Good batsmen can best be summed up as those that keep mistakes to the minimum and luck to the maximum.

Concentration is the key to achieving this dream combination, as luck normally follows those that focus. Bad luck is often used as an excuse for those that suffered a temporary slump in concentration. If you keep your concentration up, 9 times out of 10 you will keep your luck up.

A good batsman will treat each ball on its merits and not assume anything. If you speak to any batsman and ask them if they would be confident of surviving one ball to save a match, they will answer a firm yes without doubt. The main reason being is because they will be focussing mega hard on that one and only ball, and they know that they have a very good chance of achieving their confident goal.

I recently read an article where former England Test batsman, Mark Ramprakash, adopts a very similar approach. He sets himself a target of surviving the first ten balls when he marches out to the middle. “The first 10 deliveries are crucial. I’m basically looking to leave as many balls as possible. If I can scramble a quick single, or nick one onto my thigh pad and get a run, that’s a bonus.”

So with this attitude in mind, try it when you next walk out to the wicket. Focus on every ball and play everything on its merits. Be confident and be respectful, and you will be surprised how easily the runs start to accumulate.