'The Map' part 3: What should I do the night before a game?
Parts 1 and 2 of this series dealt with Practice Routines and Non-Practice Training Routines that a player should develop as part of a ‘Map for Cricket Success’.
This article will deal with your ‘Game Eve Routines’.
'The Map' part 2: Developing non-practice training routines
Every player can benefit from developing their own set of routines and processes to help them prepare and play successfully.
In the first installment of this series, I dealt with developing routines to be employed during batting, bowling and fielding practice.
Using 'The Map' as your checklist for consistent cricket success
Listening to ex-International bowler Damien Fleming recently, I was interested to hear him refer to some players as 'Having a good map' with respect to how they prepared for each game. I have always said “You have to have a plan!” and it seemed to me that Fleming was making the same sort of statement.
What is 'The Map'?
Everyone has a set of processes they follow prior to playing a game.
Reflection on the Season So Far
We are approaching the mid-season break for Christmas so I thought I'd write a few words about reflecting on your performance so far this summer.
At a very basic level, everyone will assess their season so far in terms of statistics. That is fair enough, cricket is a game of numbers and players should realise that it is their numbers that will progress them in the game (or keep them back).
Season Starting - Some Thoughts
With the cricket season starting, I thought I'd just make a couple of remarks regarding selections, performance and attitudes during the first few weeks of the season.
This is addressed to those players who have worked solidly through the off season and preseason periods. Players who have made significant changes to their games and players who are approaching the start of the season proper with optimism and positivity.
Practice makes perfect – but what happens when things are less than perfect?
Most athletes arrive at a coaching session enthusiastic and ready to have a good, strong, focused and intense training session.
Sometimes it doesn't work out like that.
Nets are double booked, our training partners are running late or can't get there at all. Maybe the coach is sick. So many little things can and do go wrong all the time.
Batting Agility Drill #1
2. Keep your hands and thus the bat back as you move forward
3. Be as still and stable as you can when you hit the ball
4.Finish long and low through the ball - high elbow - hands extended in front of face
Bowlers - Planning your Spell
Thought I might write down a few thoughts regarding some basic guidelines for bowlers who are starting to think about developing bowling plans.
Firstly, bowlers should always remember: YOU START THE PROCESS! this means, while a batsman may arrive at the crease with a plan, and he may even have some idea about what he is going to try to do to you as you are running in, he must ultimately RESPOND to the delivery you produce. This knowledge should encourage you to select each ball carefully but with confidence.
Preseason training
There are a number of elements that anyone intending to play grade cricket should be addressing in the pre-season period. Some are specific to the roles you fulfil in a team (batsman, spinner, seamer, quick…) while while others need to be addressed by everyone. I will discuss them under a number of particular headings:
Fitness·
Static vs Dynamic Stretching - When to use each
Static stretching exercises, in which you're not moving around at all but are simply elongating a particular muscle or group of muscles, do have a place in your training program, but their value and proper usage are often misunderstood.
It's probably best to place your static stretches at the end of your workout as part of the cool-down, not at the beginning of a training session. Static exercises help bring your body back toward a state of rest and recovery and allow you to relax and lengthen the muscles that you have put under stress during your workout.
