Psychology | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

How to use middle practice to improve your cricket

Middle practice is a far better way to improve your tactics and game plans than nets will ever be.

That's because nets lack context. There is no pressure of the game or fielders.

But to learn how to play under pressure you have to practice under pressure. And middle practice does exactly that.

The break-glass-in-emergency guide to last-minute wicketkeeping

It's inevitable that the day will come.

Your regular keeper is out injured/hung over/unavailable. Despite the captain desperately searching for a replacement, none can be found.

Straws are drawn and someone gets the short one.

A pair of gloves are located and shoved on the mitts of the unsuspecting batsman (it's always a batsman).

Cricket Show 72: Drop the ego

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With Kevin away, David is joined by Gary Palmer and we get the final part of our interview with ECB and Lane4 psychologist Wil James.

If you missed the other parts of the interview with Wil you can get them here:

What the IPL can teach you about dealing with pressure in cricket

Imagine for a moment you have signed for the Deccan Chargers. It's your first game and the stadium is packed to the rafters.

On TV millions more watch on hoping you will put in a match winning performance for their beloved team. Meanwhile the world's finest Twenty20 players warm up in preparation to take you on.

Succeed and you will be adored. Fail and you will be nobody.

Cricket Show 71: Switch hits and learning from business

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It's official; Kevin's team missed out on the finals this season so we catch up with how he felt the season went. Find out why it's not all bad news.

Plus, Gary Palmer returns to give us more insight into the technical side of batting. ECB psychologist Wil James also joins us for the third part of his in-depth interview on the mental side of the game.

Respect is dead

Filed in:
Disrespect is part of cricket nowadays.
 
And that's a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about swearing at batsmen and arguing with the umpire. But respect is too often fear in disguise.

Cricket Show 70: Pull shots and team interference

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More on applying sport psychology in the nets and in the middle this week as we have the second part of our interview with Dr. Wil James.

Gary Palmer is back talking about batting and Kevin tells us about his team's late rally for the finals. You have to be in it to win it.

How to bowl into the wind

The sun beats down from a cloudless sky as you examine the wicket before play.

It's flat and grassless and looks like slab of baked concrete. Just as you think it can't get any worse you notice one end has a sloping run up and the wind is blowing down the hill.

You already know what the captain is going to say, but your heart sinks when he says it:

What the Wild West gunslinger can teach you about batting

A Wild West gun fight is just like going out to bat.

Like the gunslinger you stand alone against one man and you only get one chance. It's a psychological battle.

Who will flinch first as the chapel bell chimes midday?

Chances are it's the one who is most in control.

Cricket Show 69: Wil James

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We delve into the realms of sport psychology this week with the first part of our interview with ECB National Lead Psychologist and consultant for Lane4; Dr. Wil James.

Wil spoke to us on a range of topics related to the psychology of playing/coaching club and school level cricket.