Further Cricket Reading

Captaincy

• Mike Brearley - The Art of Captaincy One of Englands finest captains outlines his thoughts on being the boss. Some of it is a little out of date now and the focus is clearly on the first-class and test games. Nevertheless it is an essential read for anyone who captains at any level. The insight is second to none.

Fitness

• Alan Pearson - SAQ Cricket: Speed, Agility and Quickness For Cricket Sound sport science principles lie beneath the SAQ system. An excellent aid to anyone wanting to improve conditioning in cricket.
• Mike Boyle - Functional Training for Sport Making your fitness 'functional' means making it specific to cricket. Mike Boyle explains in detail how you can do this for any sport. Mike covers the progression of strength, power and conditioning with clarity. It's designed for athletes to understand but you will need to know some of the basics of sport fitness principles to get the best from the book.
• David Sandler - Sports Power Sports Power is a great introduction to the theory and application of fitness training to improve strength, power, speed and agility. It doesn't refer to cricket specifically but is written in a way that allows you to apply it to any sport.
• Rob Ahmun - Strength and Conditioning for Cricket at all Levels. An online coaching course by the strength coach of Glamorgan CCC designed to guide you through the elements you need to know about fitness that will improve your cricket.

Psychology and Tactics

• Rainer Martens - Coaches' Guide to Sport Psychology This book is aimed at US sport coaches but it covers the basics so clearly without being patronising that it is an essential read. Anyone wanting to get the best out of sport psychology but with no background in it should pick this up.
• Christopher Bazalgette - Think Cricket This short book is packed with tips on cricket tactics for experienced players. While you are bound to know a few of the tricks I would challenge anyone to claim they knew everything. Particularly the slow bowling section.
• David Hinchliffe - How to Use Mental Training to Boost your Game My own online training course that reveals the secrets of how first class players get the mental edge.

Bowling

• Ian Pont - The Fast Bowler's Bible It might not be the gospel according to the MCC coaching book, but this book is all about bowling as fast as possible. If you are a bowler with good natural pace this book can help get you to express.
• Ian Pont - How to Bowl Faster Carrying on from Ian's book, this online course gives you the drills and techniques to add pace and accuracy.

Other

• Roy Palmer - Zone Mind, Zone Body Practical advice and explanation on how to train your body and mind to get into the zone. While Roys ideas may seem a little leftfield to most cricketers, they are based on sound psychological and movement principles and proven to work. Highly recommended, especially if you are recovering from injury or in a form slump.
• Tom Smith - New Cricket Umpiring and Scoring Not just a book for umpires and scorers. All players should have a deep understanding of the laws - even if it is just to make sure someone doesn't get one over on you.

If you want more coaching advice check out the PitchVision Academy courses section.