Imagine a typical dot ball.

Perhaps you are thinking of the opening batsman shouldering arms to a ball outside off stump. Maybe you picture a workmanlike off-spinner having a good length ball pushed back with a textbook forward defensive.

The dot is the DNA of cricket. It happens when nothing else happens. It's part of the unique rhythm of the game. The bit that people who don't understand it scratch their heads and say "this is boring".

As any coach knows, coaching the pull shot is an easy win. Kids love it, they can do it easily and it gets them runs when they are starting out.

But it's also reducing their chances of batting success.

The pull is already the most natural of shots for anyone to play: step back and hit across the line through the leg side. Any novice player can do it.

The fact is that it's a staple of village tail-enders around the world.

Featuring an interview with England Women's prospect Catherine Dalton, the show this week has a different format.

If you are a regular listener you will be used to half hour shows with a coaches answering your questions. This week the show is 10 minutes long and is dedicated to the interview with Cath.

99. In defence against a spinner you can never smother the spin enough. Work hard at getting as close to the pitch of good length balls as you can, stay low, play with soft hands but play to hit the ball with the middle of the bat.

If you want to get someone's hackles up, call them a hypocrite.

It's an insult against something we all hold dear: consistency between words and actions. Hypocrites talk the talk, but don't walk the walk.

Except if you want to be a better cricketer or coach, hypocrisy is a handy skill to have.

You just need to be able to get over the urge to be consistent.

Hobgoblin of the mind: Why consistency is a bad thing

In this free cricket coaching video Ian Pont discusses how fast he thinks bowling can get with his brand new, top secret fast bowling method: the drop step and front foot block.

Ian has noticed that 99% of bowlers don't use this method, but most of the really fast ones do. It makes perfect sense to emulate them.

98. When batting against spin and slower bowlers and on pitches that are keeping a bit low be prepared to go forward onto the front foot by default to ‘in between balls’ and cover as much movement as possible. Always get your foot as close to the pitch of the ball as possible on the front foot (of course, remaining in your crease if the keeper is up).

Everyone who has played cricket has felt that 'heavy leg' feeling.

You want to keep going, but the body just doesn't give you the same after a long innings, bowling spell or session in the field.

While no one can stave off the feeling forever, there is a really simple way to get more stamina.

Batting first gives you control. It's the attacking way and its how cricket 'should be played'.

At least that's what the senior pros at my club and TV commentators say.

Except that you are also much more likely to lose.

At least, that's according to Economics Professor V. Bhaskar who studied the results of every daytime One Day International match and concluded that teams who win the toss and bat only win 44% of matches.

David plays another 1st XI match and is surprised by the tactics that seem to be employed at a higher level. Find out why in this week's show.

Plus we talk about the NatWest Pro Bowling game and answer your questions. This week questions include: