Batting advice and coaching is high on the agenda this week as we look at when to use a bowling machine, and when to use throwdowns.

Plus we talk about the double-edged sword of a shot that is the off drive and Gary Palmer finishes off his interview by talking about the ultimate batting coaching session and what makes up talent.

But it’s the only tool the batsman has, so the correct bat will give you the chance to be as good as you can be. Choosing which bat to buy is a crucial decision.

There are bats worth £500 and there are bats worth £80; both made out of the same stuff.

Is it just a matter of buying the best one that you can afford and hoping?

With sledging high in discussion this week, the team take a look at every aspect of mental disintegration from club games to high profile international matches. And poor Burners tells us that he often gets more from his own team-mates than from the opposition.

We look at the influence of overseas professionals on the game, and answer your questions with Mark Garaway and David Hinchliffe giving some revealing answers in the questions section.

This is a simple yet highly effective drill I have used with players right up to international level to improve straight driving.

The drill is to get players to hit balls with all your weight on the front foot, the back leg in the air. The feed starts underarm before progressing through to throw-downs and bowling machines.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a first-class batsman?

Who better to ask than someone who has been there, done it and seen it all from playing internationally to smashing boundaries in the IPL?

That man is Aakash Chopra and he is revealing all in the latest coaching course to hit PitchVision Academy.

And right now you can get a free preview of the course.

When the season is over and the sun has disappeared from the sky the temptation is to hibernate until indoor nets start again.

But a recent trip to a physio for a sports massage changed my mind about winter training.

I had noticed over the last couple of years that my back began to feel tighter and tighter and now was the time to do something about it.

My logic was to give my back a service to allow it to feel loose for a few months before the strain started again.

The team’s attention turns to selection this week as we examine how modern sides decide on teams and succession planning (in the context of Australia taking on South Africa).

Gary Palmer also returns to the show to continue his revealing interview on coaching batters at all levels.

And we answer your questions on captaincy while wicketkeeping and how to stop playing everything off the front foot when you bat.

In the last few years modern innovative shots have become far more common.

But without tactics, all those dil-scoops, switch-hits, fine sweeps and charges down the wicket are ineffective.

They say that winning is a habit. Unfortunately so is losing. But you can use momentum to carry your team into winning ways; one innings at a time.

So, momentum is a very real thing that we focus on during our games.

Imagine it, you win the toss and choose to bat.

After 30 overs you are restricted to 60-3 and your side are deflated by the prospect of setting just 130 to win.

With a few wickets in hand the batsmen stage a comeback and score a quick 150 off the next 20 overs.

We’ve all been there as local league cricketers.

You turn up at the opposition ground to be greeted by the sight of the 9ft 9 overseas player sitting listening to his iPod all on his own.

I’ve found this influences team mentality two ways.

You can either resign yourself to the fact that their superstar will open the batting and score a double ton, then after tea decide he wants to open the bowling and hospitalise your top  4.