Cricket is a game of the mind.

How else can you explain calm, rational people suddenly going to pieces when they try and bowl?

They have the dreaded yips.

My recent comments that wicketkeepers should take returns in front of the stumps caused a stir with Rob Sanderson:

Are you looking to improve your technique to play better cricket? You may be looking in the wrong place.

I get a lot of emails asking how I can improve players technique. I love them all, but often the answer is nothing to do with technique at all.

For me, good technique is not something you can learn by the copybook or by getting advice from a coach who has never seen you play. It's a natural consequence of other factors.

Take a listen to my latest cricket coaching podcast. This week I spoke to Pat Legge, senior coach at Devizes CC.

Pat's role as coach of the First XI rather than a youth or colts section is rare in the club game so I was keen to get his insight into the job. We spoke about coaching club players, how to warm up properly, the role of fitness training on performance and the future of coaching at club level.

If you are eagle eyed you may have noticed 2 new pages on harrowdrive designed to help improve your nutritional preparation.

Remember, good nutrition is vital to good cricket performance, without eating right you're risking a large drop in performance levels.

Make the best of your game and check out these pages:

This is cricket nutrition tip of the week #1

Pasta is great as a delicious source of energy. But as a gut-fearing cricketer, you definitely have to choose when you eat it and what sort you eat.

Eat the whole-wheat variety. It has more nutrients and is lower GI than the white variety.

During match days and training periods that require higher carbohydrate intake (higher volume training in the winter) eat one whole-wheat pasta meal per day. During other phases (like where I'm trying to lose fat), the pasta stays on the shelf in favour of a higher lean protein, good fat, and fruit and veggie intake.

Those hamstring muscles in the back of your legs have a hard life. They spend half their time doing virtually nothing, then we make great demands on them as we sprint singles and chase balls in the field.

No wonder they are prone to injury.

Even when they are functioning well they may not be giving you their best because of modern lifestyles. Here are 3 things you can do to minimise the risk of injury and maximise their performance on the pitch.

Herschelle Gibbs downplayed the six sixes he hit during the World Cup. He certainly didn't give any clues as to how to emulate him, but what if you want to?

Judging by the fact that it has happened at the top level less than a handful of times, it's not an easy challenge. Here is how you might be able to pull it off.