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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So what is it about slip catching that makes this skill so difficult and specialist? Firstly, the reaction time is often very minimal as the ball is released in excess of 140 kph and then additional force added in the deflection to your hands at slip. In some cases the close distance that one would stand when fielding slip for the spinner also adds to the difficulty level. The ball can also find you at different heights, angles and speeds which makes the catch awkward to take.

Secondly, one of the challenges that faces a slip fielder is the infrequency of the ball coming to them. Put yourself in the shoes of a test match fielder in the slips as the opposition plough along a partnership over 200 and he has been fielding for 2 days without even smelling the ball. Concentration certainly plays a role here to be able to snaffle that chance with minutes to go after a long day in the searing heat.

What can be done to solve these challenges and allow for improved slip catching both individually and collectively as a cordon? A few quick suggestions may open a window to unlocking the inner slip genius.

The first is not rocket science, but it is the most important – Practice. Try as often as you can to replicate the skill as you receive it in the game. Often the slips are neglected at lower levels of the game due to reluctance to train this skill or inability to execute drills which directly correlate to slip catching. There really is no replacing quality repetition, not only will it allow you identify and discover the nuances of slip catching, but also breed familiarity through confidence and volume.

Find the correct slippers. It has for many a year been a position for those who are not the most agile in the field or have graduated through the junior ranks and now as a senior in the team, feel their rightful place is to sleep behind the keeper for a few overs. Recruiting players who are genuinely willing to be in the cordon is a good place to start, that will eliminate the pretenders from the real deal. The next filter should be those who seek improvement and are willing to put the work in, without this attitude you are up against it. Lastly, identify players who have good coordination on the ball. This is pretty easy to spot, but often these tend to be some agile movers and good throwers which creates a conundrum whether to put them in the grabbers or keep them in the outer. This takes some management and each team is different, but when that one chance from their best batsman gets shelled you would wish that you had placed the “man with the mitts” in that position.

Thirdly, find those who work well together. The best slip fielders have seen have been part of a quality cordon. Those that understand each other’s roles and strengths. They have had time to earn trust with each other, to optimize their positioning to cover the most distance and angles and be able to help each other get better through a collective will and accountability. There is no better feeling for a bowler than knowing that if he finds the edge his celebration can begin immediately and no worse one for a batsman who looks back at an eager and impenetrable wall and knows that if the knick is found he is on the way to the showers.

The intricacies of slip fielding technique and tactics are vast and hopefully this provides a good starting point. For drills and more information on this log onto Coach Ed powered by Gary Kirsten Cricket on the Gary Kirsten website and make an application to attend our online courses and workshops. This provides a library of information for players and an accreditation platform for coaches.

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How you do small things, is how you do all things

The GKC High Performance Academy which runs in Cape Town from November to February with aspiring and current first class cricketers from around the world has just come to an end. Upon its completion, it was time to take stock and reflect on the achievements and improvements made by each player and the group as a whole. There are various moving parts to this program being a successful process and taking players games to the next level, whether that be breaking into the first class system or pushing for higher honours on the international stage. Through a combination of a variety of experiences both on and off the field and intervention with some of the best players and coaches in the world these players certainly levelled up! But what can this teach us about High performance? Simply put it distills into one phrase, how you do small things is how you do all things!

Starting with the coaches, The GKC brings together a mix of staff whom are highly skilled in their respective spheres of influence and by combining the best thinking of all involved create a program which is seamless in its planning, communication and execution. The addition of specialist players and coaches to bolster the support the players receive is truly outstanding. At any given time, there can more than 7 coaches serving the players across a variety of tasks from throw downs to keeping practice to target bowling. Watching this coaching team operate is extraordinary in terms of their engagement, work rate and expertise but this is not even the remarkable aspect. What is special, is their level of detail to everything they do, especially the SMALL things. The players soon learn that in the intentionally created performance environment that the standards of excellence which are promoted are not only spoken of but are reinforced by action of the coaches consistently.

This places the player in a position to rise to the challenges with the support of people whom have their best interests at heart and what an effort they gave! It was with admiration and inspiration that I watched this group of young men embrace every experience that was thrown their way. This open minded approach and full engagement in every task was a hallmark of the 2018 HPA intake. Whether that be a steamy early morning mountain hike or the repetitive volume of balls struck in an attempt to ingrain a technical position, the attitude of the players was exceptional. Over the 4 months, I observed habits become embedded both on and off the field. The incremental small improvements made every day certainly add up with compound interest of time. It was then not surprising to see the conditioning results of a particular individual increase by 720 meters on the dreaded Yoyo test! What makes this story even more heartwarming was that his leadership inspired his fellow team mates to more awareness in their lifestyle and to greater heights in their fitness as he was not the only one to have that significant shift. When asking him what he attributed this to, he replied with our Performance specialist’s famous words…. “I plus-ed 1every day!”

The GKC HPA was full of learning for both coaches and players and it was a privilege to operate within a space which grows all individuals to be the best versions of themselves and adds value to those involved. Next year’s program will strive to be even better as we aim to do ALL things by paying attention to the SMALL things.

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In a coach’s vocabulary, the word “drill” rolls off the tongue with fluency. Drills are often searched for by coaches looking to show competence and confidence at their training sessions to add to the library of activities that can be done. There is an abundance of drills which can be found in various sources whether through past experience, in books or even online. Although these can conjure up inspiration and creativity, the most effective drills are often unique and personalised for the player at their particular level of development. “Drills” have their place in the sun especially when considering the repetition of a learned motor skill and their effectiveness in developing skills has stood the test of time but there is more than meets the eye to just “hitting balls”.

The decision making process is often the forgotten cousin when conjuring up a new exciting drill and this is where “constraints-led” coaching rises to the occasion. By presenting various scenarios, rules and conditions a coach can engage the players mind and body to the simplest task. The most informal version of constraints can be found no further than the backyard. Growing up in a cricketing household, a bat and ball were never far from reach. Age old rules such as “six –and-out”, “one hand one bounce” and “electric wickets” were a common language which informed decision making and caused many a heated debate whether the “pot plant could have caught that one”. Needless to say, if more drills were run in this way it would allow players to strategise, make decisions and perform the given objective for themselves, not to mention by gamifying training it can add to the enjoyment experienced.

Effective learning finds this balance. On the see-saw between novelty and boredom lies emotional relevance. Back to the backyard, it was a daunting sight to see big brother steaming in with the taped tennis ball from 12 yards wanting nothing more than to get the bat back in his hand (or inflict a bruise as a trophy), but on reflection, what did this teach me? Skills such as getting in line, playing swing bowling and facing pace not to mention the mental components of grit, game plans and concentration. I can even recall going to the nets to prepare my technique for the game… played at Number 14Cherry Lane every weekend.

The debate will continue between the “constraints-led” community and the “old school drill masters”, however with a balanced approach to the framework of improvement a unique mix can be created which if intentionally constructed can lead to players having all the tools in the box. Equipping players to adapt given the task and the environment with prepared skill is what performance is all about.

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In a recent Coach Education program which Gary and I were facilitating, we joined with some coaches who were working with some young players from a primary school. Upon observing a young bowler deliver 6 balls (which were on a variety of lines) the coaches were asked about what would be their observations and first interventions with the player. A plethora of varying answers emerged – as expected. Advice varied all the way from an angled run up to suggesting a new a grip on the ball as well as various changes that could be made to his action, release position and follow through. With all these viewpoints, which were often conflicting… I tried a coaching “experiment”.

The first question which I asked him was, “When you bowl your best, where do you find the most joy? With a beaming smile on the young man’s face he replied. “When I CLEAN bowl him!!!”. This gave us all a great starting point on where to pitch a message to the enthusiastic inswing bowler. Through a series of open questions, the boy got to his own answer about what he needed to do in order to do this more consistently. “I need to start the ball wider with MY swing”. Brilliant! “Where do you normally aim?”, I asked in curiosity. “At the stumps of course”, he replied confidently. A silence of epiphany gripped the group of coaches who had assembled, which included many who had worked with him before. The rest was now going to be simple. I instructed the player, “Take this cone and place it on a line in which you want to start the ball in order to “Clean Bowl” him”. He duly did, about a foot and a half outside off stump. With a bound in his step he returned to the top of his run up, rearing to try again. Of the next 6 balls – 5 hit the stumps, much to the delight of the player and coaches alike. So what was the learning?

In simple terms, we started where the player is. So often as coaches, with our coaching knowledge of technique, game plans, drills and jargon, we start where we are. The language which we understand, the lens on the game which is our own, the technical “models” we hold as perfection. In player-centered coaching, this can be the exact issue that inhibits our ability to connect with the players on their level. Understanding what makes the player unique and their view the game is a much more influential starting point. Building the relationship between player and coach allows trust to form and belief to exist which can ultimately lead to significant change.

Upon reflection of this particular experience, an image gathered in my mind of a camp which we ran in Dubai about a year ago – Gary with the young player in Dubai

Perhaps starting where the player is, is as simple as that!

Head coach – Ryan Cook

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“When will they learn?”, the all too familiar phrase of a frustrated coach whose team has not executed their skills to the required standard. This may take its form in a variety of ways, be that through lack of skill transfer from practice to match, poor decision making under pressure or even inadequate preparation. However before pointing the finger at a players’ incompetence, a coach should be reflecting upon the work that he or she has done in order to give the players the best chance of success and it is often the assumptions that coaches make that is the hindrance to player performance.

In the modern age of information and constant connection to knowledge it may be assumed that players, at no matter what level they play at, have a basic skill combined with robust thinking and physical competence to execute that skill. Let’s take the young U13 cricketer playing for his school 1^st XI at Primary school. Should he have the ability to set a field to his own bowling? Bowl the ball on one side of the wicket? Vary his lengths to different batters? Construct an over? If you answered “Yes” to all these questions, one should be making sure that time is taken in order to equip the player with the either the technical, tactical, mental or physical skill to do so. This is done through an array of interventions such as purposeful practices, in depth conversations and understanding of the player, but one word of advice – Be mindful of the assumptions you make!

So how to break the assumption barrier? Many would give advice of “Make no assumptions”, however this is not really practical on many occasions. The first road to take is one of asking. Through the art of good questioning and listening one should be able to ascertain the current reality in which a player sits and gain an understanding of his or her lens and level of proficiency. For example when coaching players the art of playing spin, one could ask questions such as; “What is your mindset when spinners bowl to you?”, “What shots regularly bring about boundaries against off spinners?”, “Recall a time when you played the leg spinner well, what did you do?”. The list could go on depending on your gauge of the player’s awareness. By utilizing their language to gain a deeper understanding of the players outlook and skillset it can provide a reference point from which to build and grow, but too often the narrative comes in at a level too high according to a preconceived idea.

The Second Road to take is Clarity of Expectation. Through this direct route of communication one can provide the necessary direction to avoid misunderstandings which open up the door to frustration and disappointment from both parties provided these expectations are “capable”. As Henry Winkler quotes, “assumptions are the termites of relationships”. As coaches we are in the relationship business and this can have a bearing on people and performance. In cricket circles, an assumption commonly misplaced is one in the fielding arena – having an individual placed in the field without clear expectation of his or her role is the cause of red mist rolling into the bowlers mind time and time again. For example, the inner ring fielder gives away an easy single to the new batsman. What is needed in this regard is a language of understanding between all team members of what their role is and even some tools on how to achieve that objective. By providing clear expectations, one removes the assumptions which may not be shared by individuals or a group, creating a space which is more conducive to performance.

Whether in the coaching space or not it seems we are constantly making assumptions based on “truths and facts”, often through our “glasses”, it is important that we challenge these beliefs through asking effective questions, listening without judgement, or by co creating clarity in expectation with our players in order to show care and be fair not only in performance but off the field too. Having the courage to do this can be a game changer for your coaching and development of your players and teams.

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It is an element which is focused heavily on at Gary Kirsten Cricket in all our coaching programmes.

“One of the key things to ask yourself is, have you done the work under that pressure. That pressure is often really difficult to replicate,” GKC Head Coach, Ryan Cook said.

“Pressure can come from various sources. They can come from internally or externally,” Cook added.

Cook explains that players must be able to deal with psychological and physiological pressure during a game.

“One of the tools we use is training the guys (players) in pressure situations more often. That way they become used to the responses they will default to have. These responses can be psychological or physiological so for example, sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach, those are all physiological ones,” Cook explained.

“Psychologically, players can go into different modes of mental states. Some players become clouded with doubt, others start to have fear. Sometimes they respond with bravado.”

At the GKC, coaches put players through different situations which are tailor-made for the individual.

“Some of the methods we use in training are raising the consequence of a particular task or decreasing the time that they have to perform a task whether that is cricket related or not. By increasing the consequence, we start to see how people respond under those circumstances,” Cook said.

“Some players will need to calm down more, some will have to hype up more but they need to understand what they need to do,” he said.

“Mindfulness and breathing techniques often allow the players to sort out their emotions or thoughts in their head at that particular time, which helps them raise their awareness levels and promotes better performance” Cook said.

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