ECB Coaches Association links Inside Edge 6 May 2018 | Page 50

48 CHESS ON GRASS 49 CHESS ON GRASS Will Porterfield plays a shot watched by teammates during a training session. Another expression that resonates with me is “if you’re going to panic, panic slowly”. Again, it is finding a way to take a step back and think clearly under pressure. You have to know exactly what you want to do every delivery of the game. To execute a game plan you need to be really decisive, because you don’t want to be walking off at the end of the game wishing you hadn’t been clouded in your thinking. You need to be one hundred percent clear in every moment. Here’s another line that someone mentioned to me early in my career: Some lads have played 80 games, but someone else comes in and plays 20 games and yet you would say they are more experienced. The best players might play, and learn from, 20 different games. Less savvy players have played 80 games the same, so have not learnt so much from the experience. You have to learn from the situations and adapt to win games. Experience does not always come down to the number of games played. Some players pick things up quicker than others. If you have a middle practice with your squad, the nine lads fielding might not think it is their cup of tea. Setting up scenario middle practices can be very long days and peter out as time goes on. The practice needs to have intensity and you need to be put under some pressure to make it a worthwhile exercise. Personally, I prefer warm up matches. You will be better equipped in the match if you feel like you have been in that situation before, so you know how you get through it and what you need to do. “If you are in the middle would your thought process be the same as if you were sitting watching the game and somebody else was in your position?” Will Porterfield hits out for six runs during the Semi Final Natwest T20 Blast match between Birmingham Bears and Surrey at Edgbaston. CONTINUE Here is a question that struck a chord with me as a player: “If you are in the middle would your thought process be the same as if you were sitting watching the game and somebody else was in your position?” I find this allows me to rationalise my thoughts and take a step back. I can remove myself, and make sure the decision I take is what is needed for the team at that time. Sometimes, especially early in your career, you can get under pressure. You might even put yourself under more pressure than there actually is in the situation. I encourage players to take a step back, and ask them whether they would make the decision if they were sat on the balcony watching the game unfold. In one day cricket a lot of scenarios come up. In one day cricket many scenarios come up time and time again. The clever players learn from those, and understand what happened.