The only point of practising cricket is to make you a better player in a game. If your cricket practice is not going to help you become a better player by helping you make more runs, take more wickets or more catches and stumpings, there is no point in doing it.

One of the challenges that we face is making sure that training simulates game conditions. Unlike many other sports the nets do not replicate the game exactly, for example, if you get out you still keep batting, there are no no-balls and if you get hit for four the ball does not go to the boundary!

The external consequences we face in the nets are not the same as a game. It can be very difficult, if not impossible to control the external conditions we are faced with at practice. However, a key element of our preparation we can control in order to simulate match conditions, is our thinking. So while you may not be able to match the physical elements of a game at practice, you can replicate the way you think in training to simulate a game.

To make you a better player you can practise how you think at training!

Some of the things you can focus on include;

• How well you can watch the ball
• How well you can put your game plan in place
• Starting your innings including reducing your risks while you begin your innings
• Placing a high price on your wicket
• Being confident
• Enjoying the challenge.

Practice should prepare you for a game much in the same way you study for an exam or in the way an actor learns their lines before a performance, your practice is preparation designed to help you perform. A key to becoming the best you can be is learning to train to play the best you possibly can

Can you get more from your training?

Good luck

Mark