How Kumar Sangakkara Used Hideous Batting Form to Win the World Twenty20
Kumar Sangakkara signed off his Twenty20 career with a Man of the Match performance steering Sri Lanka to World glory.
Yet entering final Sunday, Kumar was experiencing something every batsman feels: hideous batting form.
Sri Lanka had progressed to the final of the tournament despite Sangakkara scoring 19 runs at an average of 4.75. He was horribly out of form and couldn't buy a run.
We all know that feeling!
For most players, the downward spiral tends to continue, our scores remain low, our confidence is eroded on a daily basis and our emotions shift between dejection and desperation.
But this cycle did not happen to Kumar Sangakkara.
Quick Tip: Manage Your Fast Bowling with 742
How much should you bowl?
All fast bowlers know that the more you bowl the better you get. We also know that the more you bowl, the greater you chance of injury. So every session is a balance between performance and preventing back, knee or shoulder issues.
The ECB has done a huge amount of research into the subject and have come up with a simple guideline for working out how much is too much and how much is just right: 7/4/2
Streetwise Bowling: The Moon Shot
This article is part of the "Streetwise Bowling" series from PitchVision Academy. To view the full list of tactics click here.
Off spinners have to be clever. Moving the ball in to the right hander reduces your ability to take wickets over an equally skilled slow left arm bowler.
That means you need to be even more canny than the average spinner, and it's why you see such a variety in styles of off spin.
The big ripping offie bowls an "attacking" line outside off stump and through the gate. This is a great tactic, but what do you do to mix it up, or defeat a batsman who has your number?
So, picture the scene: an attacking off spinner who is having no luck against a batting pair. The batsmen are using their feet well to get to the pitch and drive safely.
What happens next?
Graphic: The Truth About Cricket Skill to Fitness Crossover
You don't need to be fit to be a skillful cricketer, and you don't need to be skillful cricketer to be fit. But, both elements together will feed off each other to make you a better player.
Cricket Show 255: Competition Winner
This week's winner of the Cricket Show podcast question competition is Ahnaf. He wins a free coaching course from PitchVision Academy.
The winning question was:
"I am a 13 year old batsman. I play for my school team. We have a coach who isn't good a fixing our problems or teaching new techniques. When I am batting I stand with a wide stance. My school coach tells me to stand with the orthodox stance. I am not fast at moving my feet so I stand with a wide stance. What should I do?"
Listen to the panels answer to his question here.
To enter your own question for the chance to win your choice of online coaching course send your questions in here.
When to Put in Effort in your Fast Bowling. It's Not All the Time.
This is a guest article from former professional bowler, and current Strength, Conditioning and Fast Bowling Coach Steffan Jones.
Go easy on the hard work.
The only way to improve your fitness, pace and stamina is by stressing the body to the limit. You have to train hard. However, the body can only tolerate so much. Flat out effort is draining.
So how do you train and play hard without breaking yourself? Read on to find out.
PV/VIDEO Weekly Highlights 36: Cricket or Tennis?
Welcome to the PV/VIDEO Digest, your highlights summary of the weeks best videos from PitchVision Interactive
You can share these videos by email or onto facebook, and post your comments right here: From serious analysis to Friday fun. Here are the top 5 videos uploaded from PitchVision systems around the world this week.
Cricket Show S5 Episode 12: Spinners and Shot Putts
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David Hinchliffe and Mark Garaway chat cricket playing coaching on the show. The team start but taking a fresh look at the tactics of spin in a world of Twenty20 spin success and apply the methods to club and school games.
Then, in the mailbag, there are questions answered on the right batting stance for a 13 year old batsman and using a shot putt to increase bowling speed. Can it be done?
Meanwhile Burners reports from the ICC in Dubai with a chat with batting coach Adnan Sabri.
Listen in to find out more!
World Twenty20 Lessons: How to Bowl and Field in Wet Conditions
Do you recognise this?
Bowlers have bowling with soaking wet balls, drying the ball on a towel kept in the back your trousers and fielders throwing the ball sideways as the ball slips out of their hands. Anyone who has played club cricket will know all about these kinds of challenge.
Venue Profile: C Cube Chennai
C Cube in Chennai is a place for cricket.
With the tag line "come celebrate cricket", the 4 lane indoor cricket venue is about more than providing facilities. It's a meeting point to play cricket, talk about cricket and bond over the game.
The facility is designed to be used by players of all ages and abilities. Complete beginners and weekend players have used the same venue as State level and Indian Internationals.