,

4 Activities Over Christmas To Keep Fresh

The Christmas period comes at a rather funny time for some cricketers. There can be a period of 3 – 4 weeks for players who may not have any games/structured cricket. For some, this is great timing! A bit of a break for those who feel overworked and an ideal time to recharge the batteries and rest up. From a physical sense, it’s important to keep some sort of maintenance if you are off for a longer period, but the rest can be good for some players. For others, this represents a perfect time to fine-tune and build up some confidence in their technique to be able to make a change/impact to their season and get it back on track scoring some more runs or taking more wickets when they return.

 

If you are the latter and feel you need to keep your body and mind ticking over, you are not alone! I’ve put together a list of 4 activities you can do over the Christmas period to make sure you hit the ground running and are in form come game 1 back after your break.

 

1. PHYSICAL FITNESS

A great opportunity for you to catch up on your running/strength to ensure your body is in tip-top shape heading back into the last part of the season. Use this time to de-load your body from bowling heavy workloads, ensuring you put your body through some stress so it maintains your level of fitness going back into club cricket. Most players have the 4 weeks off and then go straight back into it bowling for an hour straight and hitting these high workloads without much use in the Christmas period.

 

TIP – Interval training that simulates cricket conditions is a great way to stay in shape and it doesn’t take too long! You can get a good volume in over 20 – 30 mins.

 

2. WORK ON YOUR TECHNICAL AREAS WHEN BATTING

Back to basics! I think it’s a good thing to have a rest to recharge the batteries, but if you feel you want to keep moving and training, an emphasis on rehashing the basics through remedial drills will give you that tune-up you need. You may have fallen into bad habits with your training or found a technical flaw has crept into your game over the season and using this time to go back and simplify your training and technique can work wonders for your second half of the season.

 

TIP – work on areas such as balance, hands/head position, bat plane etc. Basics like hitting the back net, top hand/bottom hand isolation, playing the ball late, moving your feet all the way to the ball or all the way back, making solid decisions. These are all key fundamentals that you can emphasise and work on in a short period that can make massive inroads to your game when you get back to playing your club season.

 

3. MID-SEASON REVIEW

An underrated area for so many players. You are giving yourself a great opportunity to pause, assess and plan in the middle of your competition. Not many people can say they are able to do that in their chosen sport. If used effectively, this can be a catalyst to growth and increased performance. If neglected, you are well on your way to repeating your bad habits you may have had a chance to correct. Sit back with someone who knows your game well and you respect their opinion. Try and identify key areas of performance that you think you may need to spend time working on. Once you have a clear picture of this, map out a plan on how you are going to work on these individual aspects to ensure that you can make the best impact possible when you start your training back up!

 

4. IMPROVE NON-PHYSICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

You can make massive inroads in your development without hitting and bowling thousands of balls each week in your time off. Look at your knowledge of the game, go through any tactical or mental skills required to perform in the game of cricket, and start developing your own blueprint for these.

 

From our experience some key areas of the game that players lack clarity and understanding in are:

  • Understanding what stage of the game you are in and how to play in that situation
  • Developing clear batting and bowling plans depending on the type of bowler/batter you are coming up against
  • How to set fields effectively
  • Using your time between balls effectively

 

If you are the type of player who doesn’t want to switch off fully during the holiday period I challenge you to look at these 4 options and spend some time on them over this holiday period.

 

Players need to rest, but they also need to continue to tick over slightly during this time if you are having an extended break. The aim is not to burn you out but ensure that when you do come back to your club training and games, you are adequately prepared physically, mentally, and technically to hit the ground running, avoid injury, and perform at your best!

 

Enjoy your holiday period, take some time away from cricket and try and avoid burnout. If you are looking to get a bat or ball in hand, make sure you have some structure and add value to the sessions you do. Your time with bat or ball in hand doesn’t have to be at the same level of time as normal training may be but use the time you do have wisely and you will reap the rewards at the back end of the season!

 

Take care and happy holidays! 🎅🏻🎄

Joel Hamilton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article Author: Joel Hamilton

 

/1 Comment/by
, ,

5 Powerful Traits of Professional Cricketers That You Can Adopt

I’ve always been fascinated by the way people are so quick to discourage their abilities and automatically neglect the important elements of their game outside the technical side of cricket.

I see and hear so many cricketers talk the talk, “I want to play at this level” or “I’m going to have a big pre-season”, but when it comes to the crunch with another year completed and no changes made, the player wonders why they’re not getting what they want out of their game.

 

I’ve been lucky enough to surround myself with many professional cricketers, either in work, play or friendships, and have seen the amount of time, blood, sweat, and tears that goes into their development to ensure that they give themselves every possible chance they can to make it at the top level.

I’m sure you’ve read all the quotes and memes plastered all over the internet that relate to excellence, performance, etc. They’re great but get kind of old when you see or hear them repeatedly and no real action gets taken from them.

Below, I’ve plucked out what I see as the '5 most powerful traits of professional cricketers' and how anyone can adopt them. If you do, I can tell you right now, your game is going to improve and funnily enough, it’s nothing to do with the skills of cricket!

Players need to realise that just because you aren’t at that elite level doesn’t mean you can’t adopt these traits and hold yourself accountable to them. This alone is a major reason why elite players have gotten to the level they have, and very likely that if you adopt these traits, you too will start to see a massive improvement in your game.

 

1. COMMITMENT

An easy one to start off with but very hard for many to follow through on. The best cricketers aren’t flaking on a session, they are getting up when their alarm goes off to had to their early morning gym session/run/pilates. The better players are forgoing that burger and soft drink or going out to a party the night before their game/training. They do this because they have made a commitment to get better and perform to their best and this is one of the very easiest and earliest traits to control. It’s a matter of choice!

 

2. ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Elite cricketers have great attention to detail.  Whether it be in their training, their preparation, reviewing with their coaches, or general routine. Just simply showing up and doing it to tick the box isn’t going to change a thing. As a cricketer striving to get better, really try to pay attention to how you do things and the level at which you do them.

 

3. SELF BELIEF

The best players have a belief that their best is good enough. Don’t get me wrong, they still suffer from performance anxiety or negative self-talk from time to time, but an overarching belief in their own game and confidence to perform is a very important factor in producing a high level of performance consistently. Some of this comes down to preparation. The more prepared players are before the big day, the more confident they'll be at achieving their goals on game day.

 

4. BE ANALYTICAL

Not all players are great when it comes to analysing their own game. I guarantee you that every player who at least tries to see what has gone well and what hasn’t will improve going forward. No player of quality who performs at a high level on a consistent basis packs their gear up, gets in the car, and doesn’t think about what they’ve done ever again. Having a structured review process provides players the ability to identify areas of strength, where they may have gone wrong, and what needs to happen to prepare for next week. It also helps their mental state if they have had a bad day and gives them a chance to close that chapter quickly without stewing over it for the week. Instead, they move on quickly, ready for that next chance to progress.

 

5. OWNERSHIP & MATURITY

Probably one of the toughest ones I see players being able to grasp. This is a genuine, look yourself in the mirror component and stop blaming others for non-selection / lack of success, etc. It's important to own your actions, be accountable, and mature about how you react to certain situations that don’t go your way.  Use it as a learning curve. The best players in the world are honest with themselves and don’t point fingers. You can easily do this too and once you do, don’t be surprised to see some serious growth and who knows, maybe some line calls going your way as well!

 

All in all, I think the biggest advice that I would give to players (and I have numerous times) is just because you aren’t a professional/elite cricketer doesn’t mean you can’t think, train and prepare like one. If you are improving your standards, then the only way is up!

 

 

Joel Hamilton

 

 

 

 

 

Article Author: Joel Hamilton

ACI Owner & Managing Director 

/2 Comments/by

4 Ways To Move Up The Pecking Order

When we see our heroes on the television screen, the likes of Smith, Cummins, Kohli, Williamson and Stokes, we often only see them as decorated members of their national team. It is easy to forget that even these exceptional individuals have had to climb up the rungs of the cricketing ladder, their unique talents perhaps allowing them to skip a few rungs. Every single player at the top level has played junior cricket, representative cricket, grade and first-class before reaching elite status. Having on-field ability is one thing, but being able to successfully integrate into multiple teams and earn the respect of coaches and teammates alike requires a completely different skill set. 

With this in mind, here are some strategies players can use to move up the pecking order and gain maximum reward for the effort they are putting into their game!

 

1. ASK YOUR COACH WHAT STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE TO GET TO THE LEVEL OR POSITION YOU  WANT TO PLAY

Cricket doesn’t always appear, at first glance, as an overly ‘fair’ game. As a batsman, a poor LBW decision or a ball that hits a crack is all that it takes for you to spend the rest of an innings in the sheds. As a bowler, you may have catches dropped off your bowling, or likewise decisions not go your way. 

Similar situations arise in internal club environments when players feel that they may not be receiving just reward from coaches for exceptional performances. This often occurs due to a lack of player/coach dialogue, preventing both parties from understanding each other's viewpoint. As ‘biased’ or ‘illogical’ as a team selection scenario may seem, coaches hold their positions for a reason and their opinions often consider things that you may not have thought of. It is for this reason that developing an honest and direct line of communication with coaches is critical. 

By taking the initiative to seek coach feedback, you demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and humility to value the opinions of others. In return, by asking for help to achieve your goals you should receive clear direction which will guide the way. Coaches come from a position of great experience and expertise and will offer any advice with a player's best interests at heart, so their support is invaluable. 

 

2. SHOW THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE AND TRAIN EFFECTIVELY

Progressing through the cricketing ranks and achieving goals isn’t just about increasing the volume of your training, but also training more efficiently. Once you have identified areas for improvement, either through seeking outside opinion or self-reflection, it is important to train these areas specifically to accelerate the improvement process. 

If a batsman has identified a weakness against the short ball, do they simply spend an extra 20 minutes in the nets at training? No. Rather they should be incorporating drills that focus on the short ball into their regime. To acknowledge and address flaws in this way is key to development as a player. Further, it shows those around you that you are acutely self-aware and committed to improvement. It is the player who has a strong attention for detail in their preparation that gets noticed and ultimately is given the greater opportunity. 

 

3. UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES TIME TO MAKE AN IMPACT, DON'T EXPECT RESULTS OR CHANGES STRAIGHT AWAY

Ambition to be the best and progress in cricket can often lead to impatience, however as they say, “patience is a virtue”. 

Whilst players should always aim high and challenge themselves, it is also important to remember that time is necessary to adapt to higher levels of competition and sometimes you need to fail as a part of the improvement process. If you aren’t prepared to achieve your goals over a long period of time, then it is probably worth considering how committed you truly are to those goals. 

Each progression through cricket requires players to start from a new base and build up a separate body of performances in order to then move to the next stage. This is why rather than focusing on one big innings or haul of wickets, players should look to develop consistency of performance that turns heads over time. 

 

4. ALWAYS SHOW WILLINGNESS TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE TEAM, TAKE ON ANY CHALLENGE THAT IS PRESENTED TO YOU!

Even at the top level of cricket, on the international stage, players have set roles. These roles e.g. death bowler and anchor batsmen are designed to take 11 individuals from different cricketing backgrounds and shape them to perform successfully as a team unit. Given this fact, you should be looking to embrace roles given to you at any point in your cricket journey, as experience doing this is beneficial both in the present and future. 

The ability to be unselfish, adapt and put the team first is highly regarded amongst coaches and players alike as these individuals contribute to winning outcomes more often than selfish players who play for their average, no matter how talented they are. A team orientation also builds morale, as it shows respect and acknowledgement towards the teammates you spend all day on the ground with. 

Taking on a variety of unique challenges provides important experience in an array of match situations so that when a narrow opportunity presents itself up the ranks you can be confident that you will adapt seamlessly to the role offered. 

 

In summary, moving up the pecking order requires engagement, persistence and the ability to operate well in a team environment. These are mostly mental skills that can become second nature through repetition and regular reflection. Achieving a dream of playing state, T20 or international cricket, of course, requires technical skill, but it is just as much about personal discipline and embracing whatever cricketing environment you find yourself in at any time. Once you are able to channel a growth mindset, anything is possible!

Guest Author: Josh Nevett

/3 Comments/by
, , , , ,

3 Reasons To Seek Professional Coaching For Your Child

Below, guest blogger and ACI Coach, Josh Nevett gives us his 3 main reasons to seek professional coaching for your child.

Every parent wants the best for their child, and this is no different when it comes to helping them pursue their cricketing dreams! Whilst local club and school cricket can expose young players to highly experienced and skilled coaches, it is very difficult for these coaches to fully invest themselves in individual players in this setting. 

So, where do we turn for that personal touch? The professionals of course! Here are some of the reasons that professional coaching makes for a great addition to the holistic development of a junior cricketer. 

1. SMALLER GROUPS ALLOW FOR PERSONAL, OBJECTIVE FEEDBACK

Every player is unique, and it is pivotal that they are treated as such through targeted analysis and coaching. 

Professional coaches bring a weight of experience and knowledge that allows them to recognise certain characteristics within players that may not be noticed in a local cricket club setting. For example, elements of technique and personality traits can be acknowledged and, therefore, the coach is able to help a player within their own personal nature. As the Australian run-machine, Steve Smith has shown, being unconventional is not something to discourage! 

Rather than pressuring young players into conforming with the batting ‘textbook’, top-level coaches look to harness difference when it can contribute to overall development, shaping juniors into players who are confident in their personal set of skills. After all, new competitions and formats such as the IPL and ‘The Hundred’ have created an environment where the innovators of world cricket are able to thrive and are often the most successful!

Further, feedback from leading coaches always revolves around the goal of developing the best cricketer possible. There is no danger of coaches playing favourites in this setting; each individual is provided with information that has the players best interests at heart.

This is evident in the ACI’s implementation of video analysis into its programs, the camera never lies! How can you best demonstrate to a player the areas of strength or weakness in their game? By allowing them to see it with their own eyes. It is this level of attention to detail that serves as a contributor to efficient coaching sessions and in turn, (the outcome we’re always after) better matchday performance.

2. THERE IS MORE TO CRICKET THAN SKILLS

Whilst cricket can essentially be reduced down to taking wickets and scoring runs, it is an understanding of the complexities of the game that can boost a developing players achievement and enjoyment within the sport to the next level. 

In the setting of club cricket, there is only a relatively small window of time available for teams to train and therefore key aspects of cricket such as tactical awareness, mental preparation and physical conditioning are neglected in favour of net-based skills training. This net training is useful for maximising the volume of practice in a large group, however, it doesn’t prepare players for match scenarios. 

Tactical awareness is about establishing specific plans which can produce desired results on a regular basis. Tactics are needed to provide clear purpose and direction on the field; clarity of the mind is crucial to the execution of fundamental skills such as bowling the desired areas and selecting the appropriate shots to play as a batsman.

Professional coaches are able to prepare players mentally by determining their personal areas of fear, anxiety or stress surrounding the game and providing strategies to combat these inhibiting states. Creating an optimal headspace also involves boosting positive thoughts and emotions, so aspects of mindset such as confidence, achievement and calmness are also explored.

Thirdly, physical conditioning is essential to any successful cricket training regime as the modern player needs to be able to perform at high intensities, recover quickly and prevent injury. Specialised coaches are aware of this and make sure growing athletes are well equipped with fitness programs that are not just effective, but also fun!

From this it is clear that the environment created within a professional coaching setting allows for these not so well covered elements of cricket to be explored and, therefore, young players are able to get the maximum value out of the skills they already have.

3. DEVELOPMENT IS A 24/7 PROCESS

Professional coaches understand this and, therefore, are creative in forming training programs that players can undertake anywhere and at any time. The learning never stops.

This is contrary to the common status quo in local cricket, which is to train for a couple of hours, one night per week leading into matches. Whether its batting drills for the backyard or learning resources that teach key elements of technique and mindset, professional coaches are able to meet the demand of hungry young players who simply can’t get enough of this great game! 

This also ensures that the hard work undertaken during in-person coaching is not lost or forgotten between sessions, fostering a process of continuous growth. A consistent approach allows each session to become a progression on the last which is the ideal environment for improvement to take place and learning to be maximised. 

The ACI also incorporates a strong emphasis on reflection into its programs, encouraging players to look back on their time spent engaged in cricket in all settings to better understand how to get the most out of themselves.  

The culmination of this is young cricketers who are driven, consistent and self-aware, a combination of traits which can be seen in the greats of the modern game.

Registration for the ACI's 2020/21 - Foundation (8 to 10 year-olds), Junior (11 to 14 year-olds), and Youth (15 to 17 year-olds) Academy Programs are now open. For more information please register your interest here

/0 Comments/by
, , , ,

Alex Carey: Advice For Young Cricketers

Alex Carey joined us recently as apart of our Junior Cricket Wellbeing and Activity Program and was so forthcoming with information and advice that we thought we'd put it all into a blog for all you budding cricketers out there, both young and old!

AFL VS CRICKET 

Alex is well-positioned as a multi-sport disciplined athlete to talk on the vigours of professional setups and the pressure that comes along with that.  We asked Alex his thoughts on this;

"When playing multiple sports and the commitments that come along with that, communication is key. Know who you trust and utilise that support network. Don’t be pigeonholed, do as much as you can. Don’t put pressure on yourself either. Just enjoy the different aspects of the games and challenge yourself with the differing skills. Sport is awesome and gives you a lot of life values, I still hold my junior days close to my heart and have a lot of fond memories."

Below we go into more detail about his mentality on the different disciplines within cricket.

‘When juggling a lot of commitments, be honest and talk to your coaches and staff members, speak about your situation and know what you're trying to achieve and people will support you wherever you go, always willing to assist.'

 

WICKET-KEEPING MENTALITY

"When keeping you have to be super focused and concentrated.  You also need to have good balance and be relaxed. When missing opportunities, you’ve got to be prepared to put them aside, assess them and move onto the next ball. Hard work and training is key! Glutes need to be super strong, high intensity because you’re squatting so much."

"White ball cricket is a little different compared to red ball.  You don't take as many balls, but when you do it’s usually a chance - so be alert and upbeat and bring the energy to every contest. Work is done in training to sort out performance!"

Alex answers a question to do specifically with keeping to spinners;

"It differs between hard wicket and playing on turf. Be wary of the bounce you’ll need to deal with on synthetic pitches. Stay nice and low, in a strong position and ready for the ball to get up around your ears sometimes. Watch that ball and more often than not you'll be able to take that chance whether it’s a stumping or catch. Turf will spin more, be more variable and stay a bit lower. The main point is being in a great position and set up when the ball is released. You also need to be able to trust your instincts and have your head in line with the ball when it bounces."

'We are human and you are going to feel those emotions of disappointment. Worry about the next opportunity instead. Good players are judged on their learnings from their setbacks. It’s a normal feeling, but try and make sure you don’t make those same mistakes twice. Keep a smile on your face and go around again!'

 

BATTING MENTALITY

Alex discusses his own batting technique:

"I’m still chasing perfection and always developing my batting technique. Don’t change things just to please people and coaches, setbacks will make you a better player and you’ll start to understand who you trust and what works for your game. You always need to be searching to be a better player. Whether it’s mentally or technically you need to be in whatever position is comfortable that helps you get the best out of yourself. Try different things but don’t just do something because someone tells you to or reckons you should. It may be something as simple as changing your stance on the crease, it may be the really little things that help you the most! There’ll always be an element of failure in your batting, even the pros are tinkering with their techniques, so keep working at it!"

Some key points around his mindest when chasing a score whilst batting:

"Don’t be too worried about the outcome. Have the target or chase in mind, but you can only react to what the bowler bowls. Don’t just try and score one side of the field, if you’re in a good frame of mind you’ll be able to utilise your technique to access different parts of the ground. Remember to stay calm throughout. When you’re in a run chase you can get ahead of yourself, you can be rushed and worry about things that are out of your control. Take a deep breath and understand what the bowler is trying to bowl with the field they set.  That should keep you away from those frantic thoughts. It’s a big part of my game to calm my thoughts, not everything will come off, so be it! Calm yourself and trust that you and your batting mate out in the middle will get the job done."

'If it’s technical or something that needs attention, get to training and try and work on it as much as you can.'

 

KEY ADVICE

Alex regularly captains his state and is the vice-captain of Australia's shorter form teams. His take on being a leader on-field;

"Captain while the ball is not being bowled. Meaning - make your decisions, have your fielders in the right place and then switch back onto catching that ball. Simplify it as much as possible and make sure you’ve got a good helper out there, whether it’s a mate or a vice-captain to bounce off of. You need to be able to communicate with a teammate. But when it comes to it, watch the ball and not the field."

Alex continues when asked about on-field banter;

"I don’t bother with chirping too much, I like to focus on taking the ball and doing my job and the rest should sort itself out. The better players normally welcome the challenge so you have to be wary of what you’re saying."

And finally his advice on training;

"You certainly have to train across all three facets of the game. Not just batting and bowling, but fielding is essential too. This will help make you a vital team member and a really valuable asset, to be able to take the ball when needed or step up with the bat when required. I think on a personal note, I give everything I have and never have any regrets. When you leave your day at training just know you’ve done everything you can to achieve what you needed to."

For the full interview head to our Facebook page by clicking here

/2 Comments/by