We’ve all been there: losing a bit of form and then getting hung up on technical issues like fretting about trigger movements. These worries can get right into your head, preventing you from batting with timing and fluency.

The good news is that cricket, despite its apparent complexity, is a simple game.

Take Justin Langer, Australia’s batting coach and former opener. 

He knows that even if his technique is solid, he must be focused on every delivery he receives. If he loses concentration and focus, he is more likely to make a mistake.

His technique?

As the bowler is coming in to the crease, Langer thinks “Ball”.

This simple thought helps Langer to focus solely on the ball and, as any batter knows, this the first step to getting into position quickly to play the best shot.

A focused mind allows the body to act fluently and instinctively.

I captain a team of women who have only played the game for a short time. Every opportunity to train or play is a learning experience it’s overwhelming for players because there’s too much to think about.

When I see a player who’s feeling like that, I tell them about Justin Langer and ask them simply to watch the ball.

The results are immediate.

The player who five minutes ago was missing every delivery, fretting about her feet and getting really frustrated is suddenly a picture of concentration and focus.

And when that happens, good contact with the ball is the result.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing friendly, league, county or international cricket, the smallest pieces of advice has the biggest impact on a player’s success.

Even world-class players rely on the simplest techniques to play our game.

Next time you’re struggling with the bat, remember Justin Langer.

About the author: Lucy Sweetman has loved cricket all her life and played since she was thirty. She is captain of Lansdown Cricket Club Ladies XI in Bath.