Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell admitted he went "back to basics" in a bid to rediscover his form during his determined second innings knock against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Mitchell called upon all his fighting qualities to defy the Bears bowlers for nearly four hours in making 38 in the LV = County Championship Division One clash.
And the 31-year-old is hoping the elongated time in the middle will reap its rewards in the forthcoming matches.
Mitchell said: "I was going back to basics really. I obviously haven't got the runs I would have liked.
"I haven't spent the time in the middle and have been a bit out of nick.
"I was just trying to go back to the old way of just trying to grind it for as long as I could and put a few shots away in the locker. It was an ugly 38.
"I would have liked a few more runs and to have batted another couple of hours but it wasn't to be.
"It was no great score but hopefully I'll reap the rewards later down the line for investing in that time out there."
Mitchell has also not had Lady Luck on his side, being the victim of a harsh lbw decision at Hove and being run-out at the non striker's end when a Richard Oliver drive was deflected onto the stumps against Warwickshire.
He said: "I think that's the first time I've been run out in first class cricket in my career.
"I suppose in the 140 odd games I've played now, you are going to get one of those somewhere along the line.
"You can't do anything about that. You've just got to take it on the chin and move on."
Mitchell admits Worcestershire's disappointing first innings batting performance against Warwickshire led to their downfall as they were dismissed for 149 in 42 overs.
He said: "The damage was was done in our first innings. I thought it was a great effort by the bowlers in both innings.
"They bowled really well and had control of the scoreboard unbelievably well. It was pretty much two and a half runs an over for 95% of their two innings.
"We just didn't get enough runs. We didn't give the bowlers enough time off. We batted for only 42 overs and were pretty much in the field for seven of the first eight sessions which is difficult for the boys.
"It was a reasonable effort to bowl them out for 260. First morning we didn't have too much luck, a lot of nicks which dropped short and playing and missing.
"Certainly there were no demons in the pitch and for us it was about getting over that new ball in our first innings and we didn't do it. We were five down for not many and only managed to make 149. It would have been nice if we had got parity or beyond."
