I love working with lower order players. To me they are still ‘run getters’ and ‘partnership builders’ irrespective of their less extensive batting experience and limited practice hours.

Batters coming in between 8 to 11 can have a significant impact on games of cricket. They can score winning runs, build match winning partnerships, play for the draw, set up a first innings total and help a mate get to a batting milestone.

As I started to plan this article I read about Gloucestershire Fast Bowler, Liam ‘Pasty’ Norwell scoring a maiden ton after being asked to be nightwatchman; great effort fella.

So what does being a great bloke to bat with look like?

Two of the best lower order batters that I have worked with (although very different) were Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard.

Technically both guys had a fantastic front foot defence and an ability to get out of the way of a bouncer.

In Ashley’s case he had at least two boundary options to spin and pace and a fantastic awareness of where the singles were both him and his partner.

His calling, communication and positive demeanour were massive assets, helping the established player at the other end.

A classic example of this was at the Oval in 2005 when England were up against in the pivotal final test of that great series.

Ash and KP put on 109 for the eight wicket in 26 overs against the ferocity of Lee, Warne at his best and a fit-again McGrath.

KP did most of the scoring in that partnership as he had ultimate trust in Ashley’s ability to be a “great bloke to bat with”. KP could concentrate on himself rather than having to worry about his mate at the other end.

How do we develop great blokes to bat with?

‘Good bloke to bat with’ coaching check list:

Have they got a front foot defence?

If not, then help them get a good one.

Can they evade and defend the short ball.

Matthew Hoggard learnt to get under the short ball well and if he misjudged it and got hit then his bravery was legendary. Tennis ball drills with underarm feeds or off the racquet are a great starting point for short ball development.

Identify 2 boundary options to develop for spin and pace.

Again, start small with tennis balls and build up (TDs/Sidearm/Bowlers). The Graham Thorpe layering method works really well in building confidence. Both Ash and Hoggy developed decent sweep shots to counteract the the threat of the worlds best spinners for example.

Where these two were truly great came through their running between the wicket skills and their understanding of their team-mates batting games and personalities.

Instead of messing around in the changing room or totally chilling out when the batters were doing their thing in the middle, both guys would watch their team mates and learn about their techniques, methods, and scoring areas.

This helped them to manage the “senior partner” out in the middle. Ash did this wonderfully in the KP example.

Buddy up with a senior batter

Encourage your bowlers to watch and learn about their batting colleagues. One of the best ways of doing this is by buddying them up with a top order player.

This system is where the pair become their throw down coach. We did this in 2009 with Paul Collingwood and Monty Panesar. The two buddied up throughout the tour to the West Indies and practiced hard.

When Monty secured a draw in the 1st Ashes Test of 2009 with 7* after 35 balls the happiest man on the ground was Paul Collingwood.

Try buddying up and the other methods for yourself and see your lower order players fly.

Remember the mantra; If you’re not a great batter then be a great person to bat with!