Are you on all day?

One of the most commonly issued instructions given out by cricket coaches, players and followers of the game would be CONCENTRATE. If you start playing bad shots in the middle of an innings then you are probably inundated with cries of, come on keep concentrating or keep working. You get the idea. And you have all at one stage or another probably contributed to discussions about how your team mate is losing concentration. So many other factors can come into play when assessing concentration levels such as nutrition and fitness but I think one really vital aspect of keeping up concentration quality is not addressed adequately.

What if you were batting and some of your team mates started yelling out instructions such as relax, zone out or switch off. Firstly you would probably think to yourself I haven't heard them correctly and secondly; what the hell are they talking about?!! In all my years involved in cricket I haven't ever heard these instructions but I think the time has come to start hearing them occasionally.

The reason being cricketers, especially batsman are so caught up in the mindset of working hard and trying to achieve absolute rock solid concentration levels. They don't realise continuous concentration isn't sustainable and it isn't healthy for your performances either. You will literally melt down mentally in the middle of an innings. Analysing a fifty over cricket match and putting up the best case scenario, you bat for the whole fifty overs and you will be out there fielding all innings as well. You will need to concentrate for 600 balls. Initially that sounds like a lot and it sounds even more demanding when you say your game time in total will be 6.50 hours.

Step back and break it down and you will only need to be concentrating fully for 10 minutes. So if your process to switch on and off is effective you won't ever lose concentration. Here's a simple formula to follow to help you switch on and off during your games.

1. Prepare early and get your self set up in your stance before the bowler reaches the top of his mark.
2. Cue on at a point where the bowler is just entering his bowling stride. Just as he approaches the umpire. Something simple like NOW or ON or whatever works for you.
3. Cue off as soon as the ball goes dead. Meaning once there is no chance of you getting dismissed. Think about anything and everything until it is time for you to Prepare again.

Like all of the cricket fitness messages we put out this is a specific cricket training task so practice this aspect of your game with quality. Quantity is not a solution to this problem.