Hi all,
Read an article in today’s Age about cricket and cricketers by Greg Baum.
He wrote the article after speaking with ex-Australian Test player Stuart Law and others. I thought it was worth sharing for both senior and junior cricketers and coaches.
There are two key messages:
- Stay off social media, or only read it when you’re doing really well.
- Preparation for cricket is different from most other sports.
I’ll expand on this 2nd point.
“Another well-regarded Australian sports psych is Graham Winter, who played for South Australia, has worked with the Australian Test team and three Australian Olympic teams and written books on the mental stresses in cricket.
He notes an oddity in the way cricketers prepare that leaves them vulnerable to creeping mental demons. “There are not many sports where there is such a difference between the practice environment and the competitive environment,” he said. “I don’t believe coaches come to grips with that very well.”
When he runs sessions, he allows for these. Sometimes other coaches complain to him that batsmen need to feel bat on ball. “You also need time to practise how you own your space and how you hold your shape,” said Winter. “[You need] to practise how to play cricket, not just how to bowl or hit a cricket ball.”
Certainly food for thought.
I hope this article improves your cricket.