Cricket Coaches Weekly Newsletter 31.10.24

The past taught it, the present proved it, and the future needs it: Your preview of cricket's change

Author

Ankith Udupa
October 30, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

FROM THE ANALYSIS BOX

Kumble breaks down Sundar's 7/59 at Pune, highlighting three pillars: revs through the crease via classic loading position, controlling pace as the SG ball softened, and subtle changes in release point. Pre-interval spell showed off-breaks with flight and dip, while post-tea saw flatter overspin. Recent red-ball rhythm (43 overs) proved instrumental in his control.

Current subcontinental struggles paint a telling picture - England's Bazball crumbling against spin, while India's batsmen display fundamental flaws in defensive technique and limited scoring options. These modern struggles mirror Pietersen's SOS to Dravid during his own spin crisis.

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One good practice is to bat without pads... it will force you, sometimes painfully, to get the bat forward and force you to watch the ball. My coach would tell me you should never need pads to play spin!

Simple, yet profound. Without protection, every movement demands purpose - the forward press becomes deliberate, not desperate; the bat leads by necessity, not choice. Yet Dravid's genius extends beyond technique: "Under stress we miss vital clues." True skill emerges where physical discipline meets pure instinct - "watch the ball and trust yourself."

Perhaps today's spin crisis isn't about technique or tempo, but trust!

THE SCIENCE OF SKILL

Your spine is the batsman, your hands just follow. Science, not speculation. Your body works like a coiled spring, with power flowing naturally from feet through spine to bat. When this whole-body flow is in sync, players are 70% more likely to make solid contact. Perfect bat arc? Just 10-25 degrees. But it's the timing of your whole body movement that matters most.

Research using smart cricket balls have shown some theories about spin bowling may need rethinking. Data from hundreds of deliveries shows that angular impulse (sustained rotational force), not peak torque (maximum finger pressure), is key to generating spin. Elite spinners maintain ball contact for nearly twice as long (0.233s vs 0.130s) as less skilled bowlers. Surprisingly, this longer, gentler application of force achieves higher spin rates than short, powerful releases, despite lower peak torque values.

BETWEEN THE EARS

Elite athletes don't suppress emotions - they master them. In the pressure cooker of sport, feelings will surge: anger, fear, disappointment, excitement. The key isn't avoiding these emotions, but processing them swiftly and moving forward. Present beats perfect!

Job Board

HOUSE OF COACHES

The numbers tell a story: 93% of British children attend state schools, yet private school pupils are 13x more likely to reach pro cricket - reflected in 58% of England's men's team coming from private education. ECB's response: £26M investment to train PE teachers as cricket coaches, targeting 500 state schools by 2030, plus free cricket access for 3.5M primary pupils. Coaches, this is your moment!

Cricket Coaches is a Contentive Publication in the Sports Division

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