In this episode, Josh Kennedy and James Breese welcome back Kent coach Toby Radford to explore his article in Wisden Magazine. Toby shares fascinating insights into why left-handed batsmen are outperforming their right-handed counterparts in county cricket and how the data could reshape training and strategies in the game.

You'll Learn:

• The stats revealing left-handers' superior performance, with bowlers requiring significantly more deliveries to dismiss them compared to right-handers.
• How right-handed bowlers' angles and the increasing use of wobble seam affect the effectiveness of deliveries against left- and right-handed batsmen.
• How innovative coaching techniques are helping right-handers adapt to challenging conditions, including changes in stance and alignment.
• How team line-ups, recruitment, and match strategies can benefit from incorporating more left-handed batsmen into the mix.

Key Takeaways:

• Left-handed batsmen take nearly twice as many deliveries to dismiss compared to right-handers across most counties, with seven of the top ten batsmen in county cricket being left-handed.
• Many bowlers lack the ability to effectively challenge left-handers, with right-arm bowlers often defaulting to less effective angles and techniques.
• Coaches should encourage bowlers to practice against both right- and left-handed batsmen, honing specific skills like creating angles and maintaining wrist control.
• Right-handed batsmen can mitigate challenges by altering their guard, stance, and strategy to better counter the angles and movements of right-handed bowlers.
• Incorporating left-handers into the batting order can disrupt opposition strategies, especially in white-ball cricket where field adjustments and bowling lines are more critical.

Quotes:

"Thirteen of the eighteen counties take significantly longer to dismiss left-handers compared to right-handers—this isn’t just a trend, it’s a pattern."

"Left-handers are thriving in county cricket because bowlers aren't as practiced at delivering effective angles and swings to challenge them."

"Recruiting left-handers isn’t just a tactic—it’s becoming a necessity for competitive teams."

Find James on:

• Instagram: @jamesbreese
• Twitter: @_jamesbreese

To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

Welcome to another episode! Josh Kennedy and James Breese dive into the often-overlooked importance of warm-ups and cool-downs in cricket, especially when it comes to injury prevention. They explore key strategies and actionable tips backed by research to help cricketers stay fit and perform at their best.

You'll Learn:

• How a strategic 15-20 minute warm-up can reduce injuries by 36.6% and why dynamic, targeted movements are crucial for cricketers.
• How each joint's mobility and stability impacts the body as a whole, and why addressing the hips, T-spine, and shoulders is key for cricketers.
• How exercises like planks, dead bugs, and glute bridges prepare your body for optimal performance by engaging your core and supporting muscle synergy.
• Why static stretching after games or workouts is essential, including tips on holding stretches for a minimum of two minutes to achieve tissue change and recovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Research shows a strategic warm-up can reduce injuries by over 36%, highlighting its importance in a cricket training regimen.
• Warm-ups should be dynamic and movement-based, while cool-downs should be static, focusing on longer-held stretches for recovery.
• Prioritize warming up the hips, shoulders, and T-spine to prevent common cricket-related injuries.
• Core activation improves coordination between muscles, reducing strain on other areas like the back and hamstrings. Static stretching for two or more minutes post-activity helps prevent stiffness and promotes long-term flexibility and recovery.

Quotes:

"Warm-ups and cool-downs are often overlooked to people’s peril. A little extra time can save you a lot of trouble later."

"Think of warm-ups and cool-downs like bookends—they should match and support each other."

"Dynamic stretching gets you moving, while static stretching helps you recover and stay flexible."

Read more on our blog here!

Find James on:

• Instagram: @jamesbreese
• Twitter: @_jamesbreese

To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

In this episode, Josh Kennedy and James Breese discuss proven off-season weight loss strategies for cricketers. James shares his personal journey of shedding weight while maintaining performance, along with actionable tips that cricketers of all levels can implement.

You’ll Learn:

• Why "you can’t out-train a bad diet" and how understanding your maintenance calories sets the foundation for sustainable weight loss. Discover how small changes in your calorie deficit can yield big results over time.
• The impact of daily steps, weight-vest walks, and non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) on fat loss, and how these simple habits can accelerate progress.
• How intermittent fasting can be a flexible strategy for managing calories without feeling deprived, along with tips on tailoring it to suit your lifestyle and needs.
• How using a weight vest can trick your metabolism into maintaining a calorie deficit more effectively, based on the Gravitostat theory, without needing to drastically reduce food intake.

Key Takeaways:

• Knowing your maintenance calories through trial and error is the key to creating a sustainable deficit. Use online calculators as a starting point, but fine-tune based on your unique needs.
• Focus on a high-protein diet and adjust your weekly calorie average to balance occasional indulgences while staying on track.
• Even with occasional slip-ups, maintaining an overall weekly deficit ensures progress. Adjust the next day’s intake to balance any overages.
• Daily walks, especially with added weight, contribute significantly to fat loss and help maintain a consistent calorie deficit without over-restricting food.
• The off-season is the best time to focus on weight loss for cricketers, enabling optimal performance levels before the pre-season.

Quotes:

"You can’t out-train a bad diet. Nutrition is the foundation of weight loss."

"It’s not about perfection. One bad day doesn’t ruin your week—adjust and keep going."

"The best time to lose weight for cricketers is in the off-season, not pre-season or in-season."

Read more on our blog here!

Find James on:

• Instagram: @jamesbreese
• Twitter: @_jamesbreese

To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com