How to Build a Pre-Ball Routine That Helps You Under Pressure

Ever wondered why you can play one delivery beautifully, then completely lose your concentration on the next? The answer might lie in what you're doing between balls.

You've just played a glorious cover drive for four.

The ball has raced across the outfield, your teammates are applauding, and you're feeling pretty good about yourself.

The bowler walks back to his mark.

You glance at the scoreboard. You've moved to 46. A fifty is within touching distance.

"Don't throw this away now."

Suddenly, you're thinking about the milestone rather than the next delivery.

The bowler runs in, you plant your front foot, push at a ball outside off stump and nick it through to the keeper.

Sound familiar?

I've experienced something similar more times than I'd care to admit.

And it's one of the reasons I believe developing a consistent pre-ball routine is one of the most valuable mental skills a batsman can learn.

But what exactly is a pre-ball routine, and how do you create one that works for you?

Why Your Mind Needs a Routine

Let's start with something important.

You cannot concentrate at maximum intensity for an entire innings.

Imagine batting for three hours, facing 150 deliveries. That's potentially three hours of distractions, emotions, conversations, tactical decisions and changing match situations.

Trying to maintain complete concentration throughout would be mentally exhausting.

Fortunately, you don't need to.

You only need to be fully focused when it matters most: as the bowler approaches the crease and delivers the ball.

The time between deliveries is an opportunity to reduce the intensity of your focus, assess the situation and prepare your mind for the next challenge.

That's where your pre-ball routine comes in.

Think of it as a repeatable process that helps you move from thinking and planning into watching and reacting.

It's not about creating a complicated ritual or copying your favourite international player.

It's about developing a process that helps you give every delivery your full attention.

The Problem With Thinking Too Much

During my 2024 season, I experienced a fascinating reminder of how easily our conscious mind can interfere with our batting.

Playing against Instonians, I raced to 28 from 18 deliveries.

I'd hit two pull shots for six, was timing the ball beautifully and felt completely immersed in the contest.

Everything was instinctive.

Then a thought appeared.

"You've had a good start. You need to make this one count."

Suddenly, my approach changed.

I became more conscious of protecting my wicket and accumulating runs.

Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with adjusting your approach. Batting requires tactical flexibility.

But there's a difference between making a deliberate tactical decision and allowing the fear of wasting a good start to influence your batting.

That experience reminded me of something I'd recently revisited in The Inner Game of Tennis.

The book describes two aspects of ourselves: Self 1, the conscious thinker, and Self 2, the instinctive performer.

When we're batting well, Self 2 is often doing most of the work.

We're watching the ball, recognising its trajectory and responding with movements we've practised thousands of times.

But when Self 1 starts issuing instructions during the delivery, things become complicated.

Your pre-ball routine should help you do your thinking before the bowler runs in, so you can trust your instincts when he releases the ball.

My Four-Step Framework for Building Your Routine

There's no single routine that works for everyone.

Some batsmen like to walk towards square leg between deliveries. Others remain close to their crease.

Some adjust their gloves, tap their bat or repeat a particular phrase.

The physical actions aren't necessarily what make the routine effective.

What matters is the purpose behind them.

Here's a four-step framework I'd encourage you to experiment with.

Step 1: Release — Let Go of the Previous Delivery

You've just played and missed.

The wicketkeeper reminds you how lucky you were.

Your mind immediately starts analysing what went wrong.

"My head fell over."

"I'm not picking up the length."

"I can't afford to get out like that."

Sound familiar?

Here's my advice.

Step away from your stance.

Take a comfortable breath.

If it helps, loosen your gloves or walk a few paces away from the crease.

Give yourself permission to move on.

You can acknowledge what happened without carrying the frustration into the next delivery.

The previous ball is finished. You cannot change it.

Your next delivery deserves your full attention, not whatever attention remains after thinking about the last one.

How to Practise Your Routine in the Nets

This is where I'd challenge you to do something differently.

Most players practise their batting technique in the nets.

Far fewer deliberately practise what happens between deliveries.

So, during your next session, treat every ball as though you're batting in a match.

After each delivery:

1. Release: Step away and let go of the previous ball.

2. Assess: Consider the bowler, field and your scoring options.

3. Prepare: Complete your physical routine and begin your focus phrase.

4. Commit: Watch the ball and react instinctively.

You don't need to spend 30 seconds between every delivery.

With practice, the entire process can become quick and natural.

Then introduce some pressure.

Imagine you're 48 not out.

Or your team needs 12 runs from the final over.

Perhaps you've just played and missed three times in succession.

Can you still follow your routine?

That's where the real learning happens.

Your Challenge: Build Your Own Routine This Week

Spend 10 minutes before your next training session writing down your answers to the following four questions.

Release: What physical action helps me move on from the previous delivery?

Assess: What information do I need before facing the next ball?

Prepare: What simple actions or words help me feel ready?

Commit: Where do I want my attention when the bowler releases the ball?

Write your answers down.

Experiment with them in training.

Then use the routine during your next innings.

Afterwards, don't judge its effectiveness solely by how many runs you scored.

Ask yourself whether it helped you recover from mistakes, recognise scoring opportunities and maintain your concentration.

Refine it over time.

Because here's what I've learned from more than 20 years of senior cricket.

The best batsmen aren't the ones who never lose concentration. They're often the ones who recognise when their attention has wandered and know how to bring it back.

And when you consider how many deliveries you might face throughout a season, improving that skill could make an enormous difference.

You can't control the quality of every ball you face.

You can't control the conditions, the opposition or the umpire's decisions.

But you can develop a process that helps you prepare for each delivery.

And that's a pretty good place to start.

What's your current pre-ball routine? Do you have a deliberate process, or are you simply hoping you'll be focused when the bowler runs in?

I'd love to hear what works for you. Feel free to get in touch. Let's talk batting.

Step 2: Assess — Understand the Situation

This is where your tactical mind gets involved.

What is the bowler trying to do?

Has he changed his field?

Is he setting you up with a series of short deliveries?

Where are your scoring opportunities?

Perhaps the captain has moved deep square leg onto the boundary, leaving a gap at midwicket.

Or the bowler has repeatedly pitched the ball outside off stump, giving you opportunities to leave or score through the off-side.

This is the time to recognise those patterns.

I often describe batting as a game of chess.

The bowler is trying to create a problem, and you're looking for the most effective response.

But here's the important part.

Make your tactical decisions between deliveries, not while the ball is travelling towards you.

Once you've assessed the situation, it's time to move on.

Step 3: Prepare — Create Your Physical and Mental Cues

Now you're ready to return to your stance.

This is where I'd encourage you to develop a couple of repeatable actions.

Perhaps you adjust your gloves, take guard, tap your bat twice and look towards the bowler.

Maybe you take one slow diaphragmatic breath and relax your shoulders.

Whatever you choose, keep it simple.

The purpose is to create a familiar sequence that tells your mind it's time to prepare for the next delivery.

You might also introduce a short focusing phrase.

Something like:

"Watch the seam."

"See it early."

"Trust your game."

I've always been fascinated by watching great batsmen such as Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey as the bowler ran in.

Their routines appeared deliberate and consistent.

And that's something worth learning from.

You don't necessarily need to copy their actions, but you can develop your own version of that consistency.

Step 4: Commit — Stop Thinking and Start Batting

This is the most important stage.

The bowler begins his run-up.

Your tactical assessment is complete.

Your physical preparation is finished.

Now your job is simple.

Watch the ball and trust yourself to respond.

Don't worry about your front elbow.

Let that worry about getting out wash over you.

There’s no time to rehearse three different shots.

Just watch.

One of the biggest challenges I see in players I coach is the tendency to overthink their technique during matches.

They've spent hours practising their movements, yet when the pressure arrives, they feel the need to consciously control everything.

But batting happens too quickly for that.

Your routine should help you arrive at the moment of release with a clear mind and a positive intention.

Then let your training do its job.

What Happens When Your Routine Stops Working?

Here's something I want you to understand.

A pre-ball routine isn't a magic formula.

You can follow it perfectly and still get out.

You might receive an unplayable delivery.

You might misjudge the length.

Or you might simply have a poor day.

That's cricket.

The purpose of your routine isn't to guarantee runs.

It's to help you prepare consistently, regardless of what's happening around you.

And some days, you'll need to adapt it.

If you're feeling particularly anxious, perhaps spend a little longer releasing tension between deliveries.

If you're struggling to score, spend more time assessing the field and identifying opportunities.

If you're batting beautifully, don't overcomplicate things.

Sometimes the best routine is the one that allows you to get out of your own way.

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