Is batting more about your mental state than anything else?

Yes.

Without a mindset that allows your instinct to flow, you might as well have a beginner’s skillset.

Ever wonder why that bloke with an agricultural technique seems to score more runs than you’d expect?

This is why.

He’s able to structure his thoughts in a way that allows his instinct to flow.

His technical prowess might be 4/10 but his mental game is 7/10.

Without the know-how to effectively direct your focus and control your emotions, they can overcome you and prevent your body from carrying out the techniques you have honed through hours in the nets.

Speaking of instinct, what exactly is it?

According to the Oxford Dictionary on Google, instinct is defined as:

“An innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals in response to certain stimuli.”

Fixed pattern of behaviour?

This is what you are training in the nets every single time you’re hitting balls. Your body positions, the way your hands hit through the ball, your shot selection. This is why it’s important to train with purpose.

The other part of the Oxford Dictionary’s definition: ‘In response to certain stimuli…’

That being the bowler releasing the ball.

You may not realise it but during all those years of facing bowlers and getting throw downs, your brain has built up a library of cues.

These cues could be things like a bowler’s front arm height, the moment at which their front shoulder drops in their delivery stride, their wrist position at release etc.

These cues allow your brain to quickly and accurately calculate the line and length of the delivery and you automatically get into position, in the same way you do at training, without conscious thought.

So, why do we have those days when we’re out of sync and lacking rhythm?

There are a range of variables that can impact this:

With so many variables in either category, it’s easy to feel like you have very little control at all.

The key is to focus on the items on the left.

When you’re building your weekly routine and training plan, ensure that you allocate time to each of the key controllables e.g. going through your daily stretching routine to ensure you feel fresh on game day or build a plan for where you’re going to score against each of the bowlers you’re due to face in your next match.

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