What do you think of when I say “cricket technology”?

Laptop Coaching?

 All those things are the latest innovations to be used in the elite game, but technology has existed in every level of the game ever since someone decided to protect his legs from fast bowling by putting on shin pads in the 1830s.

We all agree that good players are also mentally strong players. Yet despite the reams of coaching materials on technique and fitness, there is no system for developing confident cricketers.

You may, like me, have found yourself frustrated with players.

Despite your best efforts individuals are unable to maintain standards throughout the summer. Form is erratic and tails off at the back end of the season just when it’s most needed.

What I didn’t realise was that the training plan was the problem.

Gary Palmer, master coach, has revealed the inner workings of his coaching methods.

With over 20 years experience of coaching players to batting success from juniors to first-class level; Gary is the go-to guy for advice on how to teach batting perfection.

Like a crazy but brilliant scientist, Gary has meticulously kept his findings in a notebook that has built up over the years into a complete system.

In 2006 Sri Lanka toured England with the great Muralitharan in the side: A bowler who demanded the utmost respect or be destroyed.

This made it all the more outrageous when Kevin Pietersen, a relative rookie to Test cricket, turned into a left-handed stance and “switch hit” Murali for six.

Pietersen has show that such a shot can be done at the highest level against the best bowlers.

Staying healthy during the season is one of the biggest challenges to fast bowlers at every level.

Bowling quick is tough on the body. The stress on muscles, joints and ligaments is huge and when you are playing regularly recovery times are never enough.

We all suffer the downsides of cricket to experience the brilliant highs.

It doesn’t have to be a Test hundred at Lord’s or hitting the winning runs in a world cup final. Even at low levels of cricket you get a great sense of achievement and pride in your success.

So today I want to celebrate the success of all PitchVision Academy readers by asking:

When you first walk out to bat you can find yourself “stuck” on the crease: you don’t get to the pitch of the ball and you end up playing a loose shot.

As you walk back to the pavilion you bemoan your lack of footwork.

Most footwork issues are nothing to do with your feet at all, yet many coaches continue with the mantra of telling players to move their feet.

All that does is lead to confusion and frustration.

80s TV legend and chocolate bar advertiser, Mr. T knows a thing or two about being strong. You don’t get to be the muscle of the A-Team without getting under the bar now and again.

The big man wasn’t doing it for looks though.

It doesn’t matter how good your beach body is if you can’t floor a baddy with one punch or push a truck out of a ditch. Mr. T was all about real world strength.

With the constant rise in run rates, there has never been more demand for creative shots.

The reverse sweep is a perfect example: played when you need to take a risk to score quick runs by putting the ball into a gap.

In this exclusive video PitchVision Academy coach Ian Pont reveals the secrets of how to play and practice the reverse sweep.

We all accept the importance of a warm up to prepare your body and mind for the game if you play any serious level of cricket from school upwards.

We looked at the hour or so that our case study club, Watsonian CC, took to warm up in a league match in Edinburgh.