Fundamentals

The basics of the game are as always the most crucial to success in any format. The principles of batting, including watching the ball, hitting with as fuller face of the bat as possible, weight transfer in the shot and balance throughout the movement, are technical fundamentals which must be adhered to in all formats. Likewise with bowling – Alignment towards the intended direction, stability in the action and a controlled force generation provides a bowler with a repeatable and consistent delivery which he needs confidence and a clear committed mind to execute. Many fielding techniques remain the same and are just accelerated depending on the pace of the game. These include, speed to the ball, clean pickups, accurate throws and taking catches. As a coach or player it is tempting to be distracted by fads in the game and to not spend as much time on the basics, but as famous coach Chuck Noll said, “Champions are those who do ordinary things better than everyone else”

Processes

In order to win a Test match, one team has to gain all 20 wickets at a lower cost than that of an opposition within a 5 day period. Hence the objective of the game determines the processes which need to be done in order to be successful. Limited over cricket provides the strategy which values runs in a specific amount of overs to determine a winner. The important processes thus differ in the various formats, however with these variances there are also some striking similarities important to all. When practicing for a specific format a player or coach should emphasise a game plan that will give them the best chance of success in the middle in various situations.

Similarities

A common chestnut of cricket terminology is “keeping wickets in hand”, this along with many strategies falls on a sliding continuum of importance at different stages of a match in order to accomplish the teams objective of winning the game. Take for example a T20 game when a team requires 50 runs off 10 overs with 7 wickets in hand. It is then crucial that the bowling team restrict the run rate through the fall of wickets rather than looking to contain, they will thus bowl more aggressive lines and lengths with field placings to match in order to reach the goal – perhaps borrowing some blueprints from Full day cricket.

Differences

T20 cricket has certainly unlocked players capabilities and skills in terms of innovation and execution which is filtering through the longer limited over formats and test match cricket. This is producing cricketers who can break the mould of yesteryears mind-sets which have its positives and negatives. Many more athletic players are now taking the field with acrobat like fielding standards, variations of deliveries and a full array of shot making which are now common place for even Test cricket. However many players consider the Test arena to be the true reflection of a player. Perhaps it’s the endurance, the strategy, the courage and the character of a man that is on show which appeals to the diehard cricket traditionalists over the flashy skills, adaptability and pace of the short forms, but they all have their place on the cricket landscape and thus should be embraced for what they bring to the game by both players and coaches.[/upme_private]]

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There are many examples from different sporting codes and research done about the time it takes to fully acquire a new skill or break a bad habit. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself when making a change:

What am I trying to accomplish?

An intention and setting the aim which defines what the outcome needs to be clearly is very important. Without this compelling vision, any behaviour is done without purpose and clarity.

Example: Direct hit run out from the inner ring

How will we know that the change is an improvement?

Establishing measures that will determine whether a specific change leads to an improvement is important as it will provide direction on whether you are heading in the correct direction.

Example: Throw in practice and or matches and count the hits and the misses, perhaps from different angles and collect some data. Once we know a base level, one can then continue to test against this norm over a period of time.

What is the best change to make an improvement?

Some interventions are more effective than others for specific results. Make sure your energy is going to be constructive for success.

Example: usually there is a core problem which if diagnosed will unlock the rest of the movement or action. Aiming with your front arm or aligning your feet to the target may the key to accuracy when throwing to direct hit the stumps.

This is a continual process to keep working on and by completing the Plan, Do, Reflect, Act cycle will allow your learnings to build upon each other to affect the quickest and most effective change.

Lastly, remember to keep testing your skill under pressure. As the navy seals say “You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to your training”. Keep putting yourself under pressure in practices in order to unlock the performance in the games. This is where it really counts![/upme_private]]

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So how do you manage these two spaces effectively enough in order to make the best possible decision for the individual and the team?

Drawing a distinction between the two with the players prior to the season is a very important factor. Once a player buys in to the definition of each of these he can then make a much more informed decision as to which category he fits and thus so can the coach. This provides clarity in both parties mind and provides congruence and informed decision making.

If “hurt”, the player knows he can still make a performance despite the external factors. Flashbacks to some of the world’s greatest ever innings such as Steve Waugh’s broken ribs in the West Indies, Dean Jones’s dehydration, and more recently Graeme Smith’s broken hand and Michael Clarkes barrage in Centurion a few seasons ago show what is capable of a “hurt” player. What these players do successfully is mentally engage their resilience and bring their best to the situation, and in doing so gain respect in and out of the team.

The “injured” player must seek professional help as soon as is possible. This can not only bring a quicker recovery but also clarity on what the problem exactly is to avoid speculation which often takes hold during this period. It is the professionals opinion that one must take into consideration and once a course of action has been prescribed it can then be planned with the coach and the player. In ideal situations specialists in the area of concern should be consulted. For example, if a fast bowler is struggling with a back injury it is best to see someone who has complete understanding of the region to provide his diagnosis and expertise.

Having said this, there have been many occasions recently where specific players have received 3 completely differing opinions from professionals sliding on the scale of “Manage the injury but continue to play – to take a rest for a few weeks to recover – to completely out and surgery must be done immediately”. This paints a blurry picture for the athlete and the coach and ultimately puts all parties in a compromised position.

Speaking to some experts in the field on this they agree with Rob Roy’s assessment and urge players to know the distinct difference between hurt and injury. A fast bowler is often not at 100 percent each time he takes the field but can perform through niggles and smart load management. If there is something more serious at play, then take a cautious approach as this can be career affecting in the short and long term.

In conclusion, the advice given is to get your athlete to know himself and develop awareness of his body to diagnose the hurt or injury as accurately as possible and on the different side of the same coin, as a coach, know your athlete, his personality, his defaults and characteristics as well as his body too in order to achieve the best possible results both presently and in the future.[/upme_private]]

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Physical Component

We have all been there in the preseason – The coach armed with his new whistle commanding shuttle sprints and laps around the oval followed by some gym regime that resembles Brad Pitt in Fight Club and wondering when it will be over! Fatigued outcry from the players shouting “Please can we go hit some balls, bowl a couple down and catch a few in the slips rather.”

This however is the time to do the work. A quality individualized physical conditioning program can be the best way to make the most significant impact into your game-day performance in months to come. The important element here is to make sure the program begins with the correct intentions and that a common link is drawn to how it will benefit you in the season. Starting with a base fitness component is important to establish areas to be screened and as you move closer to the season, more functional training can take place which is skill specific. It may be a good idea for both coaches and players to enlist the help of an expert individual to help with the periodization of this program to get the players peaking at the correct time. It then takes the discipline and integrity to make sure it is completed well, this may be done with the team, a trainer or simply by yourself, but either way it must be done!

Mental Component

So often small errors in our thinking are the handbrake holding us back from great performance in the middle, but we seem to neglect these as part of preseason training. Tom Dawson-Squibb, well renowned Performance Coach offers some of his thoughts to get the best from the preseason.

1. High Performance Rest – Take proper time out to recharge and connect with your love for the game again. The desire to work hard is great but to let your mind wonder can also be useful
2. Quality Reflection – Quality comes from taking a set amount of time and answering specific questions
   • Did I give myself the best chance of success?
   • What did I let myself get away with?
   • What would I do differently next year?
3. Set Goals – Set some process and outcome goals for the new season
4. Build the picture – Begin to train your brain by seeing your success the following season in specific areas. If it is to play the perfect on drive be crystal clear on the image. The more vivid, the more effective it will be.

Tactical Component

In my experience of doing many player development reviews both on an individual and collective basis, I am always surprised at how often the finger is pointed at poor tactical decision making as the reason why the game was lost, the batter played a reckless shot or the bowler costly bowled the wrong ball. It seems remiss of us to not track the route of these errors in our quest towards continuous improvement. In many ways “game sense” is the most underrated skill that great cricketers possess. This takes a combination of experience, knowledge, guidance and mentorship which can take time but all in all sits in the space of understanding our craft as best possible. Reading books of past players can be a great investment into your time in the off season as well as seeking out opportunities to grow and learn from others where you get the chance especially in your specific field of skill.

Technical Component

There can be a tendency to completely overhaul and remodel techniques in the off season. Although this can be healthy thinking towards improvement it is often the subtle changes that have the greatest impact in performance.

Purifying the Technique

Technique increases the margin of error – simple as that. It allows a skill to be repeated more simply and consistently to avoid error and bolster chances of a successful intention. With that in mind, concentrating on your basics such as your setup and stance as well as your positions on the ball and bat swing can be the most powerful interventions that can be done in this period. I am often amazed at the drills that some of the best players in the world do day in and day out and their attention to detail on gaining a clean bat path and strong positions in setup and during the shot. By simplifying the drill you also simplify the technique which allows the best chance of transference to your game and gives you the volumes required to change an ingrained habit and groove perfection. The same applies for bowling – taking good care to refine your stock ball and work on your action in terms of alignment and balance are key, the importance again is on carving your action into repeatability and consistency.

Upgrade

Much like the Apple range of Iphones, there is always seems to be a software update and a hardware upgrade. The offseason is a great opportunity to upgrade your skills. Whether it would be variations of a new delivery or honing a new stroke, the time afforded to you by the break can be a great chance to acquire new skills and to add value to you as a player for the next season. Develop a training schedule which is consistent and have some measurable and checks in place to gauge improvement over time.

Last but not least – underestimate fielding at your peril! Too many games of cricket both at a professional and recreation level are decided by poor fielding. Be that dropped chances, missed run outs or costly misfields, this can be the quickest way to improve yourself and your team by paying attention to simple techniques of fielding and integrating good habits. Now you are on the way to the “S” version of yourself! “It’s a season for a reason” I hear the purist say in their defence of their archaic thinking on preparation for a new season. To them I say “Then create a reason to your pre-season”.[/upme_private]]

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It is difficult to make judgments on environments which you have limited access and a vague understanding of. With this in mind, many decisions made may seem to lack logic from those outside but those in the inner workings of the system are clear as to the vision of an organization and team and thus their criteria may be more than meets the eye. A contribution which makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts can often be the difference between two players.

Take for example Player A and Player B, both with equal ability as well as similar skill sets and statistics. The nod will often go to the player who ticks the boxes of the teams objectives and culture the most.

This is often found in the 3rd aspect of the game – namely fielding. Fielding often can be the difference between winning and losing and a player that can save runs and take chances is always attractive to any coach or selection panel. It is one of the most controllable aspects of the game but is very often overlooked and under practiced. A suggestion would be to become a specialist in a particular position or positions to make yourself instrumental to the team’s success – Jonty Rhodes comes to mind as an “and” player with these characteristics, adding to his primary offering to the team as a batsman by being an expert fielder.

Become an all-rounder – If you have a talent with both bat or ball it is very unlikely that you cannot add to your value to the team by becoming a player who can offer a second skill. Perhaps as a batsman it is as a holding medium pacer, a part time restrictive spinner or even as a known partnership breaker. As a bowler, it may be that your contribution at the bottom of the order can give you the nudge, whether as a batter who can hang around while the “in” batter can score the majority of the runs, or as a more consistent scorer of quick runs towards the end of the innings. Every run counts and can often be the difference between winning and losing.

Off field contribution is one of the most underestimated value that lies in a player fitting into the “and” or “but” category. We have all played with the team mate who is full of energy and passion which rubs off on the other players despite his lack of skill. He is the guy arriving early at the game, staying after a practice to help another player or coach, running on drinks not to mention his contribution to a good change room vibe during the week and on match day. On the flip side of the coin is the player who has constant issues with time management, “Bats and Leaves” at nets and regularly sulks and complains about the injustices of the game, he can often be heard “praying for rain”. A positive attitude is contagious and each behaviour of commitment to the team is an affirmative etched into the minds of fellow players, coaches and selectors.

So in conclusion, picture yourself sitting around a selection table to pick yourself or another player and see if you come up with reasons to why you should be picked above and beyond your skill, if there are reasons to why you should be left out then perhaps these are the areas that you should look at developing to give yourself a better chance of success. If you do this, you will grow AND make performances BUT if not you may see yourself on the sidelines.[/upme_private]]

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Emotions

Most players who have taken part in any sport and cricket in particular empathise with the feelings related with being dropped. Disappointment is the common thread, but players also feel angry, especially if it is sudden or without good reason as well as many experiencing a sense of loss and lack of belonging during this period. Some may even feel relief to be out of the pressure cooker and a chance to reset your game. Whichever emotion you experience it is important to acknowledge and accept this sentiment and move through it mindfully in order to stay clear in purpose and principle as so often a knee jerk reaction to the event which can lead to further negativity directed towards you and the team.

What is next?

It is important to take ownership at this stage. Too many people stay in a lull by complaining and making excuses for their exclusion for too long. This is counterproductive for both the team dynamics and your personal development.

The key to this period is to be proactive in your communication with the coaches and selectors regarding your selection in order to improve on elements which are urgent to your reselection. For example, if you have been left out for a slow strike rate in limited overs cricket, practice some new ways of scoring quickly and gain skills and insight into pushing your run rate up. This work ethic will go noticed by the coaches and selectors and gives you the best chance of succeeding when recalled to the team.

Another important aspect of this can be to gain perspective. Spend some time with your support structure as well as placing some effort into other interests. This may be studying, hobbies or just relaxing in order to stay mentally in tune.

Recall

Many a prophetic word has been mentioned about “trying too hard” and this can often be the case when reselected for the starting XI. Often an ego driven response is to “prove the critics wrong”. Although this can be an effective short term plan, it can often lead to an individual forcing the performance and wanting the result so badly that the processes to get there are not adhered to sufficiently.

When the opportunity presents itself strive to be the best you can and with your new and improved skills as well as renewed confidence you will be able to take the chances to make yourself a certainty in the team.

Being replaced can often be due to external factors beyond your control. Perhaps it is an injury, a pitch which does not suit your current skill set, the balance of the team, the composition of the opposition team or just a change in game strategy and direction that the coaches are moving towards. In all these scenarios, “control the controllables” and continue to be a positive influence in and around the team, particularly if you are elected the 12th man.[/upme_private]]

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