Personal Performance Portfolio for Cricket

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PPP- Personal Performance Portfolio for Cricket

Identification of:

  1. Skill components
  • Direct hit from 10m (My weakness)
  • Fast / swing bowling (my strength)

  1. Fitness component;
  • Weight training (strength)

  1. Tactic/Strategy
  • Offensive movement

Strengths:

Catching-

  • The high catch- This is used to catch a ball that is dropping quickly from a height. This can be a static catch if you’re in the correct position to catch the ball comfortably but most of the time it’s a mobile catch, as you have to judge where the ball is, how fast, etc. and then catch the ball. The method to catch like this is as follows- Sight the ball, move quickly to where it is coming down, stand still with hands above eye level, palms facing ball and fingers spread out, little fingers touching. The hands should “give” as the ball is caught; this is reducing the impact of the ball in the palms and also makes sure it won’t bounce out.

Currently I am performing this skill at a high level as it has become vary rare for me to drop a high catch, I have the speed and co-ordination to get to the ball in time.

If I were to improve this skill it would help my game improve a lot. As the saying goes “catches win matches” so it would be paramount from the team aspect.

  • The close catch- These types of catches are primarily used close to action of play. They can include, slip, silly mid-on/off. When in this position the utmost amount of concentration is required as the ball is generally going to arrive at a fast pace as you are in close proximity of the batsman. You should be ready to catch in your position before the ball is even hit. Eyes should be level and head still, palms facing anticipated line of ball, fingers pointing down, elbows clear of body and the hands should “give” as in the same situation as a high catch.

In my match-play situations I am not usually located in close proximity of the action as I my main job when fielding is to bowl. The captain generally directs me to the outfield, to rest. But once my overs have been completed I generally stand closer in, short-mid wicket.

If I were to improve this skill it would help a lot in my general aspect of cricket. Close proximity fielding requires quick reactions; this could strengthen my stimulus response bond and thus help my batting reactions.

  • The skim catch- This type of catch is primarily used to catch flat trajectory balls arriving head height. You would site the ball and palms facing it, move head to the side, hands “give” as the ball is caught. You would use this type of catch generally in the inner filed, mid-wicket, mid-on/off. This type of catch is used when the batsman doesn’t quite “hang-on” to the ball, e.g. playing a pull shot and not hitting it in the middle. This is catch would wouldn’t enhance my overall game but is very important.

Bowling-

  • I specialise in fast bowling, I have been practicing for most of my life and play at a high level. There are a number of different variations of fast bowling, in-swing, out-swing, bouncer, Yorker, full toss, slow ball. All these variations in bowling should be in your arsenal and strong as each other. All types of bowls should be used in a match situation, but no repeatedly, but as a surprise to the batsman, thus giving a higher chance of obtaining a wicket. Improving this aspect of my game would be a great help to my performance, but as I have nearly reached a plateau where I cannot be taught any more to affect my performance it isn’t worth pursuing. Lots of practice would enable me to perfect this skill

The bowling action begins the run in, you should reach a top speed when coming in and then bowl from any angle, closer to the stumps if you want away swinger, further away to get in-swingers. Look over left shoulder behind front arm, back foot parallel with crease, high delivery, and hand behind ball, emphasise on good follow through of bowling arm and shoulder.

Weakness- Chasing and retrieving

Short throw-

The short throw is usually used in the inner field. This usually occurs when the batsman are looking for quick singles, so mainly used in run-out situations. The short throw should be on target, or a direct hit as it is best opportunity to get a wicket.

The ball is rolling along the floor at a reasonable pace and it has gone past you. You would chase it by running inside the line of the ball to enable the right foot to land beside it. Weight should be well back, head over right knee, left foot trailing. Pick up ball, turn left into throwing position, aim and throw without moving any further.

I am choosing this skill to improve on as I usually don’t field in the inner field, so I would benefit from the extra training to perfect my overall training. I am able to chase and retrieve the ball, as I do this in the outfield all the time. The difference is the throw back to the wicket has to on target with the stump (direct hit), outfield fielding is usually thrown back to the wicket keep or at the bowlers end.

Running between wickets-

The main objective when batting is to score runs, these can come as boundaries but most often as runs. This may seem obvious but nevertheless a degree of judgement as well as physical skill and fitness required. The running between wickets is made up of 5 key factors-

  1. Calling
  2. Deciding who makes the call
  3. Backing up
  4. Making ground
  5. Multiple runs

When the bowler comes in the non-striker holds the bat in the left hand (if right handed). As he delivers the ball the batsman watches the bowler deliver before leaving the crease and commencing down the pitch. One problem that occurs at all levels of the game, batsman impeding each other when running, or not calling loud enough thus getting run out. Improving this aspect of the game would help my overall game, as it requires a lot of stamina and strength, thus helping my bowling and fielding.

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To help plan and identify achievable goals I am using the SMARTER system, this consists of.

S        Specific

M        Measurable        

A        Agreed

R        Realistic                

T        Time

E        Enjoyable

R        Recorded

Skill Component 1

Specific- The preparation phase of throwing the ball directly at the wicket using a short throw, is the area which I will be concentrating on.

Measurable- I will measure this by recording the action in a mock up match play situation. This will enable me to see where I am going wrong and compare it to video clip of a professional applying this skill correctly.

I ...

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