📍 THE WEEK’S RADAR

• Duckett’s All-Format Dominance🏏: Simple, instinctive, and adaptable — Duckett’s rise is a case study in technique-light, decision-heavy batting. Coaches: build instincts, not just technique.

• Vision Shapes Technique👀: ActionTypes shows how motor and visual preferences define player behaviour under pressure — individualise your coaching beyond "ideal" templates.

• Dan Abrahams’ 5 Mental Tips🧠: From structured journaling to mental red flags mid-game, these are gold-standard cues for supporting psychological performance.

• Door Mat Spin Drill🏏: Transform spin training with door mats - from backyard to Chennai-ready.

• Early Read Practice Drill🏏: A top drill to train instinct

FROM THE ANALYSIS BOX

Ben Duckett: The Best All‑Format Batter in the World? 🧠🏏

Ben Duckett has emerged as arguably the world’s leading multi-format batter, consistently performing across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is — a rare feat matched only by the likes of Australia’s Travis Head.

His Headingley cameos (149 in the Test chase of 371) reinforce a core strength: a simple, adaptable technique paired with sophisticated decision-making. Against pace, he uses subtle weight shifts and timing; against spin, his reverse sweeps are both innovative and effective .

Current ICC rankings back his case: averaging ~44 in Tests (SR 86), ~49 in ODIs, and strong in T20s — Duckett is among the top 20 batters in every format

His secret? A clean, clutter-free approach — he doesn’t overthink technique; he ‘just plays’. And he trusts his skill to score off pace or spin, hit boundaries, or rotate the strike.

Coaching Takeaway:

• Encourage simplicity in technique, focusing on sound balance and timing over flashy footwork.

• Build format versatility by developing players' ability to switch tempo and shot selection.

• Teach pre-loaded responses — batters should sense the shot before the ball is bowled. Duckett’s instincts are purposeful and practice-honed.

THE SCIENCE OF SKILL

Visual Preferences & Batting Styles: Insights from ActionTypes 🧠🏏

During a recent ATEP presentation, visual focus and motor preferences were explored using elite cricketers to illustrate Walking Top vs Walking Bottom movement styles — and how these influence visual behaviours when batting or catching.

👀 Walking Top Batters (e.g. Tendulkar, Labuschagne, Smith)

• Narrow base stance

• Head dips more under pressure

• Eyes often go below helmet peak when tracking the ball

• Use more upward eye tracking (less facial exposure from front-on view)

👣 Walking Bottom Batters (e.g. Babar, Pietersen, McCullum)

• Wider base stance

• Chin stays up, eyes tilt down slightly

• More visible facial orientation

• Use more downward eye tracking under stress or movement

💬 Coaches were encouraged to reflect: What changes in your vision or stance when you’re under pressure? Do you dip the head? Do your tracking patterns shift?

This approach reinforces the need to individualise coaching interventions based on motor preferences and visual tendencies, rather than imposing one-size-fits-all technical templates.

BETWEEN THE EARS

Five Quick Coaching Tips by Leading Sport Psychologist - Dan Abrahams 🧠🏏

1. Differentiate Goal Theories:

   • Goal-setting theory = motivating across time with process/outcome goals.

   • Achievement-goal theory = setting targets for performance under pressure.

2. Know How Players Learn:

   • Players absorb info in many ways — explicitly, through task design, open/closed questions, games, modelling, and cultural/psychosocial factors. Match your methods to the moment.

3. Developing Conscientiousness:

   • Encourage journaling, teach self-talk, make discipline part of practice, assign team tasks, and stay patient. Grit grows over time.

4. Use Systems to Support Players:

   • A structured environment helps players connect, perform, and stay well. Systems are key for managing behaviour, identity, and wellbeing.

5. Spotting Mental Shifts in Games:

   • When plans fall apart, check:

     • 👀 Where is attention going?

       • 🔥 Has intensity dropped or spiked?

         • ⚠ Are they executing with hesitation?

COACH’S CORNER

Square Turn: Anytime, Anywhere

Want batters ready for spin? Grab door mats. Mixed textures mean random turn and bounce - perfect match simulation. Break batters in practice, shape artists for Chennai's fifth-day minefields.

💡 Pro Tip: Mix synthetic, leather, and rubber balls on the mat to test batters' adaptability to spin.

See how!

The Early Read.

Coach throws down from 18 yards. Batter watches ball release, closes eyes at mid-pitch (on coach's "shut" call). Must complete shot based on initial trajectory read alone. 20-30 quality balls, building pace gradually

Value: Sharpens initial ball reading, builds decisive footwork, eliminates second-guessing. Elite batters win matches through early decision-making - this drill isolates and strengthens that skill.

Job Board

JOBS OF THE WEEK 🏏

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