you engage those muscles it requires effort from your legs to keep you balanced. The reason Bradman was the best player ever is that he was the best balanced player ever."

I think that if you're playing cricket, then you should run off and play football!