We sat down with Brisbane Heat star Chris Lynn to get an insight into what he believe's is important to be successful.

Q. One thing I’ve noticed about guys that make it to the next level (state or national) is their training habits. What are your thoughts on that?

A. It’s definitely the extras that get you there. If you’re at club training and you’re only batting twice a week for 10 minutes, you’re only batting for 20 minutes a week so how do you expect to have the concentration to then go and bat for 30, 40 or even 60 minutes in a match? So is 20 minutes a week cutting it for you? I guarantee you, the guys that score runs on the weekend consistently don’t settle for 20 minutes a week…they’re doing hours of work outside of scheduled training hours.

Q. I guess when you make it to the professional level it gets a lot easier to do the extra’s because that becomes your sole focus, but the journey to getting there is where the hard work is put in?

A. Yes it’s definitely a lot tougher because you have other things to do and don’t have as much time. If you want it enough then you’ll find the time to do the extras. Try to find someone with the same level of ambition as you and pair up with them. Push each other, challenge each other and hold each other accountable. Do everything you can to make that next level.

Q. What do you say to the people listening or reading that say “It’s easy for you, you’re a professional player and have the time and support”?

A. Yes it’s challenging, you only generally have two scheduled sessions a week. But the other 5 afternoons of the week I was doing work. I was in the back yard or at the nets. Sometimes without pads, making up games and scenarios etc. Just hitting as many balls as I could and learning my own game.

For me, that was fun. I was with my mates, competing and learning. I guess that’s where my competitiveness came from…games in the back yard or at the nets. If you love the game and have fun, it’s not ‘training’…you’re doing it because you enjoy doing it.

Q. How early did you realise that those two 10 minute bats per week weren’t going to cut it?

A. As you get older, the days and games get longer. It’s sink or swim…you have to learn to bat for longer periods of time and as I said, training yourself to bat 10 minutes twice a week simply won’t do the job. If you want to bat for longer, you have to practice doing so at training. Same goes for bowlers. If you want to bowl faster for longer, you have to practice it, and not just at night during training, do some extra sessions during the day when it’s hot and more challenging.

The way I looked at it, I love batting, so why wouldn’t I bat for as long as I can (or for as long as someone will bowl to me).

The easiest way to get your extras in is to arrive at training an hour early with a mate and work on YOUR game and what you want to work on that week before the team session starts.

Q. At the top level, what’s the intensity and work ethic like?

A. Having trained at club level and international level, you can tell so easily why those players are playing for their country. They go into sessions with a purpose. They’re not just hitting balls for the sake of hitting them. They walk into training knowing exactly what they want to work on and what they want out of the session, then rip in 100% to tick every box in that 2 hour session.

The other difference is, there’s a real competitive vibe at professional training. Guys are really pushing and challenging each other and that’s great for the team. It’s your job to be a leader at club level to drive that at training and get everyone up and moving in the same direction.

There you have it…Chris's thoughts on the drive, commitment and efforts it takes at training to set yourself apart.

Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.