Vincent looks to apply off-season lessons
[Lynn McConnell] | [Original Article]

Talented Auckland batsman Lou Vincent has returned from a winter stint in the Netherlands feeling more in control of his game and determined to achieve more consistency this summer.

Vincent, 21, suffered a setback last summer. Having scored 460 runs in his career at 57.50, including a highest score of 159, he looked to have a big role to play for Auckland.

However, he scored only 219 runs at 14.60. Despite that, the was included in the New Zealand Academy side which played their Australian counterparts in a one-off "Test" at Adelaide and produced a second innings 59 which helped the New Zealanders build a big enough total to beat Australia.

He then went to the Netherlands where he played for the Rotterdam club VOC.

"I was surprised by the good standard of the cricket. It was a different style, quite attacking," he told CricInfo today.

The 18-game programme was interspersed with coaching children, something he enjoyed and which he is now doing for his club side in Auckland.

"I thought going to Holland was good because I got a bit of a break before getting into the cricket which was better than going to England where you get straight into the season.

"The Dutch set-up was perfect for overseas players," he said.

The matting pitches also allowed Vincent to work on his back foot play.

"The matting was a bit bouncy and it was good to work on my back foot play and the boundaries were a bit smaller so it was nice to hit some sixes," he said.

The whole process helped the maturing of his game and he tried to simplify his game by not playing so many different shots. He described it as "simpling" his game down a bit.

"That was the process that helped me on the New Zealand Academy tour to India and hopefully I will stick with that now," he said.

Reflecting on last year's problems he said he felt comfortable in his play but was tentative and he got out early several times.

"I was a bit loose in defence, but that has all gone now, it's in the past," he said.

The Academy tour to Australia came at a good time for him after a bad Trophy season and he was delighted with his second innings score in the one-off "Test" which helped beat Australia.

Then last month's tour to India after he had worked on his game in the Netherlands allowed him to flourish.

"India was the best tour I've been on. It was an awesome experience. The constant heat, facing the best spinners in the world with eight guys hanging around the bat chirping at you.

"Batting through sessions there was a real test of cricket. The conditions are against you, everything is against you, it was a really good battle.

"It was the top highlight of my cricket career," he said.

While he scored 133 not out against the India Cements Combined XI [a shadow Tamil Nadu side]; he rated his 72 against Hyderabad as the more satisfying innings. The New Zealanders were 42 for two when he joined James Marshall to add 133 for the third wicket.

He scored 228 runs in tournament games at an average of 76.0 and won praise from coach Dayle Hadlee for his efforts in containing his natural desire to attack.

"This season I want to get consistency by sticking to what I feel has worked for me. I have to be more relaxed. The double round of Trophy play should be helpful in building a good season," he said.

Having seen his average drop from 57.50 to 29.52 there is plenty of incentive for Vincent to perform and to provide Auckland with the substance it needs in its middle order.

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