10 Useful Tips from Experienced Cricket Players & Coaches

The phrase “knowledge is power” is one that you might hear quite regularly throughout your life. The expression relates to how knowledge allows us to find new ways to solve a variety of issues. And additionally, how power is the ability or capability to do something. Ideally, the phrase states that the more information, education, and experience you have in a subject, the more ability you will have at your disposal to affect upon it.  In the world of sport, our development as players goes much further beyond just focusing on our skills training.  Sure, with enough practice we all might be able to execute a proper cover drive, but can everyone identify weaknesses in their opponents’ game and exploit them? Does every batsman have the same mental strength when facing a fast bowler? How can we truly become the best player we can be?  These questions show the importance of going beyond our regular skills training sessions and surrounding ourselves with as much knowledge about the game as we can! To unlock our full sporting potential! With this in mind, we have put together 10 tips from experienced cricket players & coaches, to help you in becoming the best cricket player you can be!

Justin Langer‘Mental Toughness is just as important as the technical skills of the game’

Justin Langer

“Everyone can keep developing their technique, but my experience would tell me that if you’re edging balls or getting bowled a lot, it tends to be that you’re not watching the ball as closely as you should be. And if you’re not watching the ball closely, it’s generally that you’re down a bit on confidence or you’re distracted. That’s what mental toughness is about, having 100% attention on the next ball bowled to you. That process is critical. If you get the process right…and have a really strong and positive mindset, you’ll move quicker, you’ll pick up the ball earlier, your feet will move quickly into position, and you’ll invariably be hitting the ball more in the middle of the bat”.  — Justin Langer

Clinton Peake — ‘Do the Ordinary things, Extraordinarily well!’Clinton Peake

“I think a lot of young players fall into the trap of thinking they have to be able to score a run at every ball or be able to bowl every type of delivery to be worth a game. The best advice I can give to a young player is that they must be able to do ordinary things extraordinarily well. Only by doing this will they be able to achieve and sustain above-average performance.” Clinton Peake

Jason Bakker — ‘Train and Aspire to be a Complete Player’

Jason Bakker “Bat with selectivity and patience, knowing that scoring opportunities will always be nearby. Impatient and overzealous players tend to support their teammates from the change rooms after they have thrown their wicket away. Therefore, train and aspire to be a complete player. Don’t underestimate or undervalue other facets to the game of cricket apart from your core skill or competency.” — Jason Bakker

Belinda Clarke — ‘Skills Development at younger ages is the key to becoming the best player you can be’

Belinda Clarke “If you consider your game as a bucket, the aim is to fill the bucket with as much targeted practice as you can at an early age. Those who have spent time filling their buckets will have a greater chance to be the best they can be.” — Belinda Clarke

Virat Kohli — ‘Don’t let the outside noise affect your mental approach to the game’

Virat Kohli “I don’t really focus on these things — on what tags are given to me or what people think of me off the field — stuff like that. My main focus is always to do well on the field for the Indian cricket team. When people say good things about me off the field, I am more than happy to accept them.”  — Virat Kohli

Ricky Ponting — ‘Don’t focus on your opponents, focus on how you’re going to beat them’

Ricky Ponting “Every batsman surveys the field before taking the strike, and usually the fielders get imprinted on his mind.  But in my head, I don’t see the fielders. I only see the gaps!” — Ricky Ponting 

Rahul Dravid — ‘Talent is not solely measured on Cricket Skills’

Rahul Dravid “I think we judge talent wrong. What do we see as talent? I think I have made the same mistake myself. We judge talent by people’s ability to strike a cricket ball. The sweetness, the timing. That’s the only thing we see as talent. Things like determination, courage, discipline, temperament, these are also talent.” — Rahul Dravid

Sachin Tendulkar — ‘Never forget your love for the game’

Sachin Tendulkar “Before you lay the foundation on the cricket field, there should be a solid foundation in your heart, and you start building on that. After that, as you start playing more and more matches, you learn how to score runs and how to take wickets.”  — Sachin Tendulkar

Richard Pybus — ‘Repetition is the Mother of Learning’

Richard Pybus “When we focus on good tips and practice them, over and over, they become part of our game. We wire them deep into our brain and then the subconscious mind can run them on automatic.  When we can play automatic, relaxed, with a quiet mind, our skills and strategy flow and we play in the moment … this is when we begin to play our best cricket.” — Richard Pybus 

Shane Warne — ‘Never Give Up’Shane Warne

“Never give up; just absolutely never give up” — Shane Warne We hope you enjoyed this article! At Australian Sports Camps, our goal is to provide structured skill-improvement camps where participants have fun whilst developing a deeper love and enthusiasm for their chosen sport. If your child has a passion for cricket and wants to practice more advanced and structured cricket drills, sign them up for one of Australian Sports Camps’ 3-day Cricket Camps! Our sports holiday programs are tailored for your child according to their ability so that they are doing drills and exercises that are equipped for their skillset.  Additionally, to find out more about our cricket coaching for kids, please see http://shop.australiansportscamps.com.au/about-asc/

 

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