An excellent cricket tip I picked up is the power of
visualisation. It is a skill which is often neglected by
cricketers. For batsmen, bowlers and fielders at any level of
the game it is an important skill that should be mastered.
Visualisation or guided imagery is a very powerful technique
that can help increase both your efficiency and effectiveness in
achieving your cricket goals, whether it would be scoring one
hundred runs, playing a perfect cover drive or taking that vital
wicket or catch.
“You must see your goals clearly and specifically before you can
set out for them. Hold them in your mind until they become
second nature.” --Les Brown--
All top class athletes utilise visualisation to mentally
rehearse what they have to do and how they are going to achieve
it. By doing this they train their minds and bodies to actually
perform the skill as effectively and efficiently as possible.
For example, before batting Ricky Ponting will have visualised
every stroke and shot in his many inning’s this season which
have netted him an average of over one hundred so far this
season.
When you begin to use visualisation techniques, you want to
mentally create a vivid scene in you mind of your wanted
outcome. You want this scene to be as detailed and clear as
possible, you need to be able to see, feel and smell your
success.
Actually visualise your success, picture yourself taking that
critical wicket or scoring that winning run. Visualise whatever
you want your desired situation to be, how it feels, what your
emotions are, imagine being in the situation and succeeding.
Make visualisation a daily activity, to go alongside your other
cricket training. By succeeding in your mind you will become
more passionate about your cricket and you will work harder,
pushing yourself to do whatever is necessary to achieve success.
When using visualisation never ever consider failure or giving
up as this will likely be the eventual outcome. Always have a
positive mental attitude and draw on your success as inspiration
however small they may be.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act,
but a habit. -- Aristotle –
Dream big and aspire to succeed at the highest levels, be
patient, work hard and persevere there is nothing except
yourself stopping you from achieving your goals in cricket.
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