As a 19 year old, Jamie is a probationary member of the MCC and has spent the summer playing games for the prestigious club to become a playing member. He has also been opening the batting for his team, Exeter Cricket Club in the Devon Premier League, gaining some great experience up the order. So far he has contributed with a few good performances including a 93 and 4 for 16 with his leg breaks.

“The HPA was unforgettable! There was such a fantastic group of boys and we shared some amazing experiences together on and off the pitch”, he says in reflection of his time in South Africa. “It was invaluable for my development and understanding of cricket”, as he beams and recalls stories of the comradery and challenges which was a hallmark of the program.

Coaching Director of Gary Kirsten Cricket, Garreth Von Hoesslin worked closely with Jamie throughout his one on one sessions and speaks highly of the young mans’ skill and tenacity. “His ability to present a full face on the ball and hit the ball down the ground was incredible to watch. To be fair, Jamie put in a lot of extra yards on his weaker areas as well, he went from a player who was a very inconsistent sweeper of the ball to being able to produce the shot under pressure in games. This is the kind of development you want to see as a coach.”

Jamie now moves into the much debated University Cricket system in the United Kingdom for Durham University in September which has traditionally produced players for the major county 1^st XI. Jamie has high hopes that he may follow in these footsteps and knows the work that needs to be put in to achieve this. Gary Kirsten Cricket wishes him all the best in his pursuit of his best and will be following his progress with an eager eye.

Applications for the Gary Kirsten Cricket High Performance Academy 2020 are open. For more information visit www.garykirsten.com/high-performance-academy/

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Q: What was your original motivation to join HPA 2019 and your expectations of the program leading into the start of it?

A: I applied for the HPA to see if I could play at a higher level as I wanted to pursue a future at the professional level, having not been involved in a county system for almost 6 years I had to rely on club nets. I was lucky enough to be playing with Aneesh Kapil who was hungry and knew what it took to get to the next level and he recommended me to apply.

I also saw it as a sink or swim kind of experience where I will learn whether I have a future in the game as I had a bit of self-doubt of not being good enough after not being in a professional set up for so long and having not been signed at 17 or 18 years old.

I had the hunger and was ready to soak up all the coach’s information in order to know what I have to work on and with my performances towards the end of the academy, I feel more confident to prove these doubts wrong.

The academy was what I expected and more, I had a pretty good idea as I had watched pretty much all the YouTube and Facebook videos on the high performance academy and had Aneesh telling me what it would be like. The attention to detail, basics and the standards expected from yourself is what really stood out.

Q: Tell me about your experience at HPA?

My experience at the HPA was amazing and better than I ever thought it could be, mainly due to the progression I felt I had made during my time there working with amazing coaches such as Adrian Birrell, Ryan Cook, Gary Kirsten, Darren Stevens, Chris Nash, Garreth Von Hoesslin and Andrew Wylie.

I felt like every session was a meaningful session and I always learned a lot and took a lot out of each session with everyone. I have a notebook full of key learnings, in there is a lot of technical and tactical things such as getting my head into the balls and not being upright and a change to my trigger which all seemed to click about 3 weeks in.

It was great to experience cricket in another country with coaches who had a unique way of coaching, not the typical English way, and seeing how different the approaches can be. My only regret was not having longer on the academy than the 8 weeks. I felt very privileged to have been there and been able to have the opportunity to learn from such great coaches.

I went through some ups and downs as well, I felt I did struggle the first week and it did get me a bit down in frustration. I remember Adi saying to me,“sometimes you have to get worse before you get better”. I felt that was the case for me as I got my head down and took everything on board from all the coaches and I really began to find my feet 3 weeks in. I feel like my bowling and fielding has improved drastically too since my time at the academy and since being back.

Q: Were there any highlights that stood out for you during your time at the HPA?

Meeting Gary Kirsten and having 1 on 1’s with him was amazing! I learnt so much from him every time. In fact, all the coaches in my 1 on 1’s were great. I remember one session I had with Darren Stevens, he said some very encouraging things, and asked what made me the player I was that day 6 weeks in from the one he saw at the start. It was nice for him to notice the improvements in my game.

From a playing point of view, scoring 70 not out in the Kent Inter squad match as well as scoring a hundred for Claremont CC was very satisfying.

Coaching the kids at the Gary Kirsten Foundation in Khayelitsha was very humbling and eye opening and to be honest just being able to play cricket and work at your game every day, Monday to Friday, was an amazing experience, I love the game and being around it so much, talking and taking part in it so intensely was a highlight on its own.

Q: Since leaving in March – what did you do in the lead up to the season?

A: In the lead up the season, I attended preseason nets with my club side Wolverhampton. The weather from arriving back in England meant it was mostly restricted to indoor training. I took the intensity and work ethic from the HPA into my sessions. A big thing for me was caring about each and every ball in the nets and making sure every session was meaningful. I worked at the areas I had to started to work on in Cape Town such as developing my sweep shot and pull shot.

Q: How has the season gone so far?

A: Playing for Wolverhampton in the Birmingham league, it started off very promising with a couple of 40’s but poor execution and shot selection got me out. I need to be greedier and ruthless and make starts into big scores, this was frustrating but also promising as my team mates and even spectators had noticed big improvements in my game.

So far I have scored 316 runs at an average of 31.6 with 3 fifties and highest score of 99 (where I got run out). I have only had 10 innings because a month into the season I suffered from a liver virus causing jaundice, so I was in and out of the hospital for 7 to 8 weeks with multiple blood tests weekly and told not to play. This was difficult, because I hadn’t been training or at work in the week but giving it all on a Saturday and Sunday for the club. It was a very mentally challenging period in my career in cricket as I had been very high off the improvements made on my time at the HPA, which gave me a lot of confidence to go out there keep working hard and score big runs, I felt like the illness came at the worst time!

However, cricket is a sport you fail more times than you ever succeed and you learn to pick yourself up and keep going and remembering the hard work put in will come good and to have the attitude of “never going away”. Only a few weeks ago my blood tests returned to normal and as a precaution they will be checking my blood again in a couple of months before finally discharging me.

The overall experience has made me more hungry and just to use this set back to come back stronger as there will always be set backs along the way to chasing your dreams.

Q: What are your aspirations for the rest of the season?

A: After the illness, it feels like the season is only just beginning for me now. I’m finally feel healthier and able to train how I was before and coming off the back of a 55 and 99 this Saturday, I feel confident about working hard and finishing very strong and hopefully scoring a few hundreds in the last half of the season and make match winning performances.

Q: Do you have any future plans coming up for the off season?

A: My future plans are to attend the HPA again in 2020 and continue where I left off making positive strides to improving and continue the great relationship with the coaches there who I feel like have got to know me and my game very well. Having learned more about my game and what it takes to take it the next level to keep improving and push for a place in a county 2nd team and impress with performances and work ethic.

For more information on the HPA 2020 and to apply, click here.

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Looking to continue work on his leg spin as well as develop his batting was his goal when reaching South Africa and the work that he put in over the 8 week program was often beyond the call of duty. Philippe was often seen running additional laps in the heat and target bowling long into the afternoons with fellow Dutch “A” player Julian De Mey. This determination was well rewarded when producing match winning figures for the GKC in their match against UCT taking 6 for 27 in 8.5 overs in February and he continued to find improvements with the ball with strong mentorship from Adi Birrell, current Hampshire CCC Head Coach.

Philippe focused on his playing of the short ball as well as construction of innings in white ball cricket. “I have been trying to keep up the skills I learnt and the exercises we have been given, I have not only been doing this, but also trying to implant it into our club trainings which we have all benefited from”, reflected Philippe, who has been playing for the Netherlands U19s and Dutch “A” team since his return.

He took a 4 wicket haul against Guernsey for the A side but as always is trying to improve himself saying, “I am starting to feel a little bit more confident and my batting is going better, I want to bowl with lots of confidence”. His future plans are to go overseas again this year to play cricket combined with studies.

The GKC coaches are looking forward to meeting up again with Philippe in Holland this coming week as part of the annual High Performance Camp at the VRA ground in Amsterdam. He heaped praises for these coaches saying, “It was an absolute pleasure to work with the best coaches in the world and the professional way they go about the game. The time the coaches spend with you and the way they listen gives you a feeling of being understood. They work hard and are always ready.”

Applications for the GKC High Performance Academy 2020 are open, click here to enroll!

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Since leaving the HPA in March, Callum has been training with Worcester and minor county team Herefordshire. Playing for the Worcestershire 2nd XI, he has already notched up a two fifties and was involved in a hundred run partnership scoring 78 with fellow HPA player Josh Breed against Warwickshire 2nd XI last week which consisted of a strong bowling line up.

Callum reflects on these early successes in the season, “I have noticed improvements in my game from my time in Cape Town and think my game is in a good place.”

He goes onto add that the HPA provided a well organised and professional setup that stimulated training from both players and coaches which was of a high standard and quality. “I felt like all the coaches were solely focused on my development as a cricketer and the environment they created was exceptional.”

Making runs is not all that Callum is currently busy with, he has also founded a charity to raise awareness and provide for mental health in young sports people which is a hot topic at the moment in the UK and around the world. “The charity will aim to educate coaches, players and staff in mental health related to sport, this includes dealing with the pressures of a career in sport and funding individuals who need professional help”.

His aspirations for the season are to continue to make match winning performances for Worcestershire 2nd XI and Herefordshire with a view to play for Oxford MCCU next year as he furthers his studies. With a good head on his shoulders and a strong drive to succeed, this is a goal which he is capable of achieving.

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Following a successful Khaya Majola Coca Cola Week and CSA Cubs Week, Justin attended the Gary Kirsten Cricket High Performance Academy 2019 under the guidance of Gary Kirsten and Adi Birrell. Having been involved in the High performance pipeline of Gary Kirsten Cricket for the past 4 years, Justin’s primary motivation for attending the program was to prepare for the English summer in an intense and professional environment. With a keen eye on playing first class cricket, Justin’s goal for this season is to score as many runs as he can for his club and hopefully attract some opportunities to play in the county setup to showcase his abilities.

He has successfully started in the quest of achieving match winning performances at club level scoring a hundred and contributing with the ball with 2 for 28. He plays alongside fellow GKC and Rondebosch Boys High alumni Daniel Moriarty who is progressing along a similar path and the two have been training hard and have had a strong hand in the clubs first two victories of the season.

When asked what the highlight of his 8 weeks at the HPA was, he sites confidently, “Spending quality time with some of the best coaches who have coached all around the world. The one on one coaching was the stand out for me and I learnt a lot about my game in the white ball format.” Justin alongside the others at the HPA took away learnings of game plans across the formats as well as working tirelessly on the specific drills alongside top class international and county players during their time on the program. Adrian Birrell, current Hampshire Head Coach, was not only impressed with his all round technical ability but also on Justin’s attitude for the game saying, “Justin has high potential and a high ceiling”.

There is no doubt that this humble young man has a bright future ahead and with a steely determination and a solid foundation there is no doubt that we will be hearing more of this exciting player in seasons to come.

Image source www.buryfreepress.co.uk

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Having recently concluded a High Performance Camp in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, as part of a launch event for the partnership of Gary Kirsten Cricket with Starfield Sports, an academy involved in various sports with cricket as its flagship, I was amazed by the unbridled passion and love for the game which I saw in this developing nation at the grassroots level. Both players and coaches exuded an enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge which was truly remarkable and the signs of a spark which could alight something special in the region.

It was certainly an incredible experience for the cricketers who attended the 5 day program, getting to work with the GKC High Performance coaching team. The cricketing system that Starfield have put in place has all the makings of a pipeline which if managed correctly will reap great rewards in years to come. Emphasis and investment is also being directed at the coaches and there is no illusion that they will be key drivers of the success of this program.

Prior to the Camp, the GKC conducted a Coach Education workshop for 25 coaches who are involved in the setup for Kenyan Cricket and Starfield Sports. These 2 days were enlightening and covered a range of topics from player management to practical competencies for a coach as well as the relevant fundamentals of the technical aspects of the game. Having received their accreditations, these coaches will no doubt be more confident and competent to continue to improve themselves and the players that they work with at all levels of the game.

Famous coach, John Wooden, was famously quoted for saying, “No written word, nor spoken plea, can teach our youth what they should be. Nor all the books on all the shelves, it’s what the teachers are themselves” and no saying is more fitting for a GKC coaching team that left their mark on this African region with energy and expertise which will last for years to come in the hearts and minds of the players and coaches. Kenya also made its impression on the GKC coaches who left with a fulfillment of a hard week of work and some impressive sock tans and croaky voices as a reminder… and isn’t this really what it is all about!

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This year, the program was slightly altered from previous years, the duration was 8 weeks long and followed a theme based around “player responsibility”. This season each player received 3 “Team based sessions” including a masterclass, nets and matches every week as well as 2 One-on-One sessions. Players also then got an elective for additional services such as Mental sessions with Tom Dawson Squibb as well as conditioning sessions with Warwick Cross at Sports Science Institute of South Africa to supplement their skill work.

GKC once again enlisted some of the best names in coaching to share their experience and expertise. Led by Gary Kirsten, the program featured a High Performance Coaching Team including Adrian Birrell, Garreth Von Hoesslin and Ryan Cook along with specialists in their respective fields who conducted weekly sessions. An example of this occurred in the third week when the players had the privilege to a week practicing alongside Dane Vilas, former Proteas Wicket Keeper Batsman and current Lancashire captain as he modeled the consummate professional. In Week 4, Eric Simons ran a masterclass on modern day bowling strategies which was a true eye opener for not only the players but the coaches in attendance.

It has been incredible to see the growth and improvement in the players during the program. Each individual embraced the environment which placed emphasis on the attention to detail to the standard of performance which is required to become and succeed as a professional in the new cricketing landscape. The bonds formed between the players and the relationships with each other and the coaches forged through shared experiences are a hallmark of this program.

Keep an eye out for applications opening for our 2020 program!

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Gary Kirsten is the iconic South African cricket legend, and India’s World Cup winning coach in 2011. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One Day Internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman.

His vision is to develop an internationally renowned cricket services business to develop the game and help spread his coaching legacy globally. His state-of-the-art facility in Centurion, Gauteng Province provides coaching for cricketers from around the world.

Speaking at the conclusion of the negotiations, Director of Star Field Sports, Karan Kaul said “We believe this partnership will double down on the strengths of each organization – Gary Kirsten Cricket’s expertise, experience and reputation combined with Star Field’s market knowledge, work ethic and drive is a perfect fit to take over the East African market and develop the game of Cricket.”

The partnership with Star Field Sports in Kenya will aim to support cricket development, starting in April 2019 with a High-Performance Camp and Coach Education Workshop run by GKC at The Nairobi Gymkhana. The camp is open to both professional cricketers in East Africa and young aspiring cricketers. Kirsten’s foray into East Africa is a first for his organisation.

Star Field has in the past, organized highly successful Youth Cricket Tournaments that attract players from East Africa, India and South Africa – the most recent of which was the Hayer One Starfield Youth League in August 2018.

Source crossover.co.ke

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To first understand what “rotating strike” is we need to put it into perspective. Since 2015 what is the average dot ball percentage of international teams in One Day International Cricket? Having asked this question to a multitude of players and coaches at various levels,I am always amazed by the range of answers that this evokes. As an exercise, try it with the individuals and the teams you coach.

England have the lowest dot ball percentage of any team (48%) and Zimbabwe and Afghanistan the Highest (57,5%). This equates to between 144 and 172 balls on average per 50 over innings. Due to the Powerplay restrictions at various times of the innings, the dot ball percentages may differ. For example,in 2018, Bangladesh spinner, Shakib Al Hasan has bowled 70 % dot balls in Powerplay One, compared with 35 % in the last Powerplay. With this in mind, coaches should make provisions for this at practice and discuss game plans which are in line with these norms.

Since the 2015 World Cup, only one player in the world has an overall dot ball percentage lower than 40 %, can you guess who it is? The answer is AB De Villiers with 37,3 %. Of those close to him many are late middle order batsman such as Jos Buttler and David Miller. King Kohli, the best ODI batsman in the world sits at 43,2. The bell curve lands with a majority of top players slightly below or above 50 %. It goes without saying that not all batsmen are created equal. Some are better with manipulating the ball into space whilst others strength involves finding or clearing the boundary and this should be considered when formulating a game plan.

One effective practice session for the illustration of this is to set up a particular field (perhaps for the middle overs 11-40) and divide the balls into 10 ball brackets. The player then attempts to play a maximum of 5 dot balls (50%). A progression on this may be to add one boundary option to the equation as well as perhaps the addition of scoring doubles rather than only singles. This will equate to a healthy strike rate in game play rather and give the player a sense of comfort when facing dot balls with the knowledge that they have the mental know how to manage the pressure, the tactical ability to choose the appropriate options and the skill execution control the ball into the spaces for runs.

“Rotating the strike” is a very important skill to learn and teach players of all levels especially when arriving at the crease and during the getting in phase. There is a whole module dedicated to this topic in Coach Ed powered by Gary Kirsten Cricket involving drills and strategies for individuals and teams to improve this aspect of the game. For more details see www.garykirsten.com

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Heading up the program this year is Adi Birrell, who is world renowned in the coaching circles for his successful stints as Head Coach of the Ireland National Cricket Team and Assistant Coach for the Proteas from 2014-2017. He has also recently been appointed Head Coach of the Paarl Rocks in the new Mzanzi Super League T20 competition in South Africa. Adi brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge in a unique way and having joined GKC last year for a stint at the HPA is excited by this year’s program. “The numerous brilliant performances achieved by the 2018 HPA attendees indicates there were improvements to their individual games. I look forward to meeting the new intake and guiding them through an intense program which I am sure will bring lasting improvements.”

This year, players’ will receive individualized training along with a selection of additional interventions to take their games to the next level. Ryan Cook, Director of High Performance at GKC said, “In our quest to provide the most value to the players, their program is customizable to their needs to level up. It is so exciting to see players progress throughout the program and the cheery on the top is when they perform in the seasons to come. This year sees a unique occurrence that 4 players from the HPA in 2018 will be returning to continue the work that was done last year which is encouraging and exciting.”

The training facilities at GKC Headquarters are primed and ready for high quality practice and matches which are a hallmark of the program. This allows players to be prepared for the upcoming season through access to the variety of the offerings at the Constantia Sports Centre. The players will also have access to specialists in their given areas of expertise and having continuity with these support staff is instrumental in the program’s success and the improvement of the players from a holistic point of view.

When asked about the High Performance Academy in its 5^th year, Gary Kirsten said, “Once again, we have players from all around the world joining us to find the best version of themselves as cricketers and people. Exploring potential and being able to play a role in the growth of a player is a special experience.” He continued, “It is encouraging that many of the players are returning for a second year and we welcome the new players to what can be a career and even life changing couple of months with the team”.

For more updates on the GKC High Performance Academy follow us on twitter , Facebook, Instagram

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