Winning mind game at crease

A JAMES Cook University study has revealed the mental approach that separates great cricketers from the rest.

Dr Jonathan Connor and a team of researchers interviewed eight elite batsmen who became top coaches.

The researchers then methodically “coded” their responses.

“Given the minimal error tolerance permitted in order to be successful, cricket batting is an ideal vehicle to better understand the complex nature of expertise,” Dr Connor said. “Obviously top performers have to be technically very good, smart enough to analyse tactics and physically fit, but even more is required if they want to operate at the highest levels.”

body to join us,” Sinha said. “We’ve played a few players from the Brothers club previously. We welcome everybody.”

Norths all-rounder Travis Busch said the Rebels could be the Winter Whack’s X factor.

“It’s always good teams,” he said.

“I know in all carnivals such as the Goldfield Ashes they’ve done well, and they’ll definitely hold themselves together.

“I’m going to stick with my own to see new

The researchers found that a classy batting performance is based on a systematic, continuous cycle of updating how the batter and the game environment are interacting.

Dr Connor said top players knew their strengths and weaknesses, and those of the bowler, and fed this into their calculations to form game plans.

He said beyond training just technical skills, coaches should also incorporate this mental aspect into a young cricketer’s game.

“Encouraging batters to develop their own pre-ball routines may be a useful behavioural strategy along with the cognitive strategies of reflecting, relaxing and refocusing reported by elite level batters,” Dr Connor said.

club … I think Norths will come in strong, but obviously everyone has a strong side.”

Brothers player Gary Friend, whose team is the defending Townsville Cricket summer Twenty20 champion, said the Rebels were a welcome breath of fresh air.

“It’s good to get them on board and they’ll be fantastic,” he said.

“I suppose we’re used to playing six teams week-in, week-out, so to have another team in the comp is really good for us and exciting.”