📍 THE WEEK’S RADAR

• Joe Root joins the ODI elite with 7,000 runs — a masterclass in composure, adaptability, and match-winning consistency.

• Bumrah and Cummins show why elite pace is part physics — wrist speed and braced front legs turn levers into lightning.

• When training drifts, simplify and reset — great coaching moments often emerge from unexpected pivots.

• Want match-ready players? Do the Michael Jordan - train under pressure.

• Why the first 10 minutes of training matter more than you think.

• Performance anxiety isn’t always visible — even the pros need mental skills to silence inner noise.

FROM THE ANALYSIS BOX

Joe Root’s ODI Milestone: A Masterclass in Consistency and Adaptability 🏏

Joe Root's 166* against the West Indies not only secured a series win for England but also marked his ascent as the nation's leading ODI run-scorer, surpassing Eoin Morgan. Achieving 7,000 ODI runs in just 168 innings places him fifth-fastest globally, joining an elite group alongside Hashim Amla, Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.

Root's innings exemplified his hallmark traits: composure under pressure, precise shot selection, and the ability to anchor an innings. His 18 ODI centuries, including nine in successful chases, underscore his role as a linchpin in England's batting lineup.

Leverage and Lightning

The BGT highlighted what Ponting dubbed fast bowling at its finest. Bumrah's wrist – analysed by Fox Bio – adds an incredible 60km/h to his deliveries, transforming an 18km/h approach into searing 135km/h deliveries. That trademark straight front leg both Bumrah and Cummins share? It's nature's perfect lever, channelling momentum into raw pace and enabling remarkable accuracy across long spells. Boland proved that precision at top of off, mixed with subtle angles, still dominates on responsive wickets. This is fast bowling brilliance, where science and skill redefine cricket's toughest stage.

COACH’S CORNER

When Training Drifts—What Next?

Watch your session unfold with a keen eye—sometimes you sense the rhythm isn't quite right. The energy dips, confusion surfaces, and that well-crafted plan begins to drift. That's your moment to pause and recalibrate. Rather than persisting with complexity, find strength in simplicity: a basic drill reimagined, a competitive element that sparks joy. Remember, these apparent setbacks aren't failures—they're golden opportunities to evolve, shaping both coach and player alike.

THE SCIENCE OF SKILL

“We Don’t Rise To The Level of Our Expectations, We Fall To The Level of Our Training” - Archilochus

Michael Jordan didn’t just train — he engineered pressure. Instead of choosing the best shooters to practice with, he picked the toughest defenders to beat. Why? To raise the intensity and simulate match pressure.

It’s a mindset cricket coaches can borrow:

• 🔁 Don’t just repeat drills — recreate pressure.

• 💭 Don’t just expect focus — train it.

• 🏏 Don’t just prepare for matches — mimic them.

As the saying goes: “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” Research backs it up: pressure in training builds mental toughness (Bell et al., 2013). Want your players to stay composed under fire? Start turning up the heat before game day.

Why the First 10 Minutes Matter More Than You Think 🧠🏏

Most coaches think the 'magic' is in the core of the practice, but it's not, it is in the first 10 minutes... Those opening 10 minutes? They set the tone for the whole session.

Too often we chat, "warm up", and hope it clicks. But if the start is fuzzy, the rest is catch-up. As a coach, those first 10 minutes are your power window.

• ✅ Start with intention

• ✅ Focus the group

• ✅ Get them doing, not just listening

• ✅ Frame the session: what, why, how

No fluff. No confusion. Just clarity and energy from the get-go. Because better starts = better sessions = better cricketers.

BETWEEN THE EARS

Performance Anxiety Doesn’t Always Look Like Fear. Sometimes, It Looks Like Professionalism.

Shane Watson, speaking with Paddy Upton shared that for most of his career, his biggest opponent wasn’t the batter or the bowler. But the voice in his own head.

• “Don’t make a mistake.”

• “You have to score runs.”

• “Selectors are watching.”

He didn’t need motivation. He needed mental skills - tools to redirect the internal noise and reconnect with his best game.

Press here to listen to the podcast.

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