Want to be a better cricketer?

Chances are, that if you are here you do. So, here is a quick and dirty primer to finding your way to improve. Everyone is different, so pick you method then get out there an get improving:

This is a guest article from James Hughes. James is a student and cricket coach conducting research into how to improve slip catching.

Catches win matches.

Fielding provides more opportunity to influence the game than any other role. In a Twenty20 you have 120 balls to influence the game as a fielder, yet as a batter you could be out first ball.

When you think of the USA, you don't automatically think of a state-of-the-art cricket facility. Until now.

CricMax is the largest indoor cricket facility in North America: An international level centre designed and built exclusively for cricket. It's in New Jersey, yet it is setting a standard that would not look out of place at elite centres in India, Australia, South Africa or England.

The venue has nothing but the best standards of surface, lighting and run up length. Good enough to be used by visiting International teams. And of course, PitchVision under-floor tracking every ball bowled.

But why would a place better known for baseball and mom's apple pie be interested in a world-class "minor" sport facility?

This week's winner of the Cricket Show podcast question competition is Dan. He wins a free coaching course from PitchVision Academy.

The winning question was:

"I’m coaching my son's cricket team and there is a girl in the team, who is by far the best player. She is a fast bowler and she wants to play professionally. She has told me that when she bowls she falls away from her target and her wrist is really weak. She says that she is a bit inconsistent when she bowls and that she would like to increase her pace. I don't know much about coaching cricket, but she is our team captain and she seems to set fields well. One thing I did notice is that when she bowls as soon as she bowls the ball her first step is off to the side of the pitch from what I know it should be at the stumps but hopefully you'll be able to help me out. Can you help me improve her bowling please?"

Listen to the panels answer to his question here.

To enter your own question for the chance to win your choice of online coaching course send your questions in here.

A bad start can feel like your season is ruined barely after it has begun.

And sure, your dreams of scoring 1000 runs while taking 50 wickets are on the slide, there's plenty of time to recover and finish strong. Yet, we often forget that imperfect is not the same as disastrous.

This is guest article from Steffan Jones

Warming up can get pretty scientific nowadays. Here's a simple, effective game day warm up that I use if I want to be at my best.

The first point is this: we know that you can "warm up" your mind and nervous system a long time before you start playing. So the warm up on game day starts as soon as you wake up!

Don't worry though, I've tested all this myself and know it works well if you have prepared properly through the week.

This article is part of the “Streetwise Bowling” series from PitchVision Academy. To view the full list of tactics click here.

Bowling at leg stump has a bad rap. It's seen as defensive and, by many, as almost against the spirit of cricket. So much so that in many formats, the leg side wide has all but killed the tactic.

But in the right situation, this plan is an excellent variation to the usual line for a left arm bowler. The batsman is not used to the lines. More importantly, there are few gaps in the field meaning the batsman is going to have to do something unusual to get you away.

As such, it can be used in both attacking and defensive roles.

Away games are a perennial problem.

You can be a high level International side like India, or a plucky Under 10 beginner side. The issue of a change in conditions leading to a drop in performance is common across the board.

Take the example of the Norway national cricket team. This summer the side are traveling to the UK to play in an ICC Europe tournament. But the team are newcomers to the international game and are used to playing on the very batting friendly artificial pitches of home.

How are they going to adapt to the grass wickets and swinging or turning ball they will discover in Essex?

Here's a treat for you to print out as a reminder that the start of the season is not the end of your hard work. If you want all your winter efforts to be worth something, you need to be ready at the end of the season. Keep working hard.

The pen is mightier than the bat.

Actually, it's not; but it's darn close.

I'm talking about the power of taking notes as you learn: Well established in the academic world but ignored in cricket.

Think of it this way: Wouldn't you like to better learn and retain the tips you read and watch on PitchVision Academy? When you are standing in the middle and wondering exactly what to do next, it would be great to use the computer in your head to produce a solution. Notes are a vital part of that process of getting stuff to "sink in".

In fact, it's a common theory that the main factor distinguishing good players from average players is their ability to learn.

So pick up that pen or iPhone, and start taking notes.