Isn't it great when you find something that clicks in your game?

This week I missed the usual training session at my club, so I arranged to get to the ground early to "have a net" with a couple of other guys in the team.

As you know my feelings about nets, you know how I am not keen to just have a hit, but I hoped it would be better that going into the game totally cold.

As there were just two of us to start, and neither of us bowl to first team standard, we got out the bowling machine.

As you know my feelings about bowling machines, you know I would much prefer real bowling, but that wasn't an option.

Yet, that 20 minutes was a revelation that will give you quite the kick.

I knew I had to go in with a purpose to make it worthwhile, so I decided to start by working on my defensive push into the dropzones.

Then I progressed to some on drives, then cover drives. The machine was set at a realistic, but unchallenging speed.

Everything went well.

So well I tried to work on my sweep (a weak area) but after about 15 tries with a single good contact, I decided to forget about sweeping in the match and went back to a couple of back foot shots.

It went fine, I walked out still feeling fresh.

I had not done anything except have a hit (albeit with purpose).

I had not worked on batting under pressure, or fitness, or picking line and length or shot selection.

I thought it would be slightly better than nothing but wasn't holding out much hope.

And here is my revelation.

I got in at the end of our match later that afternoon and saw it like a beach ball. I worked it off my legs, I drove straight and dropped a few down the third man while scampering around at the death.

Was it the world's great innings? No.

Did it show me the power of a short, sharp and focused practice? Absolutely.

I would not have thought that a bowling machine net on the morning of a match could have helped. But it gave me that edge of focus I needed.

And it can do the same for you.

Find a way to practice that works for you with the resources you have and you'll get the same kick that I did.