Open letter to Dominican & Windward Islands batsman, Tyrone Theophile

letter to the editorA move in the right direction being selected for the Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre’s 2013-14 programme. He forms part of a group of 14 players who enjoyed success over the last year in limited-overs and first-class competitions in the West Indies.

Here’s a word of advice from a friend in England who know your game very well…

Opening the batting is not all dogged defence as many think. It’s a matter of good organisation.

The bowlers usually have the upper hand with a new ball and fresh legs. That means you, more than any other position, need to have your wits about you.

What makes a good opening batsman?

Opening is a specialist position. By that I mean it takes more practice to get right. The more you do it the better you get at it. However, there are certain traits a good opener has (or is able to develop).

An adaptable technique. Although you should have lots of shots, playing straight is most important early on. You should have the ability to switch gears from disciplined defence to attack depending on the conditions, match situation and bowling.
A good judge of the off stump. Knowing when to play and when to leave is a great skill for the opener, even in Twenty20 conditions.
Patience. There will be times when the bowlers make you play and miss. However, the bad ball will come. The ability to stay focused on the next ball will see you through the tough periods all openers experience.

This is often what coaches mean when they talk about ‘seeing off’ the opening bowlers. I don’t like the phrase though. It puts openers into a defensive mindset. Opening the innings is about having a sound defence and being ready to attack.

Once you have assessed that conditions are in your favour you can start to think more aggressively. This may be a couple of hours in, or right from the first ball. However, even in this ‘mode’ you need to keep a tight defence, as a good ball is never far away.

Opening practice

There is not much an opener can do differently from any other batsman to prepare. The principles of deliberate practice apply just as much with any position in the batting order.

That said – you will want to focus on two areas in particular:

Middle practice. Practicing against fresh bowlers with a new ball in simulated match conditions will teach you how to adapt to the mental and tactical side of opening. When you have had a middle practice sit down with your coach and opening partner (and possible the number 3) and discuss how it went, what your tactics were and whether they worked or not.
Technical development. While you want as many shots as possible, the main areas to work on are the straight shots and judging whether to play or leave. This can’t be done in standard nets, as the bowling is not accurate enough so grab an empty net with your opening partner and give each other some accurate throw downs instead.

I would also strongly recommend learning how to rotate the strike by taking cheeky singles and turning ones into twos.

An opener needs to be a positive player with the ability to leave attack behind for a while if you are up against a good opening bowling attack. Practice with this in mind and you will not go far wrong.

Good Luck buddy!

Theophile
Theophile

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14 Comments

  1. tyron theophile
    July 9, 2013

    I tyron theophile thank u all for the words of advice that u gave to me.this words encourages me a lot,will surely take it in an use it as a some encouragement while am at the field of play and other places. Thanks to all who believes in me and I will surely take this to make my country and the region proud.

  2. TREMORS
    May 21, 2013

    The letter looks like it came right out of the mouth of a coach. I wonder if the gentleman is one. Anyways the best Tyrone Theophile (FUWI)We all know how talented u are partner make Tremors and Dominica proud

  3. vampiro
    May 21, 2013

    congrats fuwi. i remember de youngster from way bak in high school playing both cricket and football under de best high skool coach(delvin esprit) he always took sports seriously and am really proud of him. i kno u kept ur head on from time and now dat u hav reached another milestone dont froget to thank d ppl who hav been influential in u reaching thus far. hopefully i see mervin matthew next in line.

  4. %
    May 21, 2013

    Theophille the ball is in your court. Make full use of the opportunity, and never look back! I have confidence that you will do well young man. KEEP ON WORKING!

  5. Cricket Fan
    May 21, 2013

    Tyrone, you got some good sound advice here. I will only add one more thing which has nothing to do with technique. I am talking about HUMILITY. If you make it to the big stage, do not think you know it all. As long as you play the game never stop being willing to learn. Don’t think you have arrived and you are bigger than the game. Don’t let it get to your head.

    Believe me, a lot of guys have donned the cap only to be dropped by the wayside never to be heard from again. Don’t ever lose sight of the bigger picture.

    Good Luck.

  6. RO
    May 21, 2013

    Congrats to my boy Tyo!!! Love when my people reach this stage in life. Let us all encourage our own. Big up to Lapwet and the other young boys who are on this road. Keep on doing your thing Tyron…we’re behind you.

  7. May 21, 2013

    i played with tyron for a few years. During high school tournaments, played for the national team along side him and although i was the open batsman at that time when we played i would enjoy watching tyron bat.. he use to come in at #4 #5 a really good all around player and the dude is strong.. i notice his last named changed.. Good luck bro and keep doing your thing. you have alot of talent

  8. truth offends
    May 21, 2013

    I never knew this young man was from DA. I thought he was from STV. Saw him in a live televised game and he looked so correct.
    In addition to those very encouraging words and advice you got from your friend in England, I would also like to add mine here.
    Tyrone, in the 70’s to mid 80’s, Dominica produced some top cricketers that would have gone far if they were from a bigger island and truly if we didn’t have a number of top players all over the Caribbean. People like Sebo, Irvine, Caleb, Elwin, Norbert, Kentish, just to name a few, were all top players and unfortunately were born at the wrong time. They played the game when it had NO Money. This is not the case today. The game has lots of money and WI is hungry to get players. What an opportunity!
    It was last year I met with a former West Indies Cricketer and knowing me from DA, his first question to me was, “What happened to …?” He went on to say that he was the best position player he had seen in the Windies since Derrick Murray. He said windies tried their best to push him on the team but due to a habit he had, he never made it.
    I can tell you young man that I have seen a number of young promising cricketers from Dominica, who almost all fell out due to marijuana, rum, too big attitude and they never went anywhere. So please learn form their mistake and develop your craft. There is a bright future for you in cricket and since you were born at the right time, only you could destroy it. may you be wise enough to turn away from anything that may detour you as we all in DA look forward to seeing you score big hundreds for west Indies right here at Windsor park. Good luck1

  9. purple city
    May 21, 2013

    Good luck my bro, go out there n make ur family proud.make d/ca on a whole proud

  10. All the best
    May 21, 2013

    Sound advise. He should take heed.

  11. May 21, 2013

    :) good luck Tyrone a

  12. Hmmm
    May 21, 2013

    Congratulations Ty. We look forward to bigger, better things.

  13. PoKeSa
    May 21, 2013

    Mr Theophile – that person who knows your game very well is none other than ZiroD, the originator of this piece of writing and your Agent and Cricket Coach in England.

    I look forward to good things from you but only if you keep your focus on your game and nothing else, as there is nothing difficult if you know the goal, which you have set.

    ZiroD

  14. S J Cadette
    May 21, 2013

    Such wonderful advice and positivity flowing from this open letter to Theophile. A WORD TO THE WISE IS ENOUGH and since Theophile is wise enough to have played himself to success this year, I believe this advice will do him well.

    I commend the writer and…SUCCESS TO YOU THEOPHILE.

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