This year has been PitchVision’s biggest for cricket coaching. Here are the greatest hits.

Never has a year been more filled with content. Never has that content been better researched and taken from the minds of cutting edge coaches and players. Never have both you, dear reader, and us, the writers and video makers, have learned more.

It’s been a true winning year.

The advice has been wide ranging as always, yet two themes keep returning: Stories and stats.

Stories: The new cricket mindset

The biggest lesson from this year has been a fresh look at the stories we tell ourselves. Call it mindset, call it mental toughness, call it sport psychology; whatever you call it, it’s a proven way to bowl, bat and field better.

Mark Garaway saw hundreds scored thanks to a growth mindset and batting consistency in general was improved. There was also more accurate bowling, players with improved technique and greater teamwork.

So what is this mindset?

It starts by looking at the reasons you play cricket. Then you can build up a system for improving your cricket through hard work, determination, honest feedback and embracing failure.

It also builds in a theme of last year: review.

Stats: The new technique

Data and statistics came to the fore this year, as we proved that “Moneyball” tactics are not just for the elite and more important than technique!

We used stats to improve spin bowlers, and bowling accuracy.

There were several ways to use video analysis to improve technique.

Case studies took real data from real cricket matches and showed you how to apply it to your team.

• One day success
• Pre-death batting
• Batting control

Plus real analysis was done on practice sessions and drills were developed for things like strike rotation and working out the right length to take wickets.

Don’t forget drills

Naturally, we had plenty of drills to go with these bigger themes. Here are a few to get your teeth into:

• Improve Batting Average Drill
• Lifeline Drill for Batting Against Pace
• Batting Footwork Drill
• Playing Spin Drill: Magnificent Seven
• The Magic Net Drill for Bowling and Batting

And for the fielding drill junkies,

• Inner Ring Drill
• Hand Eye Drill
• Four Stump Drill
• Katchet vs Sidearm (Inner Ring Catches)
• 360 Degree Fielding
• Four Point Warm Up

And really, these highlights only scratch the surface. There’s even more more technique, tactics, skills, drills and ideas coming next year. Don’t miss out, subscribe to the newsletter and join the conversation as we play even better!