Momentum, confidence and technical prowess are all part of a good first-class batsman’s success recipe.
When you are on the receiving end of a bad umpiring decision, get an excellent delivery with your name written on it in capital letters early in the next match and lose confidence, it can begin a downward spiral which reflects in your statistics at the end of the season.
Andrew Puttick had one of those seasons in first-class cricket, and finished with only 442 runs at an average of 29.46.
It is in stark contrast to his Momentum One Day Cup campaign in which he struck 275 runs at an average of 45.83.
But the veteran batsman is not paralyzed by the mediocre performances in the four-day competition; in fact, he is determined to set the record straight in 2016/2017.
“I think I was on the wrong end of momentum,” he said.
His purpose is to take his eye off the cricket ball, get mentally refreshed and replenished and then get back into his groove again.
In June, the process will start of going back to the gymnasium and then do throw-downs with SA Engelbrecht, Dane Vilas and Ryan Cook in order to re-establish himself as one of the dominant forces in South African cricket.
Puttick has also started a company with Engelbrecht called The Embroidery Business and is in the process of setting up contracts and buying stock.
Puttick has struck 10 057 runs at an average of 40.71. Only his Cape Cobras-colleague Justin Ontong (10901) and the Lions-batsman Stephen Cook (11890 runs) amongst the players who regularly play Sunfoil Series cricket, have struck more runs locally than the iconic Cape Cobras opener.
“I think one of the dangers is that when things start going wrong, you deviate from your (tried and trusted) technique,” said Puttick.
For the Cape Cobras, a revitalized Puttick in dominant mood hammering centuries would be vitally important if they are to return to the domestic heights of the 2013/2014-season when they won two trophies and were two runs away from making it a triple-crown.