It's great finding professional players talking about the importance of fitness to cricket. Ed Smith of Middlesex puts his views in On and Off the Field:

"Physical conditioning is one of the few areas of cricket preparation which qualify as a science. It can help. So listen to the fitness coaches, definitely. But as you listen, always ask yourself this question, 'How will this make me a better cricketer?'"

Ed is putting a real world view on the principle of SAID: Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand. In other words, you get better at cricket by training in cricket specific ways.

As Ed says, fitness work is very much part of this.

• The better conditioned you are the longer you can last in the middle without getting tired.
• The stronger and more mobile you are the less likely you are to get injured.
• The more powerful you are the better you can throw, bowl and strike a ball.

Certainly fitness is no replacement for a good technique and fielding practice and it never will be. What it can do is assist you in being able to do those things better and for longer.

I agree with Ed. What do you think?