The Teesra

Blog

  • England know they have a fast-bowling problem…is this really the solution?

    Will Macpherson posted a fascinating article ($$) the other day on the latest iteration of the ECB’s project to develop more quick bowlers for England international teams.

    It is an intriguing insight into the development philosophy at the ECB, but it does pose some interesting questions.

    • Pace first, then variations, then accuracy?
    • Every bowler is an individual…but they have to fit the pace blueprint!
    • What incentive is there for Counties to nurture (and play) these young pace prospects, when they (the bowlers) are being encouraged to view accuracy & control as secondary skills?
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  • More clarity on how to use the CLA — what don’t we know?

    Recently, Rob Gray posted a podcast in response to an article requesting “more research-informed guidelines” to support the constraints-led approach (CLA) in coaching.

    Well worth a listen for anyone interested in what the CLA really is.

    I do share Rob’s suspicions about the authors’ (mis)understanding of the CLA.

    But I also think the paper does raise some valid questions about how to apply the CLA, especially for new and volunteer coaches.

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  • Where does the “meta-learning” & socialisation happen? Or — there has to be more to cricket coaching than hitting and bowling.

    Where does the “meta-learning” & socialisation happen? Or — there has to be more to cricket coaching than hitting and bowling.

    Back in the day, schoolboy cricketers (and it was, almost exclusively, boys, back then) played ay school, and were invited to play “adult” cricket, initially to make up the numbers and do the running around for the older players.

    But a lot of essential learning happened in the game, talking and watching, often in the bar after the game.

    Understanding how to win. How not to lose so often. Why a bowler might prefer an unorthodox field setting. How to get on with the rest of the team.

    But that learning opportunity has largely been lost.

    Partly because young players are not being led astray, into the bar, as used to happen. Probably not a bad thing!

    But also as the organised pathways develop, and more youth cricket is played, young players possibly get to play less with more experienced players.

    And I think that loss of exposure to more experienced players might need to be addressed.

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