Cricketing success requires technical and mental skills. We tend to focus on the technical area but ambitious young cricketers can also improve their performances dramatically by working on four key areas that are absolutely essential to the full development of a player’s potential. These are:

You need to have the right ATTITUDE. This means you must be ambitious and committed to the achievement of clear and achievable goals. You need to be confident and able to react positively not negatively to any setbacks. Also remember that you should be a team player and be accountable for your performances.

FOCUS is crucial. During a match there are many internal and external distractions. But it is essential that you are able to direct your full attention to the job in hand. If you are batting, for example, you should be focusing on watching the ball not worrying about the comments of fielders.

EMOTION MANAGEMENT can be difficult. Anger, anxiety and frustration can all affect your game adversely. You must understand that all these feelings are natural and learn how to react when you experience them so that they do not interfere with your performance.

The best cricketers can read a game. We call it GAME INTELLIGENCE and it refers to an understanding of what is happening in the game. You need to be able to make the right tactical decisions. You should realise your strengths and weaknesses.

The best piece of technical advice I got came from Sir Donald Bradman. He said that my top hand was too far around the front of the handle, making it difficult for me to play balls on the off side. He showed me how I should shift the top hand around to the back of the handle to mirror the bottom hand. I was pleasantly surprised that the new grip felt comfortable immediately, so I used it that day and for the rest of my career. By making the change I became a better all-round-the-wicket player.
© Wisden Cricinfo

The best piece of technical advice I got came from Sir Donald Bradman. He said that my top hand was too far around the front of the handle, making it difficult for me to play balls on the off side. He showed me how I should shift the top hand around to the back of the handle to mirror the bottom hand. I was pleasantly surprised that the new grip felt comfortable immediately, so I used it that day and for the rest of my career. By making the change I became a better all-round-the-wicket player.
© Wisden Cricketer

Grip the ball loosely. Most people grip it too tightly. You need to get the ball to rotate backwards so you have to run your fingers down and under the seam. Imagine the ball is a yo-yo and you want it to come back to you – that is how you bowl swing. It’s a light touch.
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Keep your wrist behind the ball. Cock the wrist back and flick it forward as you bowl to give you an extra bit of bounce and pace. It also means you present the seam better. It’s more likely to hit the seam and deviate if the seam is straight. Richard Hadlee bowled with a cocked wrist and that made the ball come on to the bat more quickly than the batsmen expected.
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Good preparation is essential for success and I look to clear my mind before I go into bat. I try to relax, focusing only on what I have to do and not what I can't control - that is very dangerous. Successful batting is impossible if you are premeditating your strokes, so your mind must be clear and positive as the bowler runs in. You must trust yourself to select the right stroke after the ball has been released. Some people have a checklist at the crease too - something that John Dyson has been talking about this week - which helps them prepare for each delivery. I focus on my stance, making sure I am balanced with my head straight and my eyes level. Others though may need to feel bat on their leg or may like to tap the bat on their toe. The crucial point is that you have a routine, preparing for each and every delivery in the same way.
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Batsmen want runs. They are happy when they are scoring and they are tense when they are not. In the modern game there is a lot of pressure to perform and batsmen need runs desperately. You have to stop them scoring - it's as simple as that. That's why I love bowling in tandem with Chaminda Vaas. Together we can build-up the pressure through simple, tight bowling. Variations may fox the odd batsman, but they don't buy you wickets all the time.
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There are times when you bat when everything clicks. Some refer to it as "being in the zone" - the achievement of total focus. The adrenalin may be pumping but the mind is calm and uncluttered. Fear of failure has been wiped away and you are focused solely on the next delivery. I never set numerical targets when I batted; I just tried to set my mind - a state of mind, which let the game come to me. But being fearless is not enough. "Being in the zone" is a balancing act. Arrogance may be necessary as a batsmen but too much overconfidence will cost you dearly. You must be calm and aggressive.
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One valuable lesson I learn a short while ago was that when you walk to the middle, do not worry yourself with anything that you cannot control: the state of the pitch, the speed of the bowler, or the weather. Concentrate instead on what you can control: your own mental state and your game. Try to clear the mind and relax.
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Brilliant fielders have the ability to anticipate when and where the ball is coming. Watch Jonty Rhodes or Upul Chandana and they are moving in the right direction almost before the ball is hit. The key to this is watching the batsman's feet. This will give you an idea about the shot and the general direction of the ball, providing you with a precious advantage.

(i) Assume the ball is coming to you every delivery
(ii) Stay down and come up with the ball
(iii) Glove the ball correctly - extend arm and then bend the elbow when collecting the ball to cushion impact
(iv) You should to take the ball in the palm of your dominant hand