Here are some pointers to help players prepare for and play in an important match :

Sleep

It’s vital that players are well rested ahead of an important match. Sleepovers the night before an important match are not advised and players should have an early night before the game. If possible parents should spend time with the players talk to the players about the times they played their best and recall those times – that’s the performance they need to take into the game the next day. Players should go to bed the night before feeling good about themselves with a smile on their face.

Pressure

Players should not feel any pressure ahead of a game. Its all about going out and expressing themselves and relying on their instincts and the things they have been practicing at training. Things will go wrong in the game and its all about staying calm, not panicking, recognising that its ok to make mistakes and trying to learn from what went wrong and focussing on the next ball which is more important than the previous ball.

Getting kit organised

It’s important that kit is ready and packed the night before the match – not the morning of the match. Make sure that the kit is clean and smelling good !

The morning of the game

Its important to have a peaceful and stress free start to the day.

Players should have a hot bath /shower in the morning if possible so they feel relaxed and refreshed.

No irritating siblings causing upset … the drive to the game should also be stress free – the player should not be worried about getting to the game late..

Have a good breakfast

Check the route before the game and make sure you are going to the correct ground …

Before the start of the game

Players should arrive at the game in good time and settle into the environment – throw a few balls around and have a look at the wicket, get a feel for the outfield and start ‘owning the space’

If its going to be a hot day – drink water before the game – and plenty of it.

Just before the game

It’s important to spend a good few minutes getting out of Xbox mode and into match mode – doing focussed bowling to make sure that the balls bowled are consistent, catching high balls and doing some fielding drills so the concentration levels are at their peak and ready for the game.

It important to be 100 % ready at the start of the game so they are ready for that high catch, that good ball bowled or batted from the first ball of the game. It’s important to get off to a good start which often sets the tone for the rest of the game.

Start of the game – setting the right tone to the game

It’s important to send a message to the other team that they are up against a group of players who work together as a team, encourage each other, support each other, and do the things that bring out the best in each other. When things go wrong (and they will), its about sticking together and trying and make sure that it dosn’t happen again and moving on quickly.

It’s important to always be positive and only say positive things to each other – no place for any criticism. Its also important to say things that we are going to do and not ‘sledging’ the opposition.

Its important to celebrate the little victories along the way – the dot balls where no runs are scored, the catches we take, the wickets we take, the good throw ins from the boundary. If we do these things we put pressure on the opposition because they know that they are up against a group of players whose collective output is much greater that the sum of their individual parts.

When things don’t go well – eg we are bowled by a good ball, we accept that we didn’t quite get it right that time but there will always be another time to put it right. The non striking batter should encourage the batter facing the ball – give him a fist pump and let him know that he is supported. Those are the times our team mates need us the most – the little word that says – don’t worry about it – you are a good player. It’s the little things that pick us up and give us the mental strength to feel positive and keep carrying on even when the chips are down

During the game – Specific things to focus on :

Batting :

• Play with freedom
• Focus on the standard shots that are known and played well – not the latest Joe Root /Jacob Bethel /Jamie Smith/ Harry Brook paddle sweep in the middle of the game
• If the ball is bowled on the stumps play a nice soft shot. If its not on the stumps look to hit the ball hard
• Always look for the second run when running between the wickets – don’t ball watch
• If you hit the ball hight into the air – run and call loudly so your other batter knows that he needs to run
• Know whose responsibility it is to call – loud clear calls . Yes – No – waiting or looking (not GO which sounds like NO)
• When its a potential runout situation, batslide into the crease ..
• Non striking batter – stand wide of the crease so you don’t crash into the other batter when running between the wickets

Fielding :

• Go where the captains tells you where to go
• If the Captain says field on the boundary, your starting position should be with your feet on the boundary rope
• Walk in with the bowler – after the ball has been bowled and is finding its way back to the bowler – walk back to your mark
• Your feet should always be pointing to the batter – not the bowler – that’s where the ball will come from when its hit
• Try and throw the ball to the wicketkeeper or the bowler at the bowler’s end – not the stumps. If you throw the ball at the stumps at close range try an underarm throw which is a lot more accurate than an overarm throw
• Backing up – stand in line with the thrower of the ball and the stumps and give yourself lots of space to stop the ball in case it isnt gathered properly
• Be vocal and encouraging in the field – if the bowler bowls a bad ball you have the power to make him bowl a good ball through positive talk and encouragement

Bowling :

• Bowl your usual ball in a match – don’t decide to try and bowl spin when you are used to bowling fast
• Keep to your usual runup which should be a short runup – don’t do anything different
• If you are not bowling straight – use the crease to try and correct – slow it down
• If you bowl 2 consecutive wide balls in the same area – look to make a change
• After you have bowled and the ball is hit – get ready to receive the ball behind the stumps in line with the thrower allowing the ball to hit the stumps

Enjoy the game

The most important part of the game is to enjoy what you are doing. Play the game with the mindset that you are learning all the time. You are different to everyone else – if things don’t go well – try and look for the little things you can change that will make a big difference.

Cricket is a team sport – celebrate the small victories with your team mates, remember the good moments and take away some learning points from each game