Pre-Match Batting Practice: What Cricketers Do in the Nets
How professional cricketers prepare for a match — the structure of a net session, the purpose of throwdowns vs. bowling machine vs. live bowling, how long before a match nets happen, individual technical work vs. match-simulation drills, the difference between pre-match warm-up and training nets, and how preparation differs for Tests vs. T20s.
The Net Session: Structure and Purpose
A cricket 'net session' is practice batting (or bowling/fielding) in a purpose-built net enclosure — a protected lane with a full-length pitch where a batsman can practice strokes without the ball reaching the full outfield. Professional net sessions in the day or two before a Test match serve specific purposes: reinforcing technique (ensuring the batsman's trigger movements, foot position, and bat swing are mechanically correct before the match), building confidence through contact (seeing the ball well and hitting it cleanly), and simulating specific conditions (practising against spin if the pitch is likely to turn; practising against pace and bounce if the pitch will be fast).
Net sessions are typically divided by the bowler type: a batsman may face 20 deliveries from a bowling machine (set to replicate the opening bowlers' pace and line), 30 deliveries from a left-arm spinner (simulating the likely spin threat), and 20 deliveries of throwdowns (medium-pace deliveries thrown by a coach or assistant, designed to provide a high-volume hitting opportunity with consistent line and length). The sequence is usually: bowling machine or pace first (to warm up the body and establish timing), then spin, then throwdowns for confidence-building repetition.
Pre-Match vs. Training Nets
There is an important distinction between pre-match warm-up nets (conducted on match day or the day before) and training nets (conducted during the week between matches, often lasting 2-3 hours per session). Pre-match nets are typically shorter — 20-40 minutes total for a batsman — and focused on feel and confidence rather than extended technical work. A batsman does not want to be fatigued from a long net session on the morning of a Test match. Training nets between matches are longer, more technically focused, and used for specific work on weaknesses identified in the previous match.
Some elite batsmen minimise net work immediately before a Test — preferring to conserve physical and mental energy rather than spending it in the nets. Don Bradman famously rarely used nets for extended periods; some modern batsmen (Virat Kohli is known for extensive net work, while AB de Villiers often preferred limited but high-quality net sessions). Individual batsmen's net preferences vary enormously based on what they find beneficial for their mental preparation.
Format-Specific Preparation
Pre-match preparation differs significantly between formats. For Tests: batsmen may use nets to replicate the patient, defensive batting that will be required early in an innings on a live pitch — practising leaving the ball outside off stump, defensive back-foot play, and leaving delivery after delivery without playing a shot. For T20: pre-match preparation emphasises attack — batsmen practice maximising the strike against fast deliveries and spin, practising reverse sweeps and switch hits, and ensuring the timing is set for aggressive shot-making from the first delivery. The mental shift between 'be patient, don't get out' (Test preparation) and 'be aggressive, find boundaries' (T20 preparation) is substantial.
Frequently asked questions
Can batsmen choose what deliveries they face in a net session?
Professional batsmen have significant input into their net session design — they work with coaches and support staff to identify what practice they need. A batsman who was dismissed LBW sweeping in the last match may request more throwdowns targeting leg-spin to work on the sweep shot. A batsman facing a specific opposing bowler's strength (outswing) may request the bowling machine to be set to replicate that. However, the coaching staff will also have their own assessment of what the batsman needs, and there is ongoing negotiation between batsman preference and coach recommendation for any session.
Do bowlers have different warm-up routines than batsmen?
Yes — bowlers' pre-match warm-up focuses on muscle activation (particularly the shoulder, back, and hip muscles used in the bowling action), progressive run-up work (starting with short run-ups at reduced pace and building to full-pace deliveries), and short net spells to lock in rhythm and release point. Pace bowlers are particularly cautious about bowler warm-up time — insufficient warm-up before bowling at full pace significantly increases soft tissue injury risk. Spin bowlers have shorter warm-up requirements for injury prevention but use the warm-up for technical reinforcement (grip, loop, flight angle).
How do batsmen simulate the pressure of match batting in a net?
Simulating match pressure in nets is a known challenge — the batsman knows there is no consequence for being 'out' in a net, which removes the psychological constraint that makes real match batting different. Coaches use several techniques: 'consequence nets' where getting out means leaving the net and watching teammates (introducing some cost to dismissal); target-setting (scoring X runs from Y deliveries against a bowling attack); visualisation exercises during net breaks (imagining specific match scenarios); and small-sided simulation games (simulating the last 5 overs of a chase). These techniques help bridge the gap between net practice and match pressure, though most batsmen acknowledge that real match conditions cannot be fully replicated.