by Ajay
(India)
Jacque Kallis
Hi Coach, how can I quieten my mind when the bowler starts his run up? How can I avoid pre-empting my shot?
Hi Ajay,
getting the mind to be quiet and to pay full attention are the great challenge of batting. You can have a great technique but if you can’t manage your mind then you’re not going to score runs.
The players who have mastered this skill, like South African greats Jacque Kallis and Hashim Amla have managed to allow their technical skills full expression without the mind sabotaging their best intentions.
So how do you do it ?
Firstly, you have to have a solid batting technique, if you have technical deficiencies then they will be a distraction, so make sure you have a strong technical foundation.
Secondly, make sure you have good fitness, check out Greg King’s Cricket Fitness pages so that physical fatigue doesn’t lead to mental errors.
Thirdly, you need a mental routine at the crease to manage your mind, this gives the mind focus to stop it wandering between balls and during your innings.
Turn these into a routine.
1. Play with positive intent. Each ball bowled is played with the intent to score from it, this then leaves one decision to be made, to leave the ball. Even a defensive shot is a run scoring opportunity to rotate strike.
2. Breathing: Between balls, step back and breath easy, control your breathing – this slows the heart rate down and allows the brain to let go of one ball and re-focus on the next.
3. Self Talk: having a positive affirmation or key words allows the mind to focus on them. We call this a mantra, like breathing it’s a place to rest the mind between balls. Something short and word/s that create a positive feeling and focus.
4. Focus: between balls look off into space,again, this allows the mind to relax between balls and helps to conserve mental energy.
Watch The Ball !!! – Make sure you switch full focus on when the bowler runs in, glue your eyes to the ball.
I hope these help, best wishes Coach
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About Richard Pybus
I'm Richard Pybus, I've coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middlesex, Titans and the Cape Cobras in South Africa and the goal of this site is to help you to play winning cricket.