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Mainly Science - Training and Skills prepare you to perform

8 (20.5%)

Mainly Emotion - how you feel helps your performances

9 (23.1%)

A bit of both - I'm going to sit on the fence

22 (56.4%)

Total Members Voted: 39

[uknsaunders]

Having a chat to Redders and we often hear alot of rubbish talked about on the cricket field. When we are struggling, some team members tell us we "aren't wanting this enough", "where is your pride" etc. To me it's about bowling balls in the right areas, having the skill sets to do that and has little to do with emotion. When a team is struggling it's either playing superior opponents or not excuting properly. In some cases the wicket, clever captaincy and individual performances can distort this but not often. Unless I have injury or illness, well being or emotion rarely comes into the actual task of performing. I can see how the hairdryer treatment might work in football, a physical sport where trying harder can result in physical gains. For cricket, it's muscle memory and skills in my opnion.

[Buzz]

this is an interesting question - I think everyone needs something different to make them perform (on the cricket pitch )

Personally I need a clear mind and to be relaxed/calm at the crease to find my "bubble". No amount of pep talks will help me. Actually it is the same when I play any sport.

Others may need and like the pep talk - it I don't know.

[imran75]

It is an interesting one. Personally, it's a mental game for me. I know my technique is solid (for my level) and that I don't get bowled balls that are good enough to get me out. I make silly mistakes through my mindset not being right, not concentrating or focusing enough.

In that way, it's very much and emotional game for me. Not that my emotions get in the way, but that my mental preparedness affects the efficiency with which I can put my skills into practice (I sound like the ECB!!).

anyway, just my 2p

[uknsaunders]

this is an interesting question - I think everyone needs something different to make them perform (on the cricket pitch )

Personally I need a clear mind and to be relaxed/calm at the crease to find my "bubble". No amount of pep talks will help me. Actually it is the same when I play any sport.

Others may need and like the pep talk - it I don't know.

Remember getting the pep talk before opening the batting in an all day game. Skipper was bigging me up, went out and got a duck! Likewise two of my best knocks have come when I have had Flu and my daughter was in A&E (she broke her finger playing cricket) - seems to somehow clear and focus the mind on cricket.

[Maverick79]

Agree with the others, it's an interesting topic. What's also interesting is that when things aren't going well, it's often more than just one player it affects whether it be a poor run of form with the bat or ball or too many mis-fields and dropoed catches. I can probably count on one hand the number of games I have played in where just one players performance has stuck out like a sore thumb for the wrong reasons.

What I struggled to work out in recent seasons form a personal point of view are those players who, lets say have a technique that is less pleasing to the eye yet manage to score runs quite consistently (and i'm not talking about slogging every ball) whereas others who have a more technically correct technique struggle with form. Is it purely the technique that is the issue or is it psychological?

Maybe some players are more relaxed approach which might work for them, so have to really focus but underpinning this has to be the skill set and the ability to perform to a certain level.

I know I have tried both approaches - relaxed and focused and still had shockers! 

[uknsaunders]

Agree with the others, it's an interesting topic. What's also interesting is that when things aren't going well, it's often more than just one player it affects whether it be a poor run of form with the bat or ball or too many mis-fields and dropoed catches. I can probably count on one hand the number of games I have played in where just one players performance has stuck out like a sore thumb for the wrong reasons.

What I struggled to work out in recent seasons form a personal point of view are those players who, lets say have a technique that is less pleasing to the eye yet manage to score runs quite consistently (and i'm not talking about slogging every ball) whereas others who have a more technically correct technique struggle with form. Is it purely the technique that is the issue or is it psychological?

Maybe some players are more relaxed approach which might work for them, so have to really focus but underpinning this has to be the skill set and the ability to perform to a certain level.

I know I have tried both approaches - relaxed and focused and still had shockers! 

I am a believer in keeping things simple. Bowlers should just run up and bowl. Not always being the brightest twig on the tree it's dangerous for them to overthink. This is however underpinned by a repeatable technique. Bowl your 10k balls and you should be landing it on the spot without thinking because you trained to do it.

On batting, I have seen many a two shot batsman outscore far prettier batsman. Why, because they play two shots really well. All they have learnt to do is avoid the other 10 they can't play. In searching to play every shot in the book we sometimes forget what we can do well and compromise those shots. At the base of all the mind games and technical adjustments is a layer of technique that has got you to this point.

[farnham_quins_2]

I think more a mix of technique and mental toughness.

Obviously you need some level of technique to begin with, depending on what level you want to play. But you can improve through practice in the nets etc.
The harder part of the game is mental. Especially when batting. The main requirements being concentration (so you don't get out), and composure/decision making (playing the right shot to the right ball, considering the situation -  do you need to attack, take risks to get runs or defendd, be more cautious to stay in and build an innings).

[praguetaz]

As a batsman I think I'm psychologically affected if I'm asked to play number 6 and then open the next week. I've opened most seasons but with new players, rotation and the Captain not having a clear idea of the batting order before the match it's quite hard to prepare mentally (unless you're asked to open). Some batsmen don't seem to perform outside of their preferred spot.

When going in at 6 so many other factors come into play e.g. have we just suffered a collapse so my main job is to stabalise and hopefully start the flow of runs again without worrying too much about how long 7, 8 and 9 might be around etc...

However, keeping calm and playing to strengths is key as well as blocking out any 'well intentioned' views from the rest of the team...

[procricket]

People forget that cricket is the most invidiual Team sport going.

Ability is no good without the muscle that muscle being the brain.

Hand in hand if we are talking as a captain it is different to people own fears.

Break it down what the worst that can happen!!! Thats my motive and what the best!!!

Do not fear failure embrace it and learn from it.

If your a captain understand people are different and have different tilts for you to switch

Keep the thinking out when you play let it become natural..

 PREPAIR WELL, DO WELL

[CrickFreak]

Interesting topic. For me, emotions hardly come in my way or maybe I am just too old for sledging to effect my performance . I generally have a good idea whether I am going to do well or not as soon as I step on the field. I am either scoring runs or out very early, hate to hang around and wait for opposition to put me out of my misery. Struggling and holding one end serves no one, neither the team nor individual unless the bowling is really good. Last season was terrible for me, I felt confident, trained during winter and physically fit but just forgot how to score runs and that had to do lot with my mental state (issues on personal front). Our season is so short, just 15 games, that its hard to really come back if you had bad first few games. Also, the team has to make changes after couple of failures because you dont want to be too low in the points table that the team cannot come back and make play offs. So there is always additional pressure especially if there are 2-3 back to back failures.

We have a David Warner in our team who is always involved in some banter with opposition and brings the best out of him if he is on the receiving end

[Stuey]

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail 

[SOULMAN1012]

Emotion clearly plays a part but from my experience normally in a negative way. Last few years we have an opening bowler who has all the skills required for the championship and possibly higher, talk good action and quick but can swing it, the problem he is known as a lose cannon so the oppo just wind him up and he falls for it, gets wound up and bowls rubbish occasionally boing a nut but that's just means his mouth opens and the whole episode becomes just ugly .

Personally I need to be challenged when batting, and I like the banter I get as an opener as that sets me up and gets me in my bubble, as long as my head is clear I'm fine, also having captained for a fair few years knowing what gets players going is the key. I can say to a set of bowlers that I will give them 4-5 overs as I think the pitch will take spin knowing I will get there best As they want to bowl more than that and they know if there bowling tight lines an docking up wickets I won't and them off but I certainly will if there not. Like wise with a batter

[Maverick79]

As a batsman I think I'm psychologically affected if I'm asked to play number 6 and then open the next week. I've opened most seasons but with new players, rotation and the Captain not having a clear idea of the batting order before the match it's quite hard to prepare mentally (unless you're asked to open). Some batsmen don't seem to perform outside of their preferred spot.

When going in at 6 so many other factors come into play e.g. have we just suffered a collapse so my main job is to stabalise and hopefully start the flow of runs again without worrying too much about how long 7, 8 and 9 might be around etc...

However, keeping calm and playing to strengths is key as well as blocking out any 'well intentioned' views from the rest of the team...

This sounds very familiar and definitely hasn't helped me over the past couple of seasons. I'm not somebody who is able to score quickly from the off or smash the ball everywhere in the last 5 overs. The batting order was never consistent and think I batted most numbers form 1-7 last year and even opened 1 week and then at 7 the next.

[wdeans92]

Going to quote Brian O'driscoll here from a recent interview regarding the myth of focus on your weaknesses. "Practise what youre good at and manage your weaknesses".  Ricky ponting on sky masterclass " I knew if the bowler didn't hit that spot i would either drive him or pull him". In my view its practise practise practise and simplify as much as possible. As soon as you feel or think you have to bat a different way youre on a downward slope. Play your own game regardless of circumstances 

[Buzz]

Going to quote Brian O'driscoll here from a recent interview regarding the myth of focus on your weaknesses. "Practise what youre good at and manage your weaknesses".  Ricky ponting on sky masterclass " I knew if the bowler didn't hit that spot i would either drive him or pull him". In my view its practise practise practise and simplify as much as possible. As soon as you feel or think you have to bat a different way youre on a downward slope. Play your own game regardless of circumstances

This goes along very much with what Andy Flower preached at the start of his regime with England - which was find your strengths and maximise them, then narrow your weaknesses.