📍 THIS WEEK’S RADAR

• 🧠 Royals launch global Coaching Hub — self-paced, elite learning made accessible for every coach.

• 🏏 Lahiri breaks down front-foot defence — bat angle, balance, and pressure-proof drills.

• 📊 Fast bowling flaws revealed — 7 biomechanical red flags from 60 elite youth bowlers.

• 🧤 Healy masterclass drops — setup, gear, and elite-level glovework decoded.

• 🔥 Gill leads Wisden’s Series XI — but no room for Brook in a stacked 2–2 draw side.

• 🧠 Be a greedy coach — every second in training is a chance to layer learning and raise standards.

• 💼 This week’s trending jobs.

⭐EXCLUSIVE THIS WEEK

“A Big Step For Cricket Education” - Sid Lahiri on The Coaching Hub🧠🏏

In a recent LinkedIn post, Siddhartha Lahiri, Global Head of International Player Development for the Royals Group shared the thinking behind a bold new initiative the Royals Coaching Hub — a digital platform built to reshape how cricket is taught, especially at the grassroots.

Lahiri calls it “a small step for us, a big step for cricket education.” And the mission is clear: take elite-level knowledge and make it simple, self-paced, and widely accessible for coaches, players, and parents anywhere in the world.

Since its May launch, the platform has already drawn:

• ✅ 3,000+ learners across 25 countries

• ⏱️ 90+ minutes of average user engagement

• 📈 20%+ course completion rate

With structured modules across coaching, batting, bowling, fielding, and keeping — this isn’t just another online course. It’s a serious attempt to bridge the education gap at grassroots level and give coaches better tools to shape better cricketers.

🗣️ “We’re only in the first over,” says Lahiri. But the early signs suggest this could be a long innings for cricket learning.

🏏BATTING LAB

From the Royals Coaching Hub: Sid Lahiri on Front-Foot Defence 🎓🏏

Straight from the Royals Coaching Hub, this video sees Sid Lahiri break down one of the game's most critical skills: the front-foot defence.

From bat angle to balance and footwork, and drills that actually stick under pressure — this clip gives coaches practical tools to build better technique and decision-making at the crease.

🎥 Taken directly from the Hub’s elite coaching course — and packed with insight you can use today.

🎯BOWLING LAB

📊 Fast Bowling Biomechanics: 7 Key Coaching Takeaways

This ECB-backed study analysed 60 elite age-group fast-medium bowlers (U13–U19) to identify technical faults and risk factors in bowling actions using sports biomechanics. The goal? Improve performance and reduce injury risk.

1. Too Fast a Run-Up (85%)
Most bowlers ran in quicker than their bodies could handle — leading to poor control and collapsed positions. Optimal pace > max pace.

2. Leaning Back Pre-Delivery (40%)
A long, high bound with arms pulling backward = energy lost upwards, not into the pitch. Keep movements compact and momentum forward.

3. Back Foot Collapse (25%)
A weak base at BFC kills momentum and increases stress. Fast bowlers must get off the back foot quickly and cleanly.

4. Front Foot Misalignment (65%)
Poor stride direction blocks the action, causing bowlers to fall away. Teach alignment through the crease, not just during the run-up.

5. Long Strides + Collapsing Front Legs (86%)
Few could brace or extend the front leg properly — often due to strength deficits. Work on leg strength and shorter, more efficient strides.

6. Excessive Lateral Flexion (57%)
Too much sideways bend = spinal stress. Bowlers should aim to release above the front foot, not outside it.

7. Misaligned Follow-Through (83%)
Even with a curved run-up, the last 4 steps (pre-delivery to follow-through) must stay straight towards the target.

🧠 Final Insight for Coaches

Biomechanics isn’t about cloning one “perfect” action — it’s about helping each bowler reach their own optimal technique, based on body type, strength, and role. Eradicating these seven issues can help maximise performance and minimise injury risk, especially in young developing fast bowlers.Use video, observe closely, and coach with the long-term picture in mind.

🧤FIELDING LAB

Alyssa Healy’s Wicket Keeping Masterclass

There’s a reason she's perhaps the best wicket keeper in the women's game! Alyssa Healy takes us through her wicket keeping masterclass. From set up and positioning, to what she looks for in her equipment, Heals has got you covered!

🔥IN OTHER NEWS

Anderson-Tendulkar’s Trophy 2025 Team Of The Series

After a thrilling 2–2 series draw, Wisden picked their standout XI — and it’s stacked with match-winners.

🔥 Shubman Gill leads the way with 754 runs and 4 centuries, while Joe Root, KL Rahul, and Ben Duckett all piled on key runs at the top. Though no place for Harry Brook.

🧤 Rishabh Pant edged out Jamie Smith for the gloves after a gutsy, injury-hit series.

💪 Jadeja, Stokes, and Sundar offered serious all-round value — Jadeja with the bat, Stokes with ball and leadership, and Sundar emerging as a future spin mainstay.

⚡ In the pace department, Archer’s return made headlines, Siraj topped the wickets tally (23), and Bumrah showed flashes of brilliance in a limited role.

Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy XI: Rahul, Duckett, Root, Gill, Pant, Jadeja, Stokes, Sundar, Archer, Bumrah, Siraj

One of the best modern series in recent memory - how does your XI look?

🧠THE MIND GAME

Be a Greedy Coach: How To Squeeze More From Every Session

In cricket coaching, the 90 minutes you get on the training ground is gold, and how you use it matters. Technical drills, tactical awareness, physical prep, mental resilience, leadership, connection… it can all happen in one session, if you coach with intent.

The real secret? Use the in-between moments. Those seconds between overs, drills, or transitions during active recovery— that’s the learning zone. It’s when players reflect, give feedback, and build the muscle memory of both success and discomfort.

Greedy coaches don’t just run drills. They observe, challenge, demand clarity on team principles, and keep standards high — physically, socially, and mentally. They scan for detail, shut down distractions, and never waste a chance to reinforce behaviours.

Best practice isn’t one thing — it’s everything, everywhere, all at once. So next time you're out there, coach like every second counts. Because it does.

Job Board

JOBS OF THE WEEK 🏏

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