The Teesra

Author: Andrew Beaven

  • Performance goals – what do you want?

    An interesting initiative at our Club this year, in the form of a self-assessment form for all players – strengths, weaknesses, objectives and training needs.

    I don’t know yet how many senior players have actually completed their forms, yet (two weeks into our 18 match League programmes) and I do wonder if there will be a need for the Captains to provide a little direction, but I can see a lot of (potential) positives.

    In the absence of a Coach working with the senior Club, players will need to rely on self analysis and feedback from team mates.  But I suspect that the main benefit of the exercise will be a better understanding of strengths and weaknesses.

    It does not need to run to complex statistical analysis or psychological profiling; just a look at the stats on the Club website will show if you are bowled more often than caught, or if you really are LBW more often than anyone else in the Club.  And from that can come at very least a resolution not to keep hitting the ball in the air.

    This is definitely a project I would hope to be able to implement for the older Colts, maybe not now the season is under-way, but perhaps when we start winter nets, in October.  A little self-awareness is probably a good thing for a young player, if it is supported by a well thought out training and development plan.  More work for the coaches, to design group sessions that support multiple development needs (we won’t have the luxury of individual coaching), but a rewarding challenge, I hope, for coach and players.

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  • It’s cold outside…or what to do when you can’t get into the outdoor nets

    The senior Club finished indoor nets before Easter, and the 1st XI has been champing at the bit to get into the outdoor nets.  So the news that the planned (and very necessary) refurbishment could not be completed until early May sparked a round of emails and conversations – what can we do for pre-season?

    We know that the pros will barely use net practice (going into the nets, with all and sundry queuing up to bowl) at any stage in the season.  If they do bat in the nets, it will be against bowling machine or sidearm/throwdowns, to groove a shot or to plan how best to handle a particular bowler (faster/slower/taller/skiddier than normal).

    So not having the nets might be seen as the opportunity to adopt a more constructive pre-season plan, rather than a hindrance.

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  • Thinking about thinking about cricket…

    I attended my first ECB CA Conference in January. It would be unfair to single out any of the presenters for special mention – every session left me with enough ideas to keep me busy into the summer, and beyond – but I did especially enjoy the opening day, which I spent listening to Matthew Syed, Michael Caulfield of Sporting Edge, and Louise Deeley from Inside Performance, all talking about the “inner game”, and how to think about thinking about cricket. And then, on the second day, the key-note from Peter Moores, simply entitled “Winning”.

    One theme emerged in all four sessions – the absolute importance of adopting a “growth mind-set”, the belief that improvement is always possible, and that the role of the coach in developing this mind-set can be as important as any technical and physical improvements they can instil.

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