94. A batsman should have a good way of relaxing between balls – relaxing his concentration and resting his focus to get ready again to concentrate. The relaxation method should keep the player mentally fresh and resolved to stay in all day without throwing away his wicket. Each ball should be a cycle between relaxation and routine-based concentration.

93. A batsman has to be fit to make big hundreds. Run the runs into your legs. Do it with pads on.

92. Even if you pick a change-up ball - and you should always be on the look-out for one (but not premeditating!) - it is wise to think first of absolute defence. Do not be enticed by arrogance into trying to dispatch the ball just to prove you picked it. Also, some change-up deliveries (like flippers for example) disguise themselves as bad balls. Don’t be lulled; wait for the real bad ball.

91. Batsmen can sledge too. A timely comment from a batsman can break a bowler’s concentration, even distract a whole fielding side. “Too slow” or “poop” or “hack” are easily mumbled to bowlers as you are turning for a second run. Only do this if you know you can handle all the consequences and still never premeditate the next ball. Stick to your routines but distract the opposition’s.

90. Batting is first and foremost about survival - you can’t get runs from the pavilion. Batting risk and returns are asymmetrical. Remove your weaknesses before you practice your strengths.

89. Use your bat as protection and to retrieve balls from adjacent occupied nets or wait until the batsmen in the net has finished playing the delivery they are facing and then ask them to please retrieve the ball.

88. A batsman has less chance of being distracted by the fielders if he totally ignores any comments from them. However, some batsman are most relaxed and focus best if they chat continually with the field, while others still are at their best when sledging back to the opposition’s quicks and generating some vehemence. A batsman should do whatever helps him personally make the most runs in each situation.

87. Great shot! Encourage your batting partner. Confident batting partners can create pressure on bowlers to bowl badly and fielders to make untimely mistakes.

86. If he can possibly manage it, a batsman should never show that a bowler has caused him any pain or discomfort whatsoever.

85. It is good netiquette for a batsman to retrieve the ball in the nets if it is closer to him than the bowler. Pick it up and under-arm it back to the bowler, never hit it back with your bat.