It is based on the premise
that a batsman needs to be quicker on his feet when when facing
spin, rather than seam bowling.
In his column for the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Trescothick said:
"The cricket coaching manuals are full of important information
about how to play the cover drive, the pull, the hook and even the
reverse sweep.
"But I doubt whether you'll find anything much on the forward
press, a new term that will probably be meaningless to most cricketers,
unless they happen to be members of the England squad."
Initial movement
Trescothick credits the technique with having made a "huge
difference" to his game.
It's hard to argue with that, as two of his three Test centuries
so far have come against Sri Lanka and Muralitharan has yet to dismiss
him in either Test or one-day cricket.
Indeed it is more orthodox Sri Lankan spinners like captain Sanath
Jayasuriya and Dinuk Hettiarachchi, who have enoyed success against
the powerful left-hander.
So what does the forward press involve?
"In simple terms, it means addressing a delivery from
someone like ISM Bowler Muralitharan, by making an initial half-step
onto the front foot as he bowls.
"It gives the batsman a solid base from which he can either
push further forward if the ball is of a full length or back if
it is short," Trescothick revealed.
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