Elite Cricket is very pleased to present this exclusive Masterclass article by my former teammate Steve Herzberg. Steve is a qualified level 3 coach. He played cricket for WA and Tasmania in the 1990’s. He now runs a successful corporate training company. Steve can be reached at www.nrgsolutions.com.au or emailed at steve@nrgsolutions.com.au

Enjoy.

Cheers

Mark

As a kid playing cricket I was given a lot of advice from a lot of people. If I can recall even 10% of it now I’d be amazed. However, one piece of advice I will never forget is, “you must always respect the umpire’s decision.”

You might not always agree with it but you must respect it.

The referral process in place at the moment actually is showing young cricketers that the umpire’s decision is not always right. Just take a moment to think about the impact this could have on future generations of cricketers.

I have a few major issues with it. This article outlines them and then suggests a better alternative.

Why the referral process is wrong

Umpires confidence

Umpires are only human and like anyone will not respond well to being informed in front of a huge audience that they are making incorrect decisions. Yes, they may well say that it doesn’t bother them, but I struggle to see how having your decisions overturned could be good for your ego and mental state. More than anything I would have thought that it would bring in to question your own decision making skills and increase the likelihood of poor decisions being made after each over ruled referral. There is enough time after a game for umpires to review their performances and learn from the decisions they made.

Attitude of players

If we now show young cricketers that you can question the umpire’s decision are we not encouraging them to go ahead and do so? This changes one of key principles of the of the gentleman’s game of cricket. Players will become precocious little sh__s, constantly disagreeing with the umpire’s decision. This goes against the grain of the game of cricket. I struggle to see how this can be an improvement. Umpires must be respected for the game to be run smoothly.

Inconclusive proof

When I used to practice sometimes I would bowl at the stumps without a batsman there. There were many times when I was certain a ball was about to hit the stumps, when at the last minute it would deviate and miss. Watch how often a ball swerves and dips just before a keeper takes it.

No matter how many times you view a replay for an lbw or a questionable catch behind or bat pad there will always be an element of the doubt. The laws clearly state that the batsman gets the element of doubt and that’s where it should rest. Spending minutes watching replays is of little benefit to anyone.

Time

Cricket is a slow enough game as it is. Just ask Richie Benaud about over rates. Anything that slows the game down must be questioned. The referral system can never be rapid due to its nature and what is ultimately at stake.

What is the alternative?

Firstly, is there really a problem? I can’t see the need for it at all. Umpires will always make questionable decisions. That is part of the game. Cricket is not a game of perfect. Never has been, never will be. If you want perfect outcomes in a sport try something like darts, bridge or chess (Are these really sports? How would you warm up?)

Invest more resources in to improving the skills of umpires and in particular how they deal with high pressure situations. Accept they will make errors. Players make a lot of errors. It’s part of the game and why it’s so fascinating. There is no one formula for success.

Just because the technology is there doesn’t mean we need to use it. I’m not suggesting we go back and live in caves, just highlighting in some instances it doesn’t improve anything, it actually makes things worse.

Steve Herzberg

BACKGROUND

• Experts believe that as little as a 1-2% decrease in the body’s fluid levels can be enough to negatively affect performance through a drop in energy levels, decision-making and your body’s ability to cool-down
• Prolonged dehydration in hot and/or humid conditions may increase risk of heat stress

This advice is intended as a brief checklist to assist cricketers that may be at risk of dehydration. For more detailed advice it is recommended that you speak to a medical expert or sport scientist

DAYS LEADING UP TO GAME DAY

• Aim for 3L of water on each of the 2 days prior to the game
• Consider adding salt to food and electrolyte formula (i.e. “gastrolyte” or “hydralyte”) to drinks if it is very hot/humid
• Minimise alcohol, a known diuretic
• Use urine colour to check hydration status
  • Clear urine = good hydration
  • Dark yellow urine = dehydration

GAME DAY

• Upon waking have 1-2 glasses of water
• Over the course of the morning aim to drink 4-6 glasses of fluid (water or sports drink best). If you suffer badly from cramps add some salt or electrolyte formula to drinks

DURING THE GAME

• Look for all opportunities to ingest fluids
• Add extra scheduled breaks
• Water or sports drinks are recommended
• Look for every opportunity to cool down
• Use of ice vests/cooling fans where possible
• Recover in shade where possible
• Be aware of heat stress
• If you show signs of heat illness (exhaustion, cramps, dizziness or collapse) seek immediate medical support

POST-GAME

• Weigh yourself after game to measure fluid loss
• 1kg weight loss = 1L fluid loss. Aim to drink 1.5 x fluid lost in the 4-6 hours afterward (water or sports drink best)
• You should have returned to pre-competition weight within 6 hours
• Use ice baths or cold showers post-match to cool the body down and assist recovery
• Minimise intake of caffeine and alcohol

Cheers

Mark

Elite Cricket is excited to announce the venues and dates for our December 2008 School Holiday Program

January 2009 School Holiday Program Schedule coming soon!

HIGH PERFORMANCE – BOOT CAMP

December High Performance Boot Camp Enrolment Form

This program has a minimum skill requirement and is specifically designed for cricketers playing at representative level or its school equivalent and is limited to 10 players only.

Successful applicants for this elite program will also possess high levels of cricket skill and fitness, be self-disciplined, highly motivated and aged 13 years or above.

Over 2 days our Academy players will train like first class cricketers and be challenged by an intensive multi-disciplinary program to further enhance their existing skills and match awareness by a range of high performance coaches.

The program features analysis of bowling action by video and extensive bowling machine batting technique work.

• St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 11th & 12th December 2008

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM

December School Holiday Program Enrolment Form

The program is suitable for ages 7 – 14 and will be conducted from 9am to 3pm in both 2 and 3 day formats at the venues listed below.

• Scots College, Bellevue Hill – 8th, 9th & 10th December 2008
• St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 11th & 12th December 2008
• Lindfield Oval, Tryon Road – 15th & 16th December 2008

‘ON THE BALL’ PROGRAM

December ‘On The Ball’ Program Enrolment Form

‘On the Ball’ is for girls and boys from 5 -7 years, who have perhaps never played cricket or who have just begun their cricketing career. In these sessions run from 9am to 12pm and are a great way to have fun and learn about the game of cricket.

• Scots College, Bellevue Hill – 8th, 9th & 10th December 2008

Cheers

Mark

Please find below a link to the strength training program that Elite Cricket is using for the Sydney Tigers CC Academy 2008-9.

Elite Cricket: Sydney Tigers Strength Program

Sydney Tigers Academy Squad 2008-9

Sydney Tiger Academy players hard at work

On Sunday May 18th, 36 young players swapped their football boots for cricket spikes and began training for the cricket season.

The boys were part of the inaugural Sydney Cricket Club’s Tiger Academy. The Sydney Cricket Club is a newly formed venture between the former UTS – Balmain Tigers and the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust.

Aged between 12 and 15, the players have been identified by their various local clubs as talented cricketers and over the winter will focus on forming correct techniques, developing tactical awareness, injury prevention and general preparation for competition.

The Academy, run by Mark Atkinson’s Elite Cricket Coaching for the Sydney Cricket Club, is designed to provide a complete pathway for the development, coaching and mentoring of talented young cricketers who will eventually see the Sydney Cricket Club as their home as they mature into Grade cricketers.

Daryl Chappelow, General Manager of the Sydney Cricket Club said to the players and parents yesterday, “The Club is committed to maintaining its position in the forefront of the Sydney Grade cricket scene and to do this we will be offering a training and coaching regime which will provide first class coaching at all levels – this Junior Tiger Academy is one example of our commitment”

It’s also offers a great opportunity for the boys to train and play with cricketers of similar talent and be exposed to coaches who offer expertise in areas of batting, pace and spin bowling and wicket keeping.

Further details

Daryl Chappelow
Sydney Cricket Club
dchappelow@scgt.nsw.gov.au
www.sydneycricketclub.com.au

The most difficult part of an innings is arguably the first forty minutes, if you have got this far (40 minutes) you have probably become used to the conditions and the bowlers to a degree and progress from this stage is more about continuing to apply the skills that have got you to where you are. That is after the first 40 minutes you are more likely to get yourself out by a mistake than by having the bowlers knock you over!

In contrast the first 40 minutes of an innings is more about dealing with uncertainty in terms of factors such as the bowlers, the pitch, your nerves and the game situation. It is fair to say that this is a fairly anxious, stressful and difficult time that requires a lot of skill to survive and thrive. The positive in this situation is that it presents a great challenge that will give you a lot of satisfaction and if you can be successful it will also set you up to make a big score. Below I have detailed a few thoughts for your consideration on starting your innings.

Keep it simple, have a simple plan, my plan is defend on the stumps, leave the width until I want to hit it (when I’m ready). When I execute this plan I remove caught behind, lbw and bowled (the most likely ways any batsman can get out), which pressures the bowler to try other deliveries that create run scoring opportunities for me.

Bowlers will have their tails up when they have just taken a wicket and you have just come in, keep your expectation low at the start of an inning, play straight, leave width and relax is my thought process at this stage. There will be plenty of time for stroke play later when the bowlers are more tired and you are better set.

Play straight, this means to me if the ball is on the line of the stumps hit it back down the pitch where it came from, it is difficult to get out playing straight.

Get balanced, the most difficult time to pick the ball up is when you first come in, give yourself your best chance by being as stable/balanced as possible at all times.

Relax and enjoy the challenge, deep breathing helps me to get calm and even though its stressful I find enjoyment in the challenge, nothing worthwhile (including making runs) comes easy, you will have to work and fight for every run and also if you enjoy something you will do it well.

Good luck

Mark

I heard an expression that made me think recently, it was ‘95% of people turn up’. I think that the application of this expression to cricket is that in most cases 100% of people turn up to a game, but how many of the 24 people at the game turn up to do what it takes to win or to play the best game of their lives or to take responsibility for their team winning the match.

I believe that great performances don’t just happen, they are a result of making the effort to plan carefully and having the courage to make a disciplined effort to execute the plan with precision. People don’t play for Australia or achieve any great success by accident it is the result planning and effort.

I think the easy thing to do is just turn up to a match and go with the flow of the game taking the attitude that if your team and team-mates have a good day you can cruise along with them. It’s easy not to think! (95% of people turn up!)

The tough but rewarding thing to do is to make the effort to take the responsibility for being the very best you can be. This path does not guarantee you success, however it does give you the chance to be the best you can be and if you never aim to do something, how can you achieve it other than by luck and let’s face it you could be waiting around a long time for a lucky break!

To be the best you can be means you need the courage to take the risk to commit fully to carrying out your game plan and accepting the consequences no matter the result. You need the courage to test yourself and see how good you can be and this means taking the risk to fail. However, failure is not a bad thing in fact I see it as an opportunity and if you can be honest with yourself every performance is an opportunity to learn weather you succeed of fail. For example if you failed under a certain set of conditions or against a certain bowler what did other people do that worked in these circumstances that you can learn from or how can you do it better next time.

When you turn up to your next game, will you be prepared to be the best you can be? Are you prepared to play the best game of your life or better your personal best performances? If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then have you got the plan, discipline and courage to make the effort that it requires?

Good luck

Mark

I suppose the best place to start is what are the benefits. Well I reckon the main benefits of staying in are as follows. The longer you bat; The more bad balls you receive. Say on average you receive 1 bad ball for every 10 your face. If you bat for 10 balls you get 1 bad ball but if you can bat for 100 balls you get 10 bad balls. Assuming that you hit all the bad balls you face for 4, if you face 100 balls you’ll have 40 runs and if you bat 10 you’ll have 4!

The more tired the bowlers will become, which will accelerate the rate at which you receive opportunities to score. As bowlers tire their techniques can deteriorate which is likely to more opportunities for you. The more comfortable and confident with the conditions and the bowlers you become. You can’t beat time in the middle and you can’t score runs from the pavilion. When you are well set at the crease is the time to cash in and make a big score. The more fun you have. The next question is how do you make sure you bat for as long as possible, well I believe the answer is to minimise your risk.

What are the best ways to this, Have a plan that is realistic, that you can achieve and stick to it. My plan is defend balls on the stumps and leave the wide balls until I want to score from them. For example if I don’t want to score off a ball that I know is wide of the stumps, I don’t take the risk of hitting or nicking it for a reward of no runs!

Technically, stay balanced, play as straight as possible and restrict your swing in defence and full swing in attack. Be patient and wait for your opportunities instead of trying to force them, remember the longer you bat the more opportunities you will get.

Relax and enjoy the challenge, if scoring runs was easy you’d do it all the time!

Good luck

Mark

Skill acquisition experts tell us that it takes around 10,000 hours or 10 years of focused practice to develop expertise in a skill!

Whether your goals are to play for Australia, recover from a bad season, take your game to another level or simply get the best out of your ability, these goals will not come easily or without effort.

The best investment you can make in achieving your cricket goals is to put in the time and effort to develop the best possible skill set you can. Let’s face it, to score runs for example, is a huge challenge when you have 10 ways to get out every ball and 11 opponents whose job it is to see you fail! Your best protection against this challenge is an excellent array of skills that you understand and can apply consistently. To attain them you have to put in the work, there is no way around it, however, the benefits of striving to be the best you can be are well worth the effort required to achieve your goals.

The off-season, presents an ideal opportunity to make the effort to invest in your skills, whether it is to build consistency and precision around your existing strengths or to work through a change strategy to turn your weaknesses into strengths. The benefit of working hard through the off-season is that the out of competition period offers an opportunity to experiment and work through change or extend your capabilities away from the competitive pressures of a match. It also presents you with the chance to accumulate the hours of focused quality practice you will need to master your skills.

Good luck

Mark

Skill acquisition experts tell us that it takes around 10,000 hours or 10 years of focused practice to develop expertise in a skill!

Whether your goals are to play for Australia, recover from a bad season, take your game to another level or simply get the best out of your ability, these goals will not come easily or without effort.

The best investment you can make in achieving your cricket goals is to put in the time and effort to develop the best possible skill set you can. Let’s face it, to score runs for example, is a huge challenge when you have 10 ways to get out every ball and 11 opponents whose job it is to see you fail! Your best protection against this challenge is an excellent array of skills that you understand and can apply consistently. To attain them you have to put in the work, there is no way around it, however, the benefits of striving to be the best you can be are well worth the effort required to achieve your goals.

The off-season presents an ideal opportunity to make the effort to invest in your skills, whether it is to build consistency and precision around your existing strengths or to work through a change strategy to turn your weaknesses into strengths. The benefit of working hard through the off-season is that the out of competition period offers an opportunity to experiment and work through change or extend your capabilities away from the competitive pressures of a match. It also presents you with the chance to accumulate the hours of focused quality practice you will need to master your skills.

Our High Performance Individual Coaching program focuses on acquiring and mastering critical technical skills to optimise performance.

• Great for building confidence in your own game
• Learn, improve and hone new skills away from the pressure of match play
• Correct bad techniques (particularly those that may cause injury) before they become an integral part of your game and are difficult to change
• You can book for one session or as many as you like however we recommend a minimum of 5 sessions over consecutive weeks to enable a stronger understanding and knowledge of your game

Cheers

Mark