The Art of Finishing Games

In the US version of The Office, there’s an episode where Andy hosts a small business seminar, attempting to lure in clients. Being too nice of a guy, he gets to the end of a seminar, but doesn’t want to push the sale too hard on attendees. Michael Scott, his boss, (who’s playing a bizarre Greek businessman as a fake attendee) pulls him aside and says: ‘you’ve got to close!’

Closing a business deal and finishing a cricket game may seem completely different – but they share a lot of similarities.

They both require mental strength, confidence, persistence and require you to be at your best form, even when you’re most fatigued. There’s an art to closing a business deal, just as there’s an art to finishing a cricket match.

 In this post, Cricket For All outlines the art of finishing cricket games:

What is a ‘finisher’ in cricket?

A finisher is a batsman who tends to bat in the end overs of an innings. They hit the pitch at usually 4 or 5 wickets down, trying to score maximum runs in the final overs of an innings. When batting first, they aim to set a solid total and, if batting second, their goal is to chase down the opposing side’s score.

Legendary India batsman, MS Dhoni, epitomises the role of finisher. He bats at number 6 or 7 and is known for his ability to make great leads or chase down targets.

What makes a great finisher?

So, what makes a great finisher in the likes of MS Dhoni, Michael Bevan and Michael Hussey? Let’s take a look at not only the physical abilities of famous finishers, but also the mental and spatial abilities, too:

• Analysing the pitch
  While sitting in the dugout, the finisher analyses the nature of the pitch, assessing it for flatness and speed. A flat pitch allows batters to hit shots anywhere in the ground, opening up their arms and playing freely. A slow pitch which allows for spin lets batters hit squarer shots, closer to the wicket.

• Studying the bowler
  World class finishers spend a good deal of time studying the bowler before they face them on the pitch. Bowlers have all sorts of tricks up their sleeve to catch batters out, but by analysing their techniques, you can be better prepared to hit their deliveries.

• Being aware of fielding positions
  The fielding positions can tell you a lot about how a bowler is going to bowl, the type of delivery they’re going to use, and how to best adapt to that as a batter.

Keen to learn more about becoming a master finisher? Cricket For All’s experienced coaches can show you the way. Our specialist cricket coaches boast international and first-class cricket experience, and are some of the best in Adelaide. Book in for a session at Cricket For All and get your game to new heights.