Why your mindset and mental preparation are the most underrated skills for your cricket

When we talk about cricket development, most people jump straight to technique, head position, back lift, or footwork. Although these fundamentals are important and need to be grooved in order to develop a sound technique. The players who make real progress, are the ones who are able to develop a mindset and mental skills that allow themselves to execute the skills they have trained under pressure and be consistent with their mental approach.

What is “mindset” in cricket?

It’s how you respond to failure, pressure, and setbacks. It’s your ability to control your mind in a way that works for you not against you, and helps you focus your mental energy on the right things.

Why does it matter more than technique sometimes?

Because cricket is a mental game. Junior players with average skills but a better mindset, often outperform more talented kids who let their emotions and thoughts control them in the long run.

3 Tips to Improve Your Mindset Today:

1. Journaling: Write down how you felt before, during, and after your matches. You will start to see trends and similarities, which will help you gain a better understanding of what the best version of you looks, thinks, and feels like.

2. Visualisation: Spend 5-10 minutes before a match visualising where you are going to score your runs against certain bowlers, and how you want to feel in the middle.

3. Anchor: Create a “reset routine” to help you bring yourself back to the present moment when it matters most (a deep breath, tapping your bat, or walking away for 5 seconds) to help you bring yourself back to the present moment which is the only period of time you can control.

   
   

If you're serious about your game, mindset training should be part of your weekly routine, just like nets and your physical preparation. That’s exactly why I created our mentorship programs to help young cricketers train their minds just as much as their technique.