Do you think cricketing talent is fixed or something that grows?

Your answer will make a difference to your ambitions as a cricketer. You answer will determine how, when and if you get the "once chance" that you deserve.

According to research by Stanford Professor of Psychology, Carol S. Dweck, we all start with the view that ability is either ingrained and set from birth, or it can be nurtured and grown like a delicate flower. Nobody knows for sure which is true, but we all lean one way or the other.

So what has this got to do with your once chance to become a cricketer?

A bad start can feel like your season is ruined barely after it has begun.

And sure, your dreams of scoring 1000 runs while taking 50 wickets are on the slide, there's plenty of time to recover and finish strong. Yet, we often forget that imperfect is not the same as disastrous.

What if you could speed up your learning ability?

You could finally reach your potential. Imagine how good that would feel.

The ability to learn and make changes is one of the three most important elements of success in cricket. So how exactly to you teach yourself to learn better?

I have known, worked with and admired Graeme Smith for many years. Over the years he taught me some valuable coaching lessons.

I first met "Biff" when he was a 18 year old lad straight out of school. He played some club cricket in the UK and was in my Hampshire Board XI for a few games. I was impressed with his maturity and sense of fun; less impressed with his "grubby" technique.

The key lessons that I learnt from the great man are:

I'm working this week with an incredible tutor group on the ECB Level IV Batting module at the National Cricket Performance Centre. Matthew Maynard, Tony Middleton (the Hampshire CCC Batting coach) and myself are heading up the course.

This is a guest article from former professional bowler, and current Strength, Conditioning and Fast Bowling Coach Steffan Jones.

Why is Mitchell Johnson so unplayable at the moment?

What has made him change from a guy that struggled to hit the cut strip to now being the quickest bowler in the world and a genuine game changer?

How many times have we walked back to the pavilion asking "what on earth happened there?"

I know I have on numerous occasions.

As you read last week, England and Somerset batsman Nick Compton popped in to run a Batting Masterclass at Millfield School.

More people than ever woke up on Christmas morning to a Kindle eBook reader. Who knows how many millions got their hands on an iPad or other tablet with a Kindle app ready to go.

Great gifts, but you need something to put on them.

We have all been there: You stand in the field as everything falls apart around you. Your well laid plan is being laid to waste by rampaging batsmen. You look around the field for a change of bowling and realise you have already tried everyone.

What do you do next?

Creating a positive culture in cricket is tough because it's an idea that needs complete buy in. How do you make it easy for cricketers to understand the key elements?

Simple, you print out this poster and pin it up.

It's totally free for you to use and has been produced in association with Ryan Maron's Cape Town International Cricket Academy. You can find out more about how the Academy can help you gain the cricket experience of a lifetime by clicking here.

Using a simple mnemonic and hand signals, nobody can have the excuse that they didn't know the fundamentals of a positive culture of cricket. It's certain to give you the culture you desire where you play.

Here is that poster (click to enlarge):