A selection of advice from some of the English cricket’s best and brightest all designed to help sharpen your game.
NAME: ALASTAIR COOK
COUNTY ESSEX
ROLE: OPENING BATSMAN
TIP: If it’s a hot day, make sure you are properly hydrated before the start of the game and drink lots of water. You cannot play catch-up once the game has begun – so preparation is key here.
NAME: NEIL CARTER
COUNTY: WARWICKSHIRE
ROLE: ALLROUNDER
TIP: If you are playing two games on the trot, stretching is crucial if you want to minimise those aches and pains. The temptation is to come off the field and put your feet up straight away, but you’ll really feel the benefit if you warm down properly – if you are lucky enough to have access to an ice bath you’ll find them especially effective in this regard. The following day make sure you stretch first, then have a gentle run about and then stretch again; this will put you in the best shape to then practise your cricket skills and prepare thoroughly for the day ahead.
NAME: JAMES FOSTER
COUNTY: ESSEX
ROLE: WICKETKEEPER
TIP: When hitting throwdowns I think it’s a good tip to try and concentrate on hitting the ball hard into the ground. In order to do this well it means striking the ball later, letting the ball come right up to you before making contact. This helps me make stronger shapes when hitting the ball for real.
NAME: RANA NAVED-UL-HASAN
COUNTY: SUSSEX
ROLE: OPENING BOWLER
TIP: When you’re bowling at the end of an innings – if you have enough pace – it might be worth slipping in the odd bouncer along with your slower balls and yorkers. It’s something that batsmen rarely expect and can lead to a wicket or a dot ball. Some players instinctively duck and that can stop them scoring.
NAME: DAVID SALES
COUNTY: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
ROLE: MIDDLE-ORDER BATSMAN
TIP: As a captain, it’s important to go into a game with a plan. When I skipper a game I will look to use strike bowlers in four or five over spells to make a breakthrough. Other bowlers have to handle the donkeywork of bowling longer spells and looking to ‘dot batsmen up’. It’s crucial to keep an eye on these guys; as soon as they are tiring make sure they pass the baton on.
NAME: DOMINIC CORK
COUNTY: HAMPSHIRE
ROLE: ALLROUNDER
TIP: Practice with intensity. It’s the same as any job – you need to practice for the key moments. There’s nothing worse than opening up with a procession of half-volleys in a game – which will happen if you’ve not trained with intensity. Get your mind working right in practice.
