The Book of Pace

Citation preview

APaceJour nalPubl i cat i on

PaceJour nal TheBookofPace Di gi t alEdi t i on

Al lr i ght sr es er ved.Nopar toft hi spubl i cat i onmay ber epr oducedort r ans mi t t edi nanyf or m orbyany means , el ect r oni c or mechani cal , i ncl udi ng phot ocopy,r ecor di ng or any i nf or mat i on s t or age andr et r i evals ys t em now known ort obei nvent ed wi t houtper mi s s i oni nwr i t i ngf r om t hepubl i s her .

Publ i s hedi nTheUni t edKi ngdom Publ i s hedi n2020byPaceJour nalLi mi t ed Cr eat i veDi r ect i on:ShahbazChoudhr y CoverDes i gn:Ez equi elCas anel l a © 2020PaceJour nalLi mi t ed s peed@t hepacej our nal . com www. t hepacej our nal . com

DI SCLAI MER Whi l s tever yef f or thasbeenmadet oens ur et hat t hi s book i st echni cal l y accur at e and s ound, nei t hert heaut hornort hepubl i s hercan accept r es pons i bi l i t yf oranyi nj ur yorl os ss us t ai nedasa r es ul t of us i ng t hi s mat er i al .Li ke any s por t i nvol vi ng s peed, f as t bowl i ng pos es s ome i nher entr i s k.The aut horand publ i s heradvi s e r eader st ot akef ul lr es pons i bi l i t yf ort hei rs af et y and know t hei rl i mi t s .Bef or epr act i s i ng anyof t hes ki l l soract i vi t i esdes cr i bedi nt hi sbook,be s ur et hatyouar ef i tt odos o,andyourequi pment i swel lmai nt ai ned.Donott aker i s ksbeyondyour l evel of exper i ence, apt i t ude, t r ai ni ng and comf or tl evel .

MARKI NG CONTENT When Ir ead abook,Idon’ tj us tr ead i tf ort he s akeofr eadi ng.It r yt ot akeever yt hi ngi nandget t hemos toutofi t .Asyoucani magi ne,whenyou ar e cons umi ng hundr eds ofpages ,i tbecomes i mpos s i bl et or ememberever yt hi ng.Iadvi s eyou al lt ogr abahi ghl i ght erandapen,andwhenever youcomeacr os sas ent ence,par agr aphors ect i on oft hebookt hats t i cksoutt oyou,mar ki t .Then checkwhatpagenumberyourmar ki ngi son,go t ot he bl ank pages att he s t ar tand wr i t et he numberal ongwi t hawor dt odes cr i bewhyyour mar ki ngi si mpor t antt oyou.I tcoul dbe“ f i t nes s ” , “ t echni que” or anyt hi ng r ecogni s abl et o you. Ther e may come a t i me when you des per at el y needt or emi ndyour s el fofs omet hi ngyour eadi n t hebookandi ns t eadoft r yi ngt of i ndi t ,r ef ert o your mar ki ngs .I fyou own t he eBook,gr ab a bl ankpi eceofpaperorus eanot esappon your phoneanddot hes ame.

CONTENTS FOREWORD (byTymalMi l l s )

7

FOREWORD (byJockCampbel l )

1 0

SHAHBAZ CHOUDHRY

1 4

I NTRODUCTI ON

20

MEMBERSSECTI ON

28

PACE JOURNAL

30

ARE FAST BOWLERSBORN?

39

HEI GHT & FAST BOWLI NG

46

ART & SCI ENCE

51

I NFORMATI ON OVERLOAD

58

THE GOOD COACH

66

HOW TO BOWL FAST

89

BELI EF

93

TECHNI QUE

1 01

EXPERI ENCE

1 24

FI TNESS

1 41

MI NDSET

1 56

CONFI DENCE

1 65

FI NAL THOUGHTS

1 81

OTHER WORKS

1 94

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

201

FOREW ORD TYMAL MILLS

ForewordbyTymalMi l l s

Looki ngback,Ihavepr obabl yt akenaf ew t hi ngs i n my l i f ef or gr ant ed. Bei ng a pr of es s i onal cr i cket erf oral mos t1 0 year sand bei ng abl et o bowlmor et han90mphbei ngt wooft hem. Mycar eerhast akenmeal lovert hewor l d.Ihave s har edchangi ngr oomswi t ht hebi gges tnamesi n cr i cket . Pl ayed i n s ome of t he mos ti coni c s t adi umsont hepl anetandbowl eds pel l swher e I ' ve f el tunpl ayabl e.As I s t and her et oday,I r eal i s et hatf or99% ofus ,t hi si sadr eam,nota r eal i t y. Si ncemeet i ngShahbazandj oi ni ngPaceJour nal , myeyeshaveopenedt ot hepas s i on,cur i os i t yand pai nt hati sexper i encedbypeopl ef r om al lwal ks ofl i f e who s t r i ve t oi mpr ove and chas et hei r dr eam t obowlf as t . Thi s book gave me gr eati ns i ghton Shahbaz ' s per s onalj our neyandexper i ences ,andIhaveno doubtt hatatl eas ts omet hi ngwi l lr es onat ewi t h you. Ther ear emanypot ent i alpi t f al l soutt her ei nt he wor l dofcr i cketandf as tbowl i ng,nomat t erwhat l evelyoupl ayat .

8

ForewordbyTymalMi l l s

Whatyous hal lr eadf r om her eonwi l lhopef ul l y hel pyounavi gat eyourj our neyt hatl i t t l ebi tmor e s moot hl y. So,whi l eyou maynotbeasf or t unat et of ol l ow t he pat ht hatIhave wal ked,al waysr emember whyyoupl ayt hi sgamet hatweal ll oveandt he j oyt hati tbr i ngst omi l l i onsofpeopl eal lovert he wor l d. TymalMi l l s Engl and Cri cket er & One of The Fast est Bowl er' si n TheW orl d

9

FOREW ORD JOCK CAMPBELL

ForewordbyJockCampbel l

If i r s tmetShahbazi n201 8whenheas kedmef or an i nt er vi ew f orhi spodcas taboutf as tbowl i ng. Hei nt r oducedhi ms el fasanexf as tbowl erf r om Engl andwi t hahugepas s i onf ort hecr af t .That ’ s t hegr eatt hi ngaboutt hi sgameofour s .I tbr i ngs al lwal ksofl i f et oget herf r om al lovert heWor l d wi t hagr eatcommonf r i end,cr i cket . Shahbazs ai d he wasa bi gf an oft he wor kI ’ d done,par t i cul ar l yt heappt hatIcr eat edwi t ht he gr eatMi t chel lJohns on,Bowl f i t . Iagr eedt ot hei nt er vi ew,t hi nki ngi tmi ghtbea podcas tl i s t enedt oby1 00peopl e.Wel l ,4mi l l i on i mpr es s i ons l at er ,and af t er many chat s over Zoom,SkypeandWhat s app,Iknew hehads een, exper i enced and hear d a gr eatdealaboutf as t bowl i ng and want ed t os har et hi s wi t h t he cr i cket i ngwor l d. Shahbaz ’ spas s i on f ort hear toff as tbowl i ngi s unpar al l el ed,andwhatIl ovei show hi spat i ence andgener os i t yf orhi smember si ss econdt onone.

1 1

ForewordbyJockCampbel l

I am ver y exci t ed t or ead t he Book ofPace. Shahbazhasi nt er vi eweds omeoft hegr eat es tf as t bowl i ngmi ndsi nhi s t or y.Hehasexper i encedt he hi ghsand l owsbot h phys i cal l yand ment al l yof whati ti st o be a f as tbowl er ,whi ch even t he gr eat es tonesgot hr ough,of t enbei ngt hemaki ng oft hem. Het akesal lt hi sexper i enceand knowl edgeand put si ti nt ot hi sbook,whi ches s ent i al l yr emi nds usnevert of or gett owi ndupandl ett hebal lr i p r egul ar l y! Fas tbowl i ngi st hemos tphys i calcomponentof t hegameandr equi r esagr eatamountofr egul ar phys i calwor kt obeanygood.Gues swhat ,t hat i ncl udespl ent yofbowl i ng. Bot h Shahbaz and Ibel i eve i nt he conceptof , “ don’ tover t hi nki t ” ,i thasbeen t heundoi ngof manyaf as tbowl er . Ast hegr eatGl ennMcGr at hus edt os ay,“ Idon’ t haveas i mpl epl an,Ical li tuncompl i cat ed! ”

1 2

ForewordbyJockCampbel l

Enj oyt heBookofPace( Il ovet hename) ,andal l t he gr eati nf or mat i on comi ng outofThe Pace Jour nal ,i t ’ sagi f t ! AndShahbaz ,t her e’ ss t i l lt i mef oryourbowl i ng car eer ! Your si ncr i cket , JockCampbel l Aust ral i an Nat i onal Cri cket Team, Head St rengt h & Condi t i oni ng Coach/Physi cal Perf ormanceManager,2000 – 2005

1 3

ABOUT THE AUTHOR SHAHBAZ CHOUDHRY

AboutTheAut hor

ShahbazChoudhr yi saBr i t i s hbor nexcr i cket er t ur nedent r epr eneur .Bor nwi t hani nnat epas s i on f orf as tbowl i ng,hequi ckl yes t abl i s hedhi ms el fas anexci t i ngf as tbowl i ngpr os pect . Hi sambi t i on t oi ncr eas ehi sbowl i ngs peed s aw hi m godownanunus ualr out ef r om ayoungage. Seeki ng i ns pi r at i on and knowl edge f r om t echni calbowl i ngcoaches ,j avel i n,bas ebal land el i t es t r engt h and condi t i oni ng coachesar ound t hewor l d. Si gnedbyNor t hampt ons hi r eCCCi nt hewi nt erof 2009,hel ef tt hecl ubt henextyearci t i ngal os sof abi l i t yt o bowland per s onals t r uggl es as bi g r eas onsf orhi sexi t . He r et ur ned t o cr i cketi nl at e 201 7,wi t ht he r eput at i on ofaman wi t han obs es s i veappr oach t ol ear ni ngandunder s t andi ngt henuancesoff as t bowl i ngs t i l li nt act .

1 5

AboutTheAut hor

I nundat edwi t hques t i onsf r om f as tbowl er sofal l ages and abi l i t i es ar ound t he wor l d, he was i ns pi r ed t o cr eat et he Pace Jour nali n 201 8.A uni queandf i r s tofi t ski ndpl at f or m dedi cat edt o uncover i ngi ns i ght s ,exper i encesand l es s onson f as t bowl i ng di r ect l yf r om pas t and pr es ent pr of es s i onal cr i cket er s , coaches and f i t nes s t r ai ner s . Si nce i t sl aunch, Pace Jour nal has r i s en t o becomet hel ar ges tf as tbowl i ngpl at f or mi nt he wor l d;educat i ngandi ns pi r i ngover1 00, 000f as t bowl er s ,coaches and cr i cketf ans i n over 1 00 count r i es .

1 6

W ORDS FROM TERSEUS LIEBENBERG

WordsFrom Ters eusLi ebenberg

If i r s tmetShahbazChoudhr ys ever alyear sago when hewasvi s i t i ngt heNor t hWes tUni ver s i t y i nPot chef s t r oom,Sout hAf r i ca. Ii mmedi at el yknew t hathewasan except i onal per s on,ext r emel y ent hus i as t i c,knowl edgeabl e and pas s i onat e about cr i cket , es peci al l yf as t bowl i ng. Hi shungerf orknowl edge,i nnovat i ves ki l l sand pas s i onf ort hewonder f uls por tofcr i ckethasno boundar i es . He wi dened hi s vi s i on by l ear ni ng f r om t he j avel i nt hr ow and how t hi s coul d ul t i mat el y benef i tf as tbowl i ng.Iwasal s os uper i mpr es s ed wi t h Shahbaz ' s deep under s t andi ng of bi omechani calconcept s . Iknew t hathi spr act i calappr oach woul ds oon makehi m agr eatcoach.

1 8

WordsFrom Ters eusLi ebenberg

Cr i cketcoaches ,at hl et i cscoaches ,s t udent sand s por t s ent hus i as t s wi t h a cur i os i t y about movement ,s ki l l sandhow f or cesar egener at edi n cr i cketand t he j avel i nt hr ow wi l ls i gni f i cant l y benef i tf r om hi swor k. tandmos ts i ncer ewi s hesaccompanyt hi s Mybes f i ne young gent l eman on hi s except i onaland i ns pi r i ngj our ney! " The r ealvoyage ofdi s cover y cons i s t s noti n s eeki ngnew l ands capes ,buti nhavi ngnew eyes " -Mar celPr ous t . TerseusLi ebenberg 3xSout h Af ri can Ol ympi cCoach. Ters eusi saworl drenownedj avel i ncoachwho i sal s oknownf orworki ngwi t hJanZel ez ny,t he currentj avel i nworl drecordhol der,3xOl ympi c Champi onand3xWorl dChampi on. Zel ez ny i swi del y cons i dered t obet hegreat es t j avel i nt hrowerofal lt i me.

1 9

INTRODUCTION

I nt roduct i on

HeyPaceFam, Fi r s t l y,Iwoul dl i ket ot hankyouf ori nves t i ngi n t hi s book. I f you f ol l ow me on I ns t agr am ( @mr s hahbaz choudhr y) ,you wi l lknow t hat I haveat hi ngf orwr i t i ng. Yet ,nomat t erhow r i chmycapt i onsar eorhow manyhour sIs pendi nt er act i ngwi t hyouonaLi ve s t r eam,t he ques t i on," how can I bowlf as t ?" nevers t opsf l yi ngi nt omyi nbox. Myobj ect i vewi t ht hi sbooki st ohel ps heds ome l i ghton my vi ewsr egar di ng t hi shi ghl yt al ked abouts ubj ect . Bef or eyoucont i nue… I fyou know me per s onal l y,you wi l ls ee t hatI haveapar t i cul ars t yl ewi t hmywr i t i ng.I ' m abi g f an of ' humant ohuman' i nt er act i on, and t her ef or e,i ncer t ai npar t soft hi sbook,youmay s eeaQ&Af or matbei ngus ed. tasaconver s at i onbet weent wopar t i es ; Thi nkofi meandyou.

21

I nt roduct i on

I ' m s or r y i f you wer e expect i ng t echni cal dr awi ngs ,dr i l l s ,di etpl ansandf i t nes sr out i nes– t hati snotmyobj ect i vef ornow,andIwi l lexpl ai n why: Ibel i evet hatt hemos tef f ect i vef or m ofl ear ni ng ( es peci al l yf ors por t )i svi s ual .Thel as tt hi ng I wantt odoi sconf us eyouorr i s kt hei nf or mat i on I am gi vi ng you bei ng mi s under s t ood and mi s appl i ed out of cont ext . I have t her ef or e chos en nott oi ncl udeanyt hi ng pr act i calwhi ch youcan' t angi bl y'us e. eelmakest hi spr oj ects o Coi nci dent al l y,whatIf s peci ali snoti ni t sat t emptt ot el lyouwhatyou s houl ddo,buti ns t ead,maki ngyouawar eofwhat yous houl dn' tdo. st hatt her ei sani nf i ni t eamountof WhatImeani i nf or mat i on onl i newhi ch can educat eand hel p you under s t and whats or toft hi ngst owor kon. Butt her ear ever yf ew r es our ceswhi cht eachyou t het hi ngst hatyouneedt obewar yof . Thet hi ngst hatwi l lpr ot ectyourcar eer .

22

I nt roduct i on

Havi ngs ai dt hat ,Idof eelt hatt hebul koft hi s book wi l lgi ve you t he i ni t i alans wer syou ar e l ooki ngf or . Dependi ngonhow your es pondt ot hi s ,Iwi l lbe happy t oi ndul ge deeper i nt os omet hi ng mor e cons t r uct i vef oryoual lt owat ch,l ear nf r om and us ef oryourdevel opment . Oneoft hehar des tt hi ngsf ormet oacceptabout not maki ng i ti n cr i cket i s becaus e I was over ambi t i ousandmadeaf ew baddeci s i ons .Not becaus e I was l az y, a bad t eam pl ayer , not t al ent edori nt onegat i vel i f es t yl ehabi t s . s t st o pr ot ectyou oranyone you Thi sbook exi know orcoachf r om maki ngt hes amemi s t akesas me. Iam goi ngt oapol ogi s ei n advancef ort hel ong i nt r oduct i onanddes cr i pt i onsf r om myj our ney.I f eel t hat t o under s t and my vi ewpoi nt s ,i ti s neces s ar yt ohaveanunder s t andi ngofmeandmy s t or y. Wi t ht hats ai d,Ihopeyouenj oyr eadi ngt hr ough t hi sbook.

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I nt roduct i on

Pl eas edr opmeanot eonmyI ns t agr am orhi tme upons peed@t hepacej our nal . com t ol etmeknow whatyout hi nkofi t . Enoughaboutme,l et ' st al kaboutf as tbowl i ng. Readyf ort hef i r s tques t i on? W hyam Iwri t i ngt hi s? Thr oughmywor kwi t hThePaceJour nal ,Ihave i nt er act edwi t ht ensoft hous andsofbowl er sf r om al lovert hewor l d.Andt henumberonet hi ngt hat t hey al lhave i n common i st he des i r et o bowl f as t er . Imean,whodoes n' twantt obowlf as t er ? WhenIl ookbackathow t hedi gi t alf as tbowl i ng s pacehasevol vedanddevel oped,Il augh. Theupr oarwehavecr eat edatPaceJour nalhas s entanenor mousal ar m bel lt ocont entcr eat or s ar oundt hewor l dt hatt her ei samar ketf orf as t bowl i ngi nf or mat i on.

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I nt roduct i on

Al t houghIam pr oudoft hef actt hatourwor khas r ai s ed awar enes s ofa s ki l lwhi ch Iam deepl y pas s i onat eabout–Iam al s owor r i ed. I have s een a l ot of oppor t uni s t s who have ent er edt hemar ketandar et r yi ngt ocas hi n on vul ner abl ef as tbowl er s who ar et hi r s t yt o get bet t erandi mpr ove. Ihavebeendeepl yi nvol vedi nt hear tands ci ence off as tbowl i ngf orover1 5year s . Fas tbowl i ngi snotapar tofmyl i f e,i ti sapar tof me. AsmuchasIwoul dl ovet os i ther eandj otdown abs ol ut el y ever yt hi ng t hatI have l ear ned and di s cover edal ongmyj our ney,Ican' t .Ther ei sj us t t oomuchi nf or mat i on.

25

I nt roduct i on

Myobj ect i vewi t ht hi spr oj ecti st omakeas t ar ti n put t i ng my t hought s and exper i ences i nt o s omet hi ngwhi cht hewor l dcanenj oyandus ef or t hei rs el f devel opmentandeducat i on. Ihopet hi scol l ect i onofwor dscans hedl i ghton j us ts ome oft he t hi ngs Ihave l ear ned i n my j our ney. Att i mes ,you mayques t i on whyIam s peaki ng aboutapar t i cul art opi c–butIpr omi s eyou,i ti s al ll i nkedandr el evant . Fi nal l y,Ihopet hi sbookcanhel pbr i ngpeaceand cl ar i t yt oj us toneambi t i ousf as tbowl erwhoi s s att her e,dayandni ght ,hopi ngandpr ayi ngf or anans wert ohi sorherquer i es .

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I nt roduct i on

Ont hecont r ar y,Iam s ur et hi sbookwi l ls peakt o many of you who have gone t hr ough s i mi l ar exper i encesasme.Ihopet hes epagescanbr i ng cl os ur eandhel pyoumakes ens eofs omeoft he mys t er i est hatyou may have no ans wer sf or– unt i lnow. Las t l y,Ihopet hi sbookcan ( i ns omeway)hel p ans wer t he never endi ng ques t i on," how do I bowlf as t ?" Dearf as tbowl er ,Iknow whati tf eel sl i ke. So,t hi si sf oryou. ShahbazChoudhry

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MEMBERS SECTION

MembersSect i on

Someofyouwhoar er eadi ngt hi smayknow who Iam,butIal s oappr eci at et hatal otofyouwi l l notknow meorbeawar eofmyj our ney. I have t her ef or e cr eat ed

an

excl us i ve,

member s onl ys ect i onasanaddi t i ont ot hi sbook. The s ect i on wi l l be pr i vat e and excl us i ve t o owner soft hi sbook. You wi l lf i nd det ai l sofhow you can acces st hi s excl us i veandpr i vat ear eai nt hedocument syou r ecei veduponpur chas eoft hi sbook. Ther ewi l lbeanoppor t uni t yf ormember st oas k me ques t i ons r el at ed t ot he book as wel las excl us i ve vi deos f r om my ar chi ves ( f r om what everIcan f i nd)f oryou al lt o wat ch and enj oy.

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PACE JOURNAL

PaceJournal

WhenIdeci dedt or et ur nt ocr i cketi n201 7,Ihad a mas s i ve chal l enge on my hands ;Ineeded t o l ear nhow t obowlagai n. Oh,andwai t . Ial s oneededt ol os e31 kgs . Iwasobes e! Mypl anwast ot r ai nf r om June201 7t oDecember 201 7and t hen pl ayt he201 8s eas on her ei nt he UK. Somehow,Imanagedt oachi eveal lofmygoal s , and i n December201 7,Iwasf i t t ert han Ihave everbeenbef or eandIwasbowl i ngf as t ! Foronce,i n my cr i cket i ng l i f e,ever yt hi ng was goi ngaccor di ngt opl an. Atl eas tIt houghti twas …

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PaceJournal

WhenIpl ayedmyf i r s tcompet i t i vel eaguemat ch i n 201 8 – ever yt hi ng cr umbl ed.Iwi l lexpl ai n whathappened i n mor edet ai li nl at erchapt er s . Att het i me,Iwasgoi ngcr az yas ki ngmys el fal l s or t sofques t i onsaboutmyt echni que,mymat ch per f or mances ,r hyt hm and whatIneed t odot o gett hi ngscl i cki ngi nt hemi ddl e( mat ches )agai n Is t i l lr emember t owar ds t he mi ddl e of t hat s eas on,meandmyf r i endl ef tt r ai ni ngandwent t oar es t aur antt oeat .Aswes at ,hel ookedatme and s ai d," al l we ever do i st al k about f as t bowl i ng.I t ' sunheal t hy.Weneed t o changet he s ubj ect " . Il ef tt hatmeet i ngf eel i ngl os tands car ed.Is t i l l had s o many ques t i ons i n my head aboutf as t bowl i ngandwi t hnoonet os peakt oaboutt hem, whatwoul dIdo? I twasatt hatmomentt hatIt houghtt omys el f , whydon' tIs t ar ta ' Jour nal 'ofmyexper i ences dur i ngt hats eas on.

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PaceJournal

I twasi ni t i al l yas i depr oj ectt odi s t r actmef r om t hi nki ngaboutf as tbowl i ngal lt het i me.I ns t ead, Iwoul dus emyt i meawayf r om t hegym andt he cr i cketgr ound t of ocuson br andi ng;maki ng a l ogo,col ours chemeanddes i gnas t r at egyt ogr ow The Pace Jour nal .I tt hen devel oped i nt o me wr i t i ngj our nal sabouteach ofmygames ;how I f el t ,howIper f or medandwhatIt houghtIneeded t odonext . Themor eIs t ar t edwr i t i ng,t hemor eIwant edt o expand on t he cont entI was col l ect i ng.So,I r eachedoutt oTi noBes t ,t hef or merWes tI ndi an i nt er nat i onal f as t bowl er who has bowl ed at 97mphandas kedi fIcoul di nt er vi ew hi m about f as tbowl i ng.Ineverexpect edhi mt or epl y,buthe di d,andwebookedat i mef ort hei nt er vi ew. Mi dwayt hr ought he201 8s eas on,Ir eal i s edmy as pi r at i onsofpl ayi ng pr of es s i onalcr i cketwer e s l i m.Byt hatpoi nt ,PaceJour nalwasgr owi ng, andi tmeantal ott ome,s oIwant edt ocont i nue t hepr oj ect .

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PaceJournal

I twoul dbeawayf ormet ol etgooft hedr eam t o bowl 1 00mph wi t hout i ncur r i ng t oo much emot i onal and ment al damage becaus e gues s what ,IhadandhaveThePaceJour nalt of ocus on. nal i st he gr eat es t Looki ng back, Pace Jour bl es s i ngIcoul deverhaver ecei vedatt hatt i me. Thi si swhyIam s ogr at ef ulands uppor t i veoft he #pacef ami l y. I ' m notapr of es s i onalcr i cket ert hough,s oIdon' t havea cr edi bl evoi cet os har emyopi ni on – i s whatIt houghtbackt hen. For t hatr eas on,t he Jour nalbecame and i sa s acr edpl acewhi chwoul dhos tonl yt heopi ni ons oft hos ewho havebeen t her eand donei tata pr of es s i onall evel . Thebr andwasmade. Theconceptwascl ear . Ther es ti shi s t or y.

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PaceJournal

You mayl ook atPaceJour naland t hi nk i ti sa pas s i onpr oj ect ,buti ti sal otdeepert hant hat . PaceJour nali smyl as tef f or ti n pr ot ect i ngt he f ut ur e off as tbowl i ng f r om maki ng t he s ame mi s t akesasIdi d. I ti smywhol ehear t edpl edget oadvancet hes ki l l t hatIl ovewi t h asmuch i ns i ght f ul ,i nf or mat i ve andent er t ai ni ngcont entasIcanpr oduce. Asyou wi l ll ear nt hr ough t he chapt er soft hi s book,Ihad ever yt hi nggoi ngf orme,butaf ew wr ongdeci s i onsand al ackofdi r ect i on cos tme ever yt hi ng. IwantPaceJour nalt obet hepl acet hatIwi s hI hadwhenIwasayoungf as tbowl er . AsIs ayt omyt eam behi ndcl os eddoor s ,wear e nother et omakecar eer s . W eareheret osavet hem.

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Thevi ewsand opi ni onsexpr es s ed i nt hi s book bel ong s ol el yt ot heaut horand not PaceJour nalLi mi t ed.

ARE FAST BOW LERS BORN?

AreFas tBowl ersBorn?

I t ' sonl yf i t t i ngt hatweki ckof fbyans wer i ngt hi s ques t i on–andi t ' soneofmyf avour i t eones ! I ' vehear ds omanypeopl es ayt hatf as tbowl er s ar ebor n.Per s onal l ys peaki ng,It hi nkt hi si san excus ef ori ndi vi dual swhodon' tunder s t andf as t bowl i ng. I ' l lneverf or gett hewor dsofI an Pont ,t hef i r s t f as tbowl i ngcoachwhoopenedmyeyest ot hef act t hats peedcanbet aught .Hes ai d," whenhaveyou s een a guy wi t h an act i on l i ke Br et tLee bowl s l ow?" Thi scommental oneopenedmymi ndt oexpl or e t he pot ent i alofhow much i mpr ovementIcan makewi t h mys peed i fIdevel op an act i on l i ke Br et tLee. OrShoai bAkht ar . Ormaybebot h? Wewi l lgeti nt ot hi si nal at erchapt er !

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AreFas tBowl ersBorn?

Back t ot he poi ntand t o ans wert hi sques t i on accur at el y, i ff as t bowl er s ar e' bor n' – can s omeonepl eas eexpl ai nt hef ol l owi ngexampl est o me. 1 - Engl and' s Chr i s Woakes ent er ed t he pr of es s i onalgame asa genui ne medi umpacer ; Chr i sbowl edat7580mph( max)f ormany,many year s . Then al lofas udden – he' sbowl i ngat85mph+ cons i s t ent l y.I fI ' vegotmyf act sr i ght ,hehaseven cr os s edt he90mphmar kaf ew t i mes . Chr i si sar eal l i f eexampl eofabowl erwhohas i ncr eas edhi ss peedbyatl eas t1 01 5mph,andt he j okei s ,i tdoes n' teven l ookl i kehehaschanged hi sact i onmuch! Wher ehast hatpacewhi chhe( appar ent l y)i s n' t bor nwi t hcomef r om?

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AreFas tBowl ersBorn?

2-Anot herexci t i ngf as tbowl erwhoIwoul dl i ke t o us e asan exampl ei sWar wi cks hi r e' s ,Henr y Br ookes .Ir ememberf i r s tcomi ngacr os sHenr y when Iwas att he gym,on t he t r eadmi l land wat chi ng a oneday count y game wher e Henr y was openi ng up.Hi s pr of i l e came up on t he s cr een,andIs aw t hathewasj us t1 8year sol dat t het i me.Af ewbal l si n,t hes peedgunwascomi ng upat89mph. Ii mmedi at el ygotof ft het r eadmi l landwentr i ght up t ot hebi gs cr een and wat ched hi snextf ew over scl os el y. Wasi tj us tonebal l ?Maybeas peedguner r or ?I t hought … But no, Henr y was cons i s t ent l y bowl i ng 8590mph. Fas tf or war d,IgotHenr yasagues tonThePace Jour nalandas kedhi m," haveyoual waysbeena f as tbowl er ?"

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AreFas tBowl ersBorn?

Tomys hockands ur pr i s e,het ur nedar oundand s ai d," whenIwasyounger ,Iwoul dn' tqui t ecl as s mys el fasaf as tbowl er .Ir anupandbowl eds ome medi um pace" . Icoul dnotbel i evewhatIwashear i ng.Henr y,a 1 9year ol d( att het i meIi nt er vi ewedhi m)whoi s r egul ar l ybowl i ngover85mph i st el l i ngmet hat j us taf ew year sago,hewasagenui nemedi um pacebowl er . Needmor epr oof ? 3 -I s hantShar ma,oneofI ndi a' smos tpr ol i f i c f as tbowl er s ,openl ys t at edt hatwhenhemadehi s Fi r s t Cl as sdebut ,hewas n' tt hatqui ck. I fyouar eaf anandhi s t or i anoff as tbowl i ng,t hen youmus thaves eent hes pel lt hatI s hantbowl ed t oRi ckyPont i ng,i n Aus t r al i awher ehecr os s ed t he1 50kphmar k. Speaki ngont hats pel l ,I s hantment i onedt hathe di dn' tevenknow hecoul dbowlt hatf as t .

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AreFas tBowl ersBorn?

Ti l lt hi sday,peopl es t i l lques t i onhow I s hantwas cl ocki ngt hos es peedsashehasneverr eal l ybeen knownasanoutandouts peeds t er . Onet hi ng wecan' tdenyi st hathehasbowl ed t hos es peeds .Onof f i ci alguns ! I fa bowl erwho hasof f i ci al l y cl ocked 1 50kph+ openl ys ai dt hathewasnevert hatqui ckwhenhe s t ar t edpl ayi ngt hegamepr of es s i onal l y,howdoes t he cl ai m t hatyou ar e bor n af as tbowl ers t i l l s t and? I tbaf f l esmehowi ndi vi dual sandcoachess t i l ls ay t hatyou ar ebor n af as tbowl erwhen t her ear e count l es sr eal l i f eexampl esofpeopl ewhohave i ncr eas edt hei rs peed! I mr anKhan,whowasoncef amous l yni cknamed, ' Mi l i t ar y Medi um' and I ndi a' s Bhuvnes hwar Kumarar emor eexampl esofpr ol i f i cf as tbowl er s t hathavei ncr eas edt hei rs peeds i gni f i cant l y. Oh,butwai t ,s or r y.Youar ebor naf as tbowl er !

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AreFas tBowl ersBorn?

I n myopi ni on,you maybe' bor n'af as tbowl er , butt hatf as tbowl eri ns i deofyoucoul dbehi dden awayorl os t . I ti supt oyout owor khar danduncovert hef as t bowl erwi t hi nyou. Whet her your t op s peed i s 70mph, 80mph, 90mphor1 00mph–asl ongasyouhavet i ckedal l t heboxesand been cons i s t entand pat i entwi t h youref f or t s ,youhavedoneyourj ob!

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HEIGHT & FAST BOW LING

Hei ght& Fas tBowl i ng

When I was younger ,I r emember my dad obs es s i ngovermyhei ght–cons t ant l ymeas ur i ng met omakes ur eIwasgr owi ng. Heevenf edmeas peci al i s eddi ett hathebel i eved woul d encour agebonedevel opmentand gr owt h ( I ' m notj oki ng) . Igr ew upt hi nki ng,I ' mt al l ert hanever yoneel s e, s oIcanbowlf as t ert hanever yoneel s e. I t was onl y af t er I mat ur ed and s t ar t ed t o under s t andabi tmor eaboutf as tbowl i ngt hatI r eal i s edt hathei ghtwasanadvant age,buti tcame wi t hdi s advant agesaswel l . How? ongert hel ever( ar m) ,t hel ongert hepat hof Thel accel er at i on and t her ef or e, t he hi gher t he pot ent i alf ors peed. However ,( and t he cor e of t hi s book wi l l emphas i s et hi sf act )t her ei s no one s peci al i ngr edi ent ,t heor yort echni quewhi ch wi l lhel p youbowlr ocket sal one.

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Hei ght& Fas tBowl i ng

I fyout hi nkyouneedt obet al lt obowlf as t ,j us t l ook att he Wes tI ndi an' s ,Ti no Bes tand Fi del Edwar ds . Bot h bowl er s ar e1 . 73m ( 5f t 6) and 1 . 65m ( 5f t 4)r es pect i vel y buthave comf or t abl y t oppedt he95mphmar k. Havi ng had many conver s at i ons wi t h Ti no,I di s cover ed t hathi swayofnegat i ng hi sl ack of hei ghti st oenhanceot herat t r i but ess uchashi s phys i cals t r engt h. Thepoi ntIam t r yi ngt omakeher ei st hathei ght maybeanadvant aget ot hes ki l f ulas pectoff as t bowl i ng,buti twi l lnotguar ant eet hatyou wi l l bowlf as t . Thes ameappl i est ot hecont r ar y,al ackofhei ght maybeper cei vedasadi s advant age.St i l l ,i fyou s t r engt hen t he ot her as pect sr equi r ed, your hei ghtwi l lnotl i mi tyourover al labi l i t yt obowl f as t . Ti no, Fi del and many ot her s ar e excel l ent exampl esoft hi s .

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Hei ght& Fas tBowl i ng

Above,Iment i onedt hatIevenf oundt hathei ght ( Iam 6f t 3/1 . 93cm)canbeadi s advant age. Wi t houtgoi ngi nt ocr az ydet ai l– t hecor eofmy bowl i ng act i on and s peed r el i es on a ver y expl os i vef r ontf ootbl ocki nt hecr eas e.Is l am my l ef tl egdowni nt ot hegr oundandexpl odeagai ns t i t ,overandoutoft hecr eas e. On many occas i ons ,t he l engt h ofmy del i ver y s t r i de and bal ance i n t he cr eas e has been i ncons i s t entandabr upt l ydi s t ur bed. Ineverunder s t oodwhy… poke t o Jock Campbel l ,who i s bes t Unt i lI s knownf orhi spr ol i f i cwor kwi t hBr et tLee.Jock wor ked wi t h t he Aus t r al i an Nat i onal Cr i cket Team anddi dal otofwor kwi t hBr et tLeet ohel p hi m bowlevenf as t er . Ir ememberani nt er vi ew wher eBr et tLeeopenl y s ai dt oJock," yougotmet obowlatover1 60kph" . Anyway,Jockhasbeenagues tonPaceJour nal , andIhavebeenver yf or t unat et ohavedevel oped aper s onalr el at i ons hi pwi t hhi m aswel l .

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Hei ght& Fas tBowl i ng

Dur i ngourchat ,Jockment i onedt hat" t her ei sa l otmor et hatcangowr ongwi t ha6f t 6( 2m)guy wi t hl ongl i mbst han t her ei swi t ha6f t 2( 1 . 8m) guyt hati sabeaut i f ulat hl et e" . Is t i l lr emembert he momentJock s ai dt hi s .I mus thave paus ed f ora s econd becaus e al lof t hos et i meswher eIf el tt hebot t om hal fofmy act i onf al lapar tj us tbegant omakes ens et ome. Togi veyoumor econt extbehi ndt hequot e,i t ' sal l t odowi t hmar gi ns .So,t hel ongert hel ever ,t he s mal l ert hemar gi nf orer r or . On t he cont r ar y,s hor t erbowl er scan getaway wi t has mal ldef ecti nt hei rr hyt hm oract i on,but i fyouar et al l ,t hater r orwi l lbemagni f i ed! Agai n,t hi sent i r epar adoxmayhavenogr oundi ng i n' s ci ence' ,buti fyou ar eat al lors hor tf as t bowl er ,youwi l lunder s t andwhatt hi sf eel sl i ke. Ont hatnot e,Ibel i evet hatt her ei sas i gni f i cant di s par i t ybet weent hes ci enceoff as tbowl i ngand t hear toff as tbowl i ng,andt hi si st hecor eofwhat Iwi l ldi vei nt o,i nt henextchapt er .

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ART & SCIENCE

Art& Sci ence

Ibel i evet hatf as tbowl i ngi sanar tandas ci ence. WhatdoImeanbyt hi s ? Wel l ,s ci encei ses s ent i al ,yes .Bi omechani csand f i t nes s bas edmet r i csar evi t alf act or st ocons i der when you ar et r ai ni ngand devel opi ngasaf as t bowl er – buts ci ence does n' tal ways have t he ans wer . Bet t erput ,s ci encedoes n' tal waysmakes ens e.I know t hat may s ound l udi cr ous , but I whol ehear t edl ybel i evei nt hi sphi l os ophy. Ar tr equi r esf r eedom,expr es s i venes sandanopen mi ndt obef ul l yappr eci at edandunder s t ood.At t i mes ,i tcan' tbedes cr i bedwi t hwor ds ,butonl y f el t . he ot herhand,i sver yr i gi d.I ti s Sci ence,on t bas edonf act uali nf or mat i on.Ther ei snos t r ayi ng f r om t hef act . I n my opi ni on,f as tbowl i ng and f as tbowl i ng devel opmentr equi r eanunder s t andi ngofs ci ence butan appr eci at i on and r es pectf ort hear t i s t r y i nvol ved.

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Art& Sci ence

Toputt hi si nt oabi tmor econt ext ,I ' l lgi veyouan exampl e: I have al ways f ound i tf as ci nat i ng how t wo i ndi vi dual s( Br et tLee&ShaunTai t )wi t hent i r el y di f f er entbowl i ngact i onscanbowls of as t . Take Br et tLee,f orexampl e,he i st he per f ect modeloft echni calexcel l ence.ButShaun Tai ti s t heoppos i t eands t i l lbowl st hes ames peed. How? I fwegobys ci ence,how i sShaunTai tabl et odo t hat ? St i l lnotconvi nced? Jus tl ookatKagi s oRabada–abowl erwi t honeof t he mos tdef i ci entbowl i ng act i onsi nt er msof bi omechani csbutcanbowlat1 451 50kph? Anot her f amous and mi ndboggl i ng cas e of " s ci ence gone wr ong" i st he ECB' s wor k wi t h l egendar yf as tbowl er ,JamesAnder s on.

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Art& Sci ence

Anyonewhohaswat chedJi mmybowlwi l lnot i ce t heobvi ous' f l aws 'i nhi st echni queyet ,hei st he mos ts ucces s f ulf as t bowl er i nt he hi s t or y of cr i cket . UnderTr oyCool ey,t heECBs etoutt or epai rt he i s s uesi nJi mmy' sact i on;whatt heybel i evedwas t hecaus eofhi sbacki nj ur i es . I r oni cal l y,t heoppos i t eoft hei robj ect i vei swhat act ual l yoccur r ed.Thewor koft heECB' sbowl i ng coachesr es ul t edi nJi mmyexper i enci ngal os sof r hyt hm,s wi ng and gues s what ?A f our mont h i nj ur yl ayof fduet oas t r es sf r act ur et ot heback! I n an i nt er vi ew wi t ht heBBC,Ander s on s t at ed, " i t ' s di f f i cul tenough bowl i ng when you' r e not t hi nki ng about your act i on, but when you' r e t hi nki ng aboutwher e your ar ms and l egs ar e goi ng,i t ' si mpos s i bl e" . Funni l yenough,Ir ememberbei ng s o obs es s ed wi t h my bowl i ng act i on t hat I coul dn' t do a s es s i on wi t houtmybes tf r i end,r i ghtt her ewi t h me,wat chi ngwi t hacr i t i caleye. PS:mybes tf r i endwasmyvi deocamer a.

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Art& Sci ence

Iwoul dwat chever ydr i l lbacks t r ai ghtaf t erIdi d i t . I woul ds ki pt hr ough f r ame by f r ame – moni t or i ng,cr i t i qui ngandi mpr ovi ngeachdr i l lI di di nas es s i on. Looki ngback,t hedet ai lIwenti nt owasnot hi ng s hor tofcr az y. Ir ememberbei ngabl et oexecut emyt echni que f r amebyf r amet oper f ect i on. WhenIl ookedbackati t ,i twasf l awl es s ! Butgues swhat ? Iwasbowl i ng s l owert han Ihave everbowl ed bef or e. To make mat t er s wor s e,Ius ed t o bowlf as t er when my act i on wasf ul lofappar entt echni cal f l aws . Why? Becaus ef as tbowl i ngi sanar taswel lass ci ence.

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Art& Sci ence

Thes ci ence( bi omechani cs )pl ayapar t ,yes .But f as t bowl i ng i s al labout f eeland f eeli s not s omet hi ng whi ch you can dr aw or des cr i be i n s ci ent i f i ct er ms– i ti sonl ys omet hi ng you can f eelandexper i ence. Upon cont empl at i on,Igenui nel y bel i evet hatI l os tmy car eerand my nat ur alabi l i t yt o bowl becaus eIover pr i or i t i s edt hes ci ent i f i cas pectof mybowl i ngwi t hcompl et edi s r egar doft hear tof f as tbowl i ng. Si mpl yput ,Il os tt hear t i s t r yIoncehad. I tconcer nsmegr eat l ywhen Is eeand i nt er act wi t hbowl er swhoar ef al l i ngi nt ot hes amet r ap. AsIment i onedabove,i ti snotbecaus et heyar e uneducat ed ors t upi d– i ti smer el ybecaus et he mi ndofahungr yf as tbowl eri svul ner abl e. i r et owantt obowlf as t eri ss os t r ongt hat Thedes youar ehappyt omakes uchchanges ,andi ndoi ng s o,youar eput t i ngyour s el fathi ghr i s kofdoi ng mor ehar mt hangood.

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Art& Sci ence

Muchoft hemot i vat i onbehi ndwr i t i ngt hi sbook i st ohel p pr eventmor ecar eer sf r om bei ngl os t becaus eoft heover ambi t i ousmi ndofmyf el l ow f as tbowl er s . Pl eas et akemywor dss er i ous l y– t echni queand i mpr ovementcan beadanger ousr abbi thol et o geti nt o. Bei ng abl et o cons ume, i nt er pr et and make changesbas edont hei nf or mat i onyour ecei vei sa f r agi l et as k,andIs peakaboutt hi si nmor edet ai l i nt henextchapt er .

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INFORMATION OVERLOAD

I nf ormat i onOverl oad

We l i ve i n an er a wher e i nf or mat i on i s omni pr es ent .Youngchi l dr ennow haveacces st o t hei nt er netand s oci almedi a– i ti seas yt oget caughtupi nacycl eofconf us i onwheni tcomest o l ear ni ng. I n my opi ni on,mor er egul at i on i sr equi r ed t o pr ot ectpeopl ef r om mi s l eadi ngi nf or mat i on. Ihaveper s onal l ys eenmor eandmor ecoachesi n t heonl i nes pacecomeoutwi t hr adi caldr i l l sand t heor i es ,andIhavet oas kmys el f ," why?" . I ts eemst hatf ors ome,t her atr acet o acqui r e at t ent i on and f ol l ower s( es peci al l y on s oci al medi a) i st he pr i or i t y. Cont ent cr eat or s ar e havi ngt of i ndwaysofmaki ngt hems el vess t and out .Unf or t unat el y,t hi scanbeatt heexpens eof young,vul ner abl ef as tbowl er st hatar edi ges t i ng t hei rcont enti nt hehopet hati twi l lhel p. tbel i evet her ei sadr i l loutt her ewhi ch I Idon' haven' tt r i edatl eas tonce.I nf act ,If i ndi tf unny l ooki ngats omeoft hedr i l l swhi char es ur f aci ng now,andIr ememberdoi ngt hem overadecade ago.

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I nf ormat i onOverl oad

WhatdoIt hi nkofdr i l l sasawhol e? Theyhavet hei rpl ace.Butdr i l l i ngi sdr i l l i ng,and bowl i ngi sbowl i ng.Iwasunf or t unat et onotdoa bet t erj obats epar at i ngt het woi nmyt r ai ni ng– wegeti nt ot hi smor ei nt he' Techni cal 'chapt er bel ow. One oft he pr i mar yf i l t er swe have wi t hi n The Pace Jour nali st hatever y pi ece ofcont entor opi ni onmus tcomef r om acr edi bl es our ce. I cannot s t r es st hi s enough – f as t bowl er s under s t andf as tbowl er s . Whet heryoubowl1 20kphor1 40kph,i fyouar ea pr of es s i onalf as tbowl erwhoi ss har i ngani ns i ght –t her ei s a hi gh chance t hat t her ei ss ome val i di t yt oyourcl ai m. Wi t ht heamountofi nf or mat i onbei ngpubl i s hed onl i ne,i ti si mpos s i bl et of i l t eral lt hegol df r om t hecl ut t er .St i l l ,t hecl os es twecangeti st omake s ur et hatt hes our ceoft hei nf or mat i on wear e r ecei vi ngi scomi ngf r om acr edi bl ei ndi vi dual .I am ver ypr oudoft hef actt hatwehavet hi satt he cor eofThePaceJour nal .

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I nf ormat i onOverl oad

Youmus tunder s t andt hatt her ei snoones i z ef i t s al lwheni tcomest of as tbowl i ng.Ther ef or e,you need t o l ook i nt o t he i nf or mat i on you ar e r ecei vi ngandques t i onwhet heri ti sr el evantand r i ghtf oryou. I ti s ver y eas yt o getcaughtup i n a cycl e of exper i ment at i on.Al t hough t r yi ngt hi ngscan be us ef ul ,you need t o know when t os t i ck wi t h s omet hi ngandwhent ogetr i dofi tandcl earyour mi ndcompl et el y. Oneoft hemos ts i gni f i canti s s uesIhadwi t hmy bowl i ngwast hecons t antchoppi ngandchangi ng ofmyact i on. I woul d have one bowl i ng act i on one week – anot heract i on nextweek and back t o my f i r s t act i oni nt het hi r dweek. Nol i es . Thi ss or tofi ncons i s t encyonl yl eadst ocr eat i ng doubt si nyourmi ndandt aki ngyouf ur t herand f ur t herawayf r om mas t er yofyouruni ques t yl eof bowl i ng.

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I nf ormat i onOverl oad

Regar dl es sofwhats or toft r ai ni ngordr i l l syou ar edoi ngwi t hyourcoach,donotbeaf r ai dt oas k why.Donotbes car edt odos omer es ear chbef or e you j ump i n and t r ys omet hi ng.Thi nk ofyour bowl i ngact i onasacar–youwoul dn' tr epl acet he t yr esanddr i veof fwi t houtl ooki ngatt het yr est o makes ur et heyar ef i tf orpur pos e,r i ght ? Ihopef as tbowl er swi l lappl yt hes ames t r i ct nes s i n how t hey cons ume i nf or mat i on and make changesbas edoni nf or mat i ont heycomeacr os s . At The Pace Jour nal ,we r each over 1 00, 000 peopl e wi t h our cont ent . One of t he bi gges t chal l enges we f ace i si n maki ng s ur e we gi ve enoughi nf or mat i ont ohel pever yone.Butnott oo muchi nf or mat i ont hatwer i s kconf us i ngpeopl e. Agai n, s peaki ng f r om t he per s pect i ve of an ambi t i ousand hungr yf as tbowl er– t her ei sno wor s epl acet hanhavi ngaheadf ul lofques t i ons andconf us i on! I ti sat r i ckydi l emmaf orus–asIs ai dabove,one pi eceofi nf or mat i on can beagamechangerf or oneper s onandar abbi thol ef oranot her .

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I nf ormat i onOverl oad

We al ways openl ys ay t hatnotever y pi ece of cont entwepubl i s hi sgoi ngt ober el evantt oyou. That ' snott heai m ofourwor k– t hepur pos ei s f oreach f as tbowl ert o( 1 )br ows et hepageand comeacr os saf ew di amondst hatwi l lhel pt hem t aket hei rgamet ot henextl evel ,( 2)ent er t ai n f as t bowl er s wi t h beaut i f ul l y cr af t ed cont ent s peci al l y pr oduced f or t hem, i n as t yl e and l anguaget heywi l lunder s t and and ( 3)t ocr eat e t he mos t ext ens i ve and mos t i nf l uent i al communi t yoff as tbowl er si nt hewor l d. We s t r ongl y encour age engagement i n t he comment sofeachofourpos t s . Ther ei sar eas onf ori t . Al otofat hl et es( notj us tf as tbowl er s )wi l lhave ques t i ons i nt hei r mi nds .By comi ng outand communi cat i ng wi t h l i kemi nded peopl e who mayhaveorar eexper i enci ngt hes amet hi ng,you haveachancet of i nds omeans wer s ,comf or tand peacef r om peopl ej us tl i keyou.

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I nf ormat i onOverl oad

Thi nk abouta t i me when you ar e cons i der i ng whet hert obuyapr oductf r om t hei nt er net .You r ead an aut hent i cr evi ew f r om a buyer who al r eadyhast hepr oduct ,andi tgi vesyouas ens e ofconf i dencei nt hepur chas et hatyouar eabout t omake,r i ght ? Thi si swhatcommuni t yi sal labout ! Ther ei s no bet t er f eel i ng t han when I ,( as a moder at or )f l i ckt hr ought hecomment sofapos t and s ee t wo ort hr ee f as tbowl er sdi s cus s i ng a t opi camongs tt hems el ves ! Some oft he mos tpr of ound advi ce Ihave ever r ecei veddi dn’ tevencomef r om apr ocr i cket eror coach,i tcamef r om acl ubcr i cket er .Hehadbeen r el at i vel yunknown on t hecl ubci r cui tand t hen outofnowher e,hebur s tbackont hes cenewi t ha mas s i vei ncr eas ei ns peed.Ias kedhi m whathi s s ecr etwas .

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I nf ormat i onOverl oad

He t ol d me i ns t r ai ght f or war dt er ms ,“ over s . Shahbaz ,Ij us tpl ayedasmanygamesasIcoul d, andIbowl edover s .Themor eIbowl ed,t hemor e r hyt hm Idi s cover ed” . Ever yone hasan opi ni on,and ever y coach wi l l haveat heor yormet hodol ogyt hatt heypr each. Res pect ever yone but t r eat i nf or mat i on wi t h caut i on. I fIcoul dgetonemes s ageacr os si nt hi schapt er , i ti st ot r eati nf or mat i on del i cat el yasi thast he powert omakeyouorbr eakyou.

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THE GOOD COACH

TheGoodCoach

Ihavebeenver yf or t unat et obecoachedbys ome oft hemos tpr omi nentandmos tr es pect ednames i nt hewor l d. Ther ear et hi ngst hatIhavel ear nedf r om eachof t hem.St i l l ,t hebi gges tofal li show i mpor t anti t i s t o be an excel l ent communi cat or and ps ychol ogi s t bef or e ' knowi ng how t o t each s omeonet obowlabal l ' . Ican' ts t r es st hi senough. Coaches need t o under s t and t hatt hey have a much bi gger r es pons i bi l i t yt han j us t hel pi ng s t udent swi t ht hei rgameont hef i el d.Theyneed t o al s o makes ur et hei rs t udenti scopi ng away f r om i tt oo. Agai n,Iwasf or t unat et o haves omei ncr edi bl e peopl ear ound me.Iam ver ygr at ef ulf ort hem. The mos ts i gni f i cant ment al s uppor t I ever r ecei ved was f r om my bes tf r i end,Ant hony ( a f or merf as tbowl erf r om t heCar i bbean) . Wewoul dt al k aboutf as tbowl i ng f orhour son end.Ti l lt hi sday,Ican' tt hankhi m enoughf orhi s unwaver i ngs uppor t .

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TheGoodCoach

AsIment i onedabove,r egar di ngt her egul at i onof cont ent on f as t bowl i ng – I t hi nk s t r i ct er meas ur esneedt obeputi n pl acef orcoachesas wel l– par t i cul ar l yi nt he r eal m ofemot i onal i nt el l i gence. Is peakonbehal fofal lambi t i ousandhungr yf as t bowl er swhen Is ayt hi s .Coaches ,you hol dt he keyst oourf ut ur ei nyourt eachi ngs ,act i onsand communi cat i ons . Our pas s i on, car eer s and ment als t abi l i t yr el yuponyou. Thej obofacoachi shi ghpr es s ur e.Oratl eas ti t s houl dbe. Coachi ngs houl d neverbeaboutan exchangeof t i meandknowl edgef ormoneyandever yt hi ngt o dowi t hf or gi ngl ongt er mr el at i ons hi ps . he s por t s ps ychol ogi s t , Pr of es s or Geof f As t Beat t i ebr i l l i ant l ys aysi n W.Ti mot hyGal l wey' s mul t i mi l l i onbes t s el l erbook,TheI nnerGameof Tenni s ," t hebes tcoachesand manager smaybe br i l l i antt act i ci ans ,butf i r s tand f or emos tt hey ar e gr eat ps ychol ogi s t s . They can r ead t hei r pl ayer s ,mot i vat et hem,andmor et hant hat ,t hey canunder s t andt hem" .

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TheGoodCoach

Looki ngback,i twas n' tacoach whoIcr avedor needed t he mos t– i t was s omeone wi t h knowl edgewhi chIcoul dt al kt o,l ear nf r om and r ecei vegui dancewhenIneededi t .Andmaybea t el l i ngof fwhen Is t ar t ed goi ngover boar d wi t h myexper i ment s . Iwi l lgoasf arass ayi ngt hatament ori sj us tas cr uci alasabowl i ngcoach.Toget her ,t het wocan gi ve a pl ayer t he s ki l l s peci f i c educat i on and gui dancet hatt heys obadl yneed. Her e’ s t he cat ch t hough, t he ment al i t y of cr i cket er swi l lvar y gr eat l y.Wher ei tmi ghtbe eas y f or one at hl et e t o come out and communi cat e openl y wi t ht hei rcoach,anot her at hl et emayf i ndi tdi f f i cul tt oputt hei rt hought s , f ear sandanxi et i esi nt owor ds . Thi si swher eIbel i evet hebes tcoacheswi l lbe abl et omakei teas yf ort hei rat hl et est oopenup ands peakt ot hem.

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TheGoodCoach

Ihope we s t ar tt os ee coachesas s umi ng mor e r es pons i bi l i t yf or t he ment als t abi l i t y oft hei r s t udent s–becaus et heydohaveapar tt opl ay. Whi ch br i ngs me on t o my next t opi c and a cont r over s i alone. I ' dr at heryous hootmef orwr i t i ngi t ,t hans hoot anot herunpr epar edf as tbowl erwi t hyourguns ! SpeedGun Iunder s t and t hatt hi st opi c may be metwi t h r es i s t ancebys ome.I t spur pos ei snott oat t ack coaches who adoptt hi s appr oach.I ns t ead,t o enl i ght en t hem f r om s omeonewhohasnotonl y exper i encedt hi sbutal s ol i s t enedt ot hepai n of manyf as tbowl er swhohaveconf i dedi nmewi t h t he s ame doubt s and ment aldi s par i t yt hati s caus edbyt hes por adi cus eofs peedguns . Mos ts t udent sacceptwhatacoach l aysoutf or t hem – s ot heymaynots peak outand expr es s how t hey t r ul yf eel or how s peci f i ct r ai ni ng meas ur esmi ghtbeaf f ect i ngt hem.

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TheGoodCoach

Iwi l lneverf or gett hedaymyf at herpur chas eda Bus hnel lSpeedGun.Iwasal wayst out edast he f as t es tbowl erf ormy age gr oup i nt he count y s ys t em.Wi t h myf at herbei ngs uch as uppor t i ve man–hewant edt okeept r ackofmypr ogr es son amor egr anul arl evel . Imus thavebeenar ound1 6or1 7year sol datt he t i me,wewentt ot hel ocalpar k,andIbowl edmy hear t out – t he gun s howed a r eadi ng of s omet hi ngi nt her egi onof60mph. Weal ll aughed. How coul dt hi sbepos s i bl e? We knew t her e was s ome s or tofdi s cr epancy becaus et hes peedj us tdi dnots eem r i ghtatal l . Att het i me,Iwaspar toft hemai nbowl i ngat t ack f oraf i r s t t eam cl ubi nt hePr emi erLeague.We of t en had pr of es s i onal cr i cket er s pl ay i nt he l eaguewi t h us !I nf act ,Davi d Gr i f f i t hs( f or mer Hamps hi r e openi ng bowl er ) was one of our pl ayer s .

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TheGoodCoach

Anyway,f as tf or war d,af ew year sl at er-Ihad been cl ocked on ot her r adar guns whi ch have s hown s peeds1 0mph outf r om each ot her .No j oke, t her e wer e1 0mph di f f er ences wi t ht he r eadi ngs on t hes e guns .I r emember bei ng s o conf us ed about t he whol et hi ng. I f you ar e t hi nki ng about why I am not di s cl os i ng t he number s– i ti sbecaus eIdon' twantt of eedt he i s s uewhi chIam aboutt os peakabout !I ts houl d al lmake s ens e when you r each t he end oft he chapt er . Her ei saqui ckbutf unnys t or y.Iwaspl ayi ngf or Mi ddl es exdur i ng20082009,andIwass uf f er i ng f r om ar epeat edankl ei nj ur yonmyl andi ngf oot . Mycoach att het i me,I an Pont ,t ol d met hatI need t os ee t he phys i ot her api s tatNor t hant s , Bar r y Goudr i aan.So,I made t he t r i pt ot he s t adi um atWant ager oadt os eehi m. On mywayout ,Ibumped i nt of or merEngl and al l r ounder and f i r s t t eam head coach ( att he t i me)ofNor t hant sCCC,Davi dCapel .Hes t opped meandas kedwhoIwast her et os ee,andwhenI t ol d hi m, he i mmedi at el y s ai d, " oh, you' r e Shahbaz .I anhast ol dmeaboutyou" .

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TheGoodCoach

Me and Davi d had a chat ,and when Il ef t ,I r ecei vedacal lf r om I anwhot ol dmet hatDavi d had cal l ed hi m and s ai d," peopl el i ke Shahbaz don' tcomear oundver yof t en.Iwantt os eehi m bowlout s i deandpot ent i al l ys i gnhi m" . Thedr i vehomef r om Nor t hant st omyhomet own i saboutanhourandahal f .Ir emembermyf at her andmebei ngs oexci t edaboutt hewhol et hi ng. Af ew daysl at er ,I anr angandt ol dmet hatDavi d Capelwant smet obowlont heout f i el ddur i ngt he br eak ofa f i r s t cl as s game bet ween Nor t hant s andEs s exatChel ms f or d. Ir ememberar r i vi ngatt hes t adi um andwai t i ng f oral lt he pl ayer st ol eave t he f i el df orl unch. Ther ewasas mal lcr owdatt hegr ound,andIwas ver y exci t ed.Davi d came outwi t h a mi t tand as kedmet obowlaf ew over s . AsIl ef t ,I an cal l ed meagai n and t ol d met hat Davi d wasext r emel yi mpr es s ed and want ed t o s i gnme.It henwentbackt ot hecount ygr oundt o meet t he Chai r man of Nor t hant s and s i gn a cont r actwi t ht hecl ub.

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TheGoodCoach

I ' ms or r yf orr ambl i ngon aboutmys el f ,buti t ' s r el evantt ot hepoi ntIam t r yi ngt omakeher e. Ir emember Davi d' s pr es ence dur i ng bowl i ng s es s i onsatNor t hant s ,hewoul d comeup t ome ands ay," wi t hyourpace,al lIwantyout odoi s mas t er t hr ee del i ver i es ,( 1 )s t ock bal l ,( 2) bouncerai medatt het hr oatand( 3)yor ker " . Ir emembert hes ewor dss ocl ear l yf orar eas on– becaus eIcoul dneverwr apmyheadar oundhow s omeonewi t hs o much cr edi bi l i t y waspr ai s i ng mef ormypace,whi l et hegunwass howi ngupas s omet hi ngs oaver age. I ti snotl i keDavi dCapeli sanor di nar ypl ayeror coach ei t her ; he i s a f or mer i nt er nat i onal cr i cket er .A bat s man who hasf aced up agai ns t s omeoft hef as t es tt hegamehasevers eens uchas Mal col m Mar s hal landCur t l yAmbr os e. Ievenr ememberat i mewher eIwasi nvi t edbymy ver y cl os ef r i end and ment or ,Nheem Ami nt o bowlatLor d' sbecaus ehewant ed As hi s h Nehr a ( who Nheem i sgood f r i endswi t h)t o comeand haveal ookatme.

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TheGoodCoach

You r un wi t ht wo l egs and t wo ar ms ,r i ght ? I magi ne,dur i ng t hi ss es s i on,Ir an i n wi t h my bowl i nghands t at i c–s omyl egswer emovi ng.My l ef tar m wasmovi ng,butIkeptmybowl i nghand l ow andmot i onl es sandj us tr ani nandhur l edt he bal lasf as tasIcoul d.Youwi l lf i ndal i nkofme bowl i ng wi t h t he s t yl e of act i on t hat I am des cr i bi ngher ei nt hemember ' ss ect i on. Ir ememberAs hi s hl eavi ngNheem f oras econd, comi ng up t o me and s ayi ng," you know you pr obabl ybowlar ound1 40kphbutyoucanbowla l otf as t eri fyoumovebot hofyourar ms " .Looki ng back,i ti soneofmymos tembar r as s i ngmoment s becaus eIam s ur eevenNheem wasconf us edast o whyIwasr andoml ybowl i ngl i ket hat .I n cas eI di dn' tt el lyouatt het i meNheem,Iam s or r y. Iwantt omakeas ever epoi nther e.Cr i cketi sa gamewher eyouar ej udgedonhow manywi cket s yout akeandhow manymat chesyouwi nf oryour t eam. Sur e,yours peedcanhel pf as tt r ackyout hr ough t hes ys t em – asi tdi df orme– butyou won' t s ur vi vei fyoucan' tpr oducer es ul t s .

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TheGoodCoach

Looki ngback,t hes peedgunwasl i keavi r usf or me,andIknow Is peakf orawhol eheapofot her f as tbowl er s when Is ay t hi s .I fyou have any as pi r at i onsofbowl i ngf as t ,t hes econd t hatgun comesout– yourf ocusdi ver t sf r om pl ayi ngt he gamet opl ayi ngt hegun. If ound mys el fl os ti nt hi st r ap f ormany,many year swher eal lIeverwant edt odowaspr ovet he gunwr ong. Ear l i er ,Is pokeaboutcoachesbas i cal l yneedi ng t o acqui r eknowl edgeofemot i onali nt el l i gence, andt hi si st her eas onwhyIs ayi t . hi nkyouar edoi ngt her i ght Asacoach,youmayt t hi ngbyl et t i ngyours t udentknow how f as tor s l ow t heyar ebowl i ng. Butt her ei sa dar ks i det ot hi si nf or mat i on as wel l . Wher ear eyouwhent hats t udenti ss t r uggl i ngt o s l eep atni ghtbecaus e al lt hey keep doi ng i s t hi nki ngaboutt hes peedst heyhi twhi l el os i ng mot i vat i onandl ovef ort hegame?

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TheGoodCoach

Wher ear eyouwhenyours t udentdoes n' tact ual l y wantt opl ayt hegameanymor e? Wher e ar e you when t hey go mi s s i ng f r om t he game,r emodelt he ent i r et y oft hei ract i on and come back as a compl et el y new bowl er – al l becaus et heywantt oembar konat r ai ni ngpl ant o changet henumbert hats howeduponyourgun? Iam f or t unat et owor kcl os el ywi t hTymalMi l l s , oneoft hef as t es tbowl er st oevergr aceEngl i s h s oi l .Ir emembers eei ngavi deoofhi m bowl i ng, andIcoul ds ees omeonehol di ngas peedgun.I wascur i oust oknow whatt hegunwoul ddi s pl ay f ors omeonel i keTymal .SoIs enthi mt hevi deo andas kedhi m – hi sexactr es pons ewas ," Ihave nevers eent hatvi deoi nmyl i f e" . I tbecamecl eart o met hatTymalwast her et o bowl .What everdat at hecoachwascol l ect i ngwas f orhi m,t hecoachandnotTymal . ForTymal ,t heobj ect i vewast obowlandgett he mos toutoft hes es s i on!

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TheGoodCoach

I t ' sf unnywhen Il ook back att r ai ni ngdaysat Nor t hant s .Ius ed t o bowlal ongs i deOl l ySt one ( Engl and i nt er nat i onalcr i cket er )and t hecoach att het i mewoul dbehol di ngt hegunt ous .Never once di d t he coach r eveal our s peeds – I r emembert hes es es s i onsbei ngt heoneswher eI wasmos tf ocus edandl es sappr ehens i ve. Iwast her et obowl ,notbowlf ort hegun. I ti st he' pr i vat e'coachi ng s ect orwhi ch ( i n my opi ni on)needst obemadeawar eoft hepi t f al l sof s uchpr act i ces . pokent omanypr of es s i onalf as tbowl er s , Havi ngs Ihavef oundt hatyes ,s peedi ses s ent i al ,butt hey f ocusmor eon pl ayi ngt hegameand pr oduci ng r es ul t s–s peedi sj us tonepar toft hei rar s enal . WhenIi ndul gei ni nt er vi ewswi t hpl ayer s ,Ihave f l as hbacksofmymi nds etwhenIwasgr owi ngup andhow di s t or t edmyt hi nki ngwas . I have been f or t unat et o wor ki nt he boxi ng i ndus t r yf orqui t eaf ew year s .Oneoft hemos t i nt er es t i ngt hi ngsIpi ckedupi show t hey' bui l da f i ght er ' .

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TheGoodCoach

Regar dl es sofhow ' t al ent ed'aboxermaybe,t hei r car eer sands ki l l sar edevel opedovert i me. WhatImeani s ,eveni faf i ght ers eemst al ent ed enough t o f i ght at a hi gher l evel ,t hei r managementandcoachesdon' tt hr ow t hef i ght er i nt ot hatchal l engeunt i lt heyar e1 00% s ur et he f i ght ercanhandl ei t . Igues st hecl os es tt hi ngIcan r el at et heboxi ng anal ogyt oi ncr i cketi si nt hewaypl ayer shavet o cl i mb t he r anks . For exampl e, pl ayi ng s econdt eam cr i cket bef or e bei ng expos ed t o f i r s t t eam cr i cket ;r egar dl es sofhow good t hey ar e. Even when t he mos t not abl e names i n i nt er nat i onalcr i cketar e comi ng back f r om an i nj ur yandhavepr ovedt hei rf i t nes s ,t heypl aya handf ulofs econdt eam gamesorcount ygames bef or ej umpi ngbacki nt ot hei nt er nat i onalar ena. Thi nkbackt ot hevi deoofJof r aAr cherbowl i ng bounceraf t erbounceratas econdt eam count y cr i cketgame.I n cas e you haven’ ts een i t ,hop ont oYouTubeand s ear ch,“ Jof r aAr chers econd t eam” .

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TheGoodCoach

Her e,one oft he f as t es tand mos tdes t r uct i ve bowl er si n wor l d cr i cketi spepper i ngpl ayer si n t he s econd t eam ci r cui t – he even s cor ed a cent ur yi nt hatgame. Why? I t ’ snotj us taboutpr ovi ng yourf i t nes sbutt o accumul at e conf i dence by pl ayi ng mat ches as wel l .Regar dl es s ofhow many over s you s end downi nt henet s ,bowl i ngt hos eover si namat ch i swher et her ealt es toccur s . Theol derIget ,t hemor eIam madeawar et hat t r ue, el i t e per f or mance i s al l about mi nds et . When a pl ayer has been out of act i on, t hei r conf i dencei sl ow.When you t hr ow t hatpl ayer i nt o a hi ghpr es s ur e envi r onment ( s uch as i nt er nat i onal cr i cket ) , you put t hem i n a vul ner abl epos i t i on. ear nedi st hatt heel i t e Es s ent i al l y,whatIhavel coacheshaveas i gni f i cant l ybet t erunder s t andi ng ofhow t o' manage't hei rs t udent sbot hment al l y andwi t hper f or mances .

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TheGoodCoach

Whi l s t you’ r e on YouTube, s ear ch, " Shoai b Akht arNewpor tCr i cketCl ub"– i fyou comeup wi t hnot hi ng,Iwi l ll i nkt hevi deoi nt hemember ' s s ect i on.Anyway,t hecl i pi sofShoai bAkht ari n 2006, s t eami ng i nf r om hi sf ul lr unup and bowl i ngt hes peedofl i ght … wai tf ori t …i nacl ub cr i cketgamei nEngl and! Idon' tknow t he backs t or y ofwhy Shoai b was pl ayi ngl eaguecr i cketi nEngl andori fi twasj us t af ew games .St i l l ,Iam goi ngt oas s umet hathe wasr et ur ni ngf r om i nj ur yandwant edar unout i naver yl owpr es s ur eenvi r onment . Don' twor r y.Iwi l lgett hef ul ls t or yf r om hi m one day! her ewi l lbeacount er ar gumenther et hat Iknow t us i ngas peed gun hel pst hepl ayerknow wher e t hey ar ei nt er msofabi l i t y.Ormaybe anot her count er ar gument coul d be t hat i ft hey can' t handl et he' t r ut h'aboutt hei rs peed,t heyar ei n t hewr onggameandcan' tt akepr es s ur eet c. Thati snott hepoi ntIam t r yi ngt omake.

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TheGoodCoach

WhatIam t r yi ngt os ayand t hemes s ageIam t r yi ngt ogetacr os swi t hmyanal ogi esi st hatyou don' texpos es omeonet os omet hi ngt heyar enot r eadyf or . Havi ngs pokent opr of es s i onalpl ayer swhohave been i nvol ved i n t he Engl and Per f or mance Pr ogr amme s uch as Geor ge Scr i ms haw, Zak Chappel l ,Tom Bar berand Saqi b Mahmood,i t ’ s cl eart hatt her ear eexcept i onst ot hepoi ntIam maki ng as al lof t hos e bowl er s wer e cl ocked dur i ngNat i onalt r ai ni ngcamps . RememberwhatIs ai dabove,i ti saboutexpos i ng apl ayert o acer t ai n amountofpr es s ur eatt he r i ghtt i me. Suppos e you ar e on t he Engl and Per f or mance Pr ogr amme or i nvol ved wi t h any pr of es s i onal t eam.I nt hatcas e,t her ei sahi ghchancet hatyou ar ei n aver ydi f f er entheads pacet han s omeone whoi san out andoutamat eurcr i cket erwhoi s l ooki ng t o br eak i nt ot he hi gher l evel s oft he game.

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TheGoodCoach

Themi nds etofs omeone' out s i de't hes ys t em i s ver y di f f er ent f r om t he mi nds et of s omeone ' i ns i de't hes ys t em. Jus tl i keme( andmanyot her swhoIknow) ,t he s econdt heguncameout ,wel os tourf ocusont he gamei t s el fandi ns t eadf i xat edont hes peedgun al one.Thi si s notconduci ve t o pr ogr es sf ora cr i cket er and cer t ai nl y not heal t hy f or a f as t bowl er ! Ir emember s omeone s endi ng me a pos t on I ns t agr am f r om acoach whoj us ts pentat on of moneyon a new s peed gun.I nt hecapt i on,he s t at ed," t i met odes t r oys omecar eer s " . Att het i me,evenIf oundi tf unny.Butt her ei sa mor e s er i ous mes s age t hat needs t o be communi cat ed t o coaches s i mi l ar t o t hi s i ndi vi dual .Youar enotdes t r oyi ngacar eer .You ar edes t r oyi ngt hehopes ,s pi r i tandmor al eofan i ndi vi dualand t he ef f ectt hatcan have i sway mor es i gni f i cantt hant hegame.

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TheGoodCoach

Ment alheal t hi s s uesi n cr i cketar eamongs tt he hi ghes ti n al ls por t si nt hewor l d – oneoft he r eas ons why t hi s i s t he cas e i s becaus e appar ent l y,cr i cketat t r act sper s onal i t i eswi t han over anal yt i calmi nd. Oh,Icanbel i evet hat ! Iur geal lcoachest opr ot ectt hei rs t udent sf r om t hepi t f al l st hatcomei nt hej our neyofbecomi ng acr i cket er ,ands peedgunsatt hewr ongt i me,ar e oneoft hos epi t f al l s ! For t hos e who don' t have a coach and ar e des per at et oknow how f as tt heybowl–t hes ame pr i nci pl esappl y. Tr us tme,I ' vebeen t her e,and Iunder s t and t he " need"t oknow how f as tyouar eandt hedes i r et o compar e your s el fup agai ns tt he pr of es s i onal s . You need t or emembert hats peed i sdevel oped over t i me. Your j ob s houl d be t o cont i nue i mpr ovi ng your s el f ,pl ayi ng and l ear ni ng about t hegame. Af t eral l ,youar eacr i cket er ,notas how pony.

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TheGoodCoach

I ti ss o,s oi mpor t antt o keep f ocus s ed on t he chal l engeaheadofyou.Byopeni ngupt he' s peed gun'gat e,you r i s k ext er nalf act or s di s t r act i ng youmaj or l yf r om t her ealwor kt hatyouhavet o do;exact l yasi thappenedt ome. as tbowl er ,you wi l lal waysknow whet her Asaf youar e' bowl i ngqui ck'ornot .I t ' ss omet hi ngyou f eel . Imus tal s os t r es st hatt he caut i on ofus i ng a s peedgundoesnotappl yt oever yone.Ther ear e i ndi vi dual soutt her ewho wi l lhavet hement al f or t i t udet odi s mi s smanyext er nalchal l engesi n t hegame. Iam as s umi ng t hatt he pr i mar yr eaderoft hi s book i st he f as t bowl er who i s des per at ef or ans wer sanddes per at et ot r yt hi ngst ohel pt hem bowlf as t er .So,If el ti twasneces s ar yt oi ncl ude t hi s chapt er t o det er you f r om s t eppi ng i nt o pot ent i al l ydanger oust er r i t or yt hatcoul d har m youbef or et het i mef ori ti sevenr equi r ed.

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TheGoodCoach

One oft he keyst o ourgr owt h and communi t y s t r engt h i st he s i mi l ar i t i es I have wi t h our audi ence.AsIonces ai di nani nt er vi ew,whenwe cr eat e cont ent , t he edi t or i al pl anni ng i s ef f or t l es s .I ' m notpr oduci ngcont entf or1 00, 000 pl uspeopl e.I ' m maki ngcont entf ormys el f . So,t her ewi l lbeexcept i onst ot her ul e,butf r om myexper i ence,t heyar ef ew andf arbet ween. I nmyopi ni on,t heonl yt i meabowl ers houl dbe concer nedwi t hs peedsi swhen t heypl ayon t he TV.Byt hatpoi nt ,yourconf i dencel evels houl dbe s i gni f i cant l yhi ghert han when you ar ecl i mbi ng t her anksasanamat eurort r i al i s t ! On t he cont r ar y,t he us e ofs peed gunscan be benef i ci ali fyou know how t o us et hem.The pur pos e oft hi schapt eri st o hel p bowl er sand coachess af el yus es peedguns .

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TheGoodCoach

Her ear emyt opt i psf oras pi r i ngf as tbowl er swho wi s ht ous es peedguns : 1– Under s t andt hatwhat evernumbers howsup onyourgunmaynotbet henumbert hats howsup i fyou wer et o pl ay i n a pr of es s i onalt el evi s ed mat ch. 2 – What ever number s hows up,us ei t as a meas ur ef oryout ot r ackyourown pr ogr es s .Do notcons i deri tt obet hebeal l endal lofyourf as t bowl i ngas pi r at i ons . 3–Youcanal wayswor kt owar dsi mpr ovi ngyour s peed.I tt akeshar dwor k,di s ci pl i ne,cons i s t ency and pat i ence.So,r egar dl es sofwhats peed you cl ockont hegunt oday,wi t ht i me,youcanal ways i ncr eas ei t .

87

TheGoodCoach

Donotl os ehope. Ir ememberhear i ngMi chaelHol di ngon t heTV once,andhes ai dt hathedoes n' tevenbel i evei n TV s peed r eadi ngs .He j udges pace by how a bat s man i sr es pondi ng t ot hedel i ver i esf r om a bowl er . Myuncl eoncet ol dmes omet hi ngs i mi l ar– you don' tneeda' gun't ot el lyoui fyouhavepace.

88

HOW TO BOW L FAST

How t oBowlFas t

Now,ont ot hemai nques t i on," how doyoubowl f as t ?" Evers i nceIs t ar t edbowl i ng,Iwass ear chi ngf or t hes ecr ett os peed.Wasi tbi omechani cs ,f i t nes s ors omet hi ngel s e? I n myj our ney,Idi s cover ed f as ci nat i ngi ns i ght s whi chcanbepr act i cal l yappl i edbyanyone.And i tal lbegi nswi t h accept i ngt hatt her ei snoone s ecr ett os peed.I nmyopi ni on,gener at i ngs peed i sacombi nat i onoff act or s ,andt heyal lwor ki n uni s on.Youcanhaveonewi t houtt heot her ,but t heover al lr es ul twi l lnotbes us t ai nabl e.I nt he i nt er es tofcl ar i t y,Ihavecat egor i s edt hes ef act or s i nt os i xdi f f er entpar t s : Bel i ef Techni que Fi t nes s Ment al i t y Exper i ence Conf i dence

90

How t oBowlFas t

Thef ol l owi ngchapt er sai mt oel abor at eoneach oft hes ecat egor i esandexpl ai npr eci s el ywhyt hey ar es oi mpor t antandhowt heyi nt er l i nkwi t heach ot her . Att heendoft hi sbook,youwi l lf i ndas ummar y whi chconcl udest het opi csIhavedi s cus s ed. Iwoul dl i ket oonceagai nmakei tcl eart hatt he f ol l owi ngvi ewsar ewhatIhaveexper i encedasan ambi t i ousandhungr yf as tbowl er .Someonewho hasconduct ed t hous andsofexper i ment son hi s bowl i ngact i on.Tr avel l edacr os st heot hers i deof t hepl anett os eeki nf or mat i onandt r ai ni ngf r om s omeoft hel eadi ngaut hor i t i esi nf as tbowl i ng, j avel i nands t r engt handcondi t i oni ng. My vi ewsdo notcomef r om a s ci encel ab ora t ext bookwi t hgr aphsandcal cul at i ons( al t houghI havedonepl ent yoft hataswel l ) . My vi ews come pr edomi nant l y f r om bei ng pr act i cal .Fr om put t i ngi nyear sofgr af tandbei ng hands onwi t hal mos tever yt ypeoft echni caldr i l l andf i t nes sr egi me,t her ei savai l abl e.

91

How t oBowlFas t

I ' m nott al ki ngaboutr andom s t uf f– I ' mt al ki ng aboutcar ef ul l ycur at edi nf or mat i onandr out i nes whi ch came f r om t he mos t qual i f i ed and i nt el l i gentmi ndsi nt hes por t si ndus t r y. Iam s o pr oud oft hef actt hatIhaveachi eved many per s onalgoal si n my pur s ui tofbowl i ng f as t .I f even one f as t bowl er benef i t s or i s i nf l uenced bywhatIhavet os har e– Iwi l lf eel ver yf ul f i l l ed. Myai mf ort hef ol l owi ngchapt er si st ohel pbr i ng cl ar i t yt o yourmi nd – becaus et hati s whatI neededwhenIwasgr owi ngup. Myai mf ort hef ol l owi ngchapt er si st ohel pyou make s ens e of your doubt s and ques t i ons – becaus et hati spr eci s el ywhatIdi dnothave. Myai mf ort hef ol l owi ngchapt er si st ohel pyou bet t erunder s t andexact l yhow youcanbowlf as t –becaus et hati sal lIhaveeverwant edt odo.

92

BELIEF

Bel i ef

I tal ls t ar t si nyourmi nd. Sor r y. Yourmi nds et . AsMar t i n Lut heronces ai d," f ai t hi st aki ngt he f i r s ts t ep even when you don' ts ee t he whol e s t ai r cas e" . Ir ememberdr af t i ngani nt er vi ew f oroneofour gues t son ThePaceJour naland Nheem s ai dt o me," as k,whatdoesi tt akef orhi m( t hebowl er )t o bel i eve t he phi l os ophi es t hat t he coach i s s ugges t i ng?" I t hought t hi s was a f as ci nat i ng ques t i onbecaus et hi si st hes t ar t i ngpoi ntofany meani ngf ulchange. Fai t h and bel i efar enotaboutt r yi ngs omet hi ng one day and t hen abandoni ng i tt he next .You havet obeal l i nwi t hwhat evers peci f i cgoalyou ar et r yi ngt oachi eve.Cont r ar yt owhatyoumay t hi nk,s t i cki ngwi t hs omet hi ngi snotj us tabout di s ci pl i neandcons i s t ency– butaboutf ai t hand bel i efaswel l .

94

Bel i ef

Whet heri t ' sal i f es t yl echange,at echni calchange oraf i t nes sgoal ,youhavet obeal li nandbel i eve i nwhatyouar edoi ng.Ot her wi s e,yourchancesof compl et i onwi l ldi mi ni s hqui ckl y! Li f ei shar d,ands por ti snodi f f er ent .Ihavef aced s omeoft hemos ti ns ur mount abl echal l engesi n mypur s ui tofbowl i ngf as t ;i n ever ys i ngl eway; ment al l y,phys i cal l y,emot i onal l y,f i nanci al l yand evens pi r i t ual l y. Ihavecomet oacceptt hatnogoali nl i f ei seas y. And t he s econd you s i gn up t o become a f as t bowl er ,yous i gnupf orawor l dofpai nandj oy. Youhavet obewi l l i ngt oendur et hepai nt or el i s h t hej oyf ulmoment st hatcomewi t ht hes ki l lt hat weal ll ove. ear nedi st hatbel i efi s Looki ngback,whatIhavel genui nel yoneoft hemos tcr i t i calf act or si nyour abi l i t yt obowlf as t .Andper s onal l ys peaki ng,i t ' s pr obabl ys omet hi ngIcoul dhavei mpr ovedon!

95

Bel i ef

Cr i cketi sat eam s por t ,s o no mat t erhow har d you t r y; you can' t bl ock out t he nat ur al compar i s onsand compet i t i ve j eal ous yt hatone f aceswhenpl ayi ngi nat eam.Pl eas enot e,t her ei s a di f f er ence i n bei ng j eal ous ofs omeone and bei ng compet i t i vel yj eal ous of s omeone. The f or meri ss i ni s t er ,and t he l at t ercan hel p you r ai s eyourgame. I ti seas yt odoubtandbeatyour s el fupi fyouar e notper f or mi ng,butyourt eammat es ar e.That t eam changi ng r oom can f eell i ke t he l onel i es t pl aceont hepl anetatt i mes .WhatIhavel ear ned i st hatt hes emoment s( whi chyouwi l lf aceal ot of )ar et he t i mes when a f as tbowl erbecomes vul ner abl e.Thes econdyouar eexpos edl i ket hi s , youcanf al li nt ohabi t sofwant i ngt ocont i nual l y changet hi ngswhenyoudon' tneedt o. I ti si mpor t antt or emembert hatyouar ehuman. You ar eal l owed t ohavebad days .Ther eas on I am f l aggi ng bel i efup asacont r i but ort o bei ng abl et obowlf as ti ss i mpl ybecaus eoft hement al chal l engesyouwi l lf acei nyourj our ney. Ir epeat ,yourj our ney.

96

Bel i ef

Oneoft hebi gges tmi s t akesayoungf as tbowl er can make i st ot r y and compar et hems el vest o ot her s . Ever ys i ngl eper s on on t hepl anethasauni que f i nger pr i nt– t hi nkofourj our neysi nt hes ame way. Ihaveper s onal l ys eenbowl er s( Iwon' tment i on any names ) who wer e never cons i der ed t o be s peci al .St i l l ,l at eron,i nt hei rcar eer s ,t heyhave donei ncr edi bl et hi ngsandpl ayedatt hehi ghes t l evel . On t hecont r ar y,Ihaves een bowl er swho wer e hi ghl i ght edast henextbi gges tt hi ngs ,butast i me wenton,t heyl os tt hats par kandf adedoutoft he game. Bel i ef ,bel i ef ,bel i ef . You havet obel i evei n youruni quej our neyand bl ock outwhati sgoi ngon ar ound you.I fyour peer sar eexcel l i ngand you ar enot ,don’ tl eti t br eakyours pi r i tordemot i vat eyou.

97

Bel i ef

Mor al eandconf i dencear es uchpr eci oust hi ngs , andashumanbei ngsandat hl et es– weal lneed meas ur esi n pl acet ohel p usr emai nf ocus ed on t het hi ngswecancont r ol . Bei ngs i ngl emi ndedandal mos ti gnor antofwhat ot her sar edoi ngcanbeaver ybenef i ci alt r ai tt o have. Her ei st het hi ngt hough,youcan' t' f or ge'bel i ef . Thi si swhyIs ai di ti ss oi mpor t antt ocont i nual l y as k why and educat e your s el fon whatyou ar e doi ng;nott obeannoyi ng.Nott ober udeandnot t o under mi ne your coach – but t o hel p you under s t and t hepat h you ar eaboutt ot ake.So, youcanbef ul l yi nves t edi nt hevi s i ont hatyour coachhasf oryou. I fyou don' thaveacoach,t hes t r engt h ofyour bel i efandt hecr edi bl eknowl edgeyouhaveacces s t owi l lhel pr eas s ur eyout hatyouar eont her i ght pat h. Youwi l lbes ur pr i s edhow much eas i ert hedar k daysbecomewhenyourbel i efi ss t r ong!

98

Bel i ef

Notj us tbel i efi nyourt r ai ni ngpl an,butbel i efi n your s el faswel l .I fyou ar ewi l l i ng t oi nves ti n yourcar eerandwor khar df ori t ,whocant hr ow youof ft r ack? You wi l lbehi twi t h manydoubt er sand peopl e whowi l ldi r ect l yori ndi r ect l yt r yt ot hr ow youof f cour s e– t hi si s why bel i ef i n your s el fi ss o i mpor t ant .I ti syourmot i vat i onandyourdef ence mechani s m ener gy.

agai ns t negat i ve t hought s and

Ther ei ss o much i nf or mat i on outt her e.I fyou s pend an adequat eamountoft i mes t udyi ng i t , youcanqui t equi ckl ygai nabas i cunder s t andi ng oft hef undament alt hi ngsyouneedt owor konas af as tbowl er . Remember ,t r ai ni ngand i mpr ovementi s n' tj us t aboutt hewor kyoudoont hef i el d,i t ' sal s odown t ot hewor kyoudoof ft hef i el d.

99

Bel i ef

Canyoucal lyour s el fanambi t i ous ,f as tbowl eri f youdon' thavet hedi s ci pl i neanddr i vet os i tt her e ands t udyyourcr af t ? Once your knowl edge i ncr eas es ,your t r ai ni ng wi l ls t ar tt omakemor es ens et oyou,andt hi si sa ver y,ver ypower f ulpos i t i ont obei n. Iwi l lel abor at eont hi si nt henextchapt erbutt o s ummar i s e – you need t o bel i eve t hatyou can becomeabet t erf as tbowl ert o becomeabet t er f as tbowl er . I fyoudon' tbel i evei t ,how wi l lyoubecomei t ?

1 00

TECHNIQUE

Techni que

Techni quei ss uchani nt er es t i ngs ubj ectwheni t comest of as tbowl i ng. Look,weal lknowt hatt her ear ebowl er soutt her e who ar e genet i cf r eaks .They ar e bl es s ed wi t h f as t t wi t ch f i br es and nat ur albowl i ng act i ons t hatooz et echni calper f ect i on.Butt hatdoesnot meant hats omeonewhoi s n' tbl es s edwi t ht hos e gi f t scan' twor khar dt oj oi nt hem –orevencome cl os e. Sci ent i f i cal l ys peaki ng– t hekeyst o gener at i ng s peed ar er el at i vel ys i mpl e,and oneoft hef i r s t voi cesi nt hi ss pacewasI an Pont .Hedi s s ect ed f as t bowl i ng t echni que and put i ti nt o an act i onabl ef r amewor k.I n myopi ni on,t he' Four TentPegs 'byI ani sacl as s i candgr eatmodelf or anyonewho does n' thaveaf r amewor kf ort hei r act i on. Thi si swher et hear t i s t r yoff as tbowl i ngcomes i nt oi t .AsmuchasIbel i evei nt heFourTentPegs andi t suni ver s alappl i cat i on–t her ewi l lbet i mes whent hef r amewor kcanf ai lyou.

1 02

Techni que

TakeShaun Tai tf orexampl e– s omeonewi t ha compl et el yf l awed( t echni cal l ys peaki ng)bowl i ng act i onbuts t i l loneoft hef as t es tbowl er st oever pl ayt hegame. Ir emember s peaki ng t o Jock i n det ai labout Shaun.We l aughed over a bi tofi ns i ghtt hat ever yonet al ksabout-how Shauni sonebal laway f r om br eaki nghi sback,butt heonl yt i meheever f el t pai ni s when s omeone t r i ed t ot weak or changehi sact i on. Why? Techni quei si mpor t ant– donotf orones econd as s ume t hat I am s ayi ng t hat t echni que i s r edundant .Butt her ei sabi gdi f f er encei n how t echni quel ooksandhow t echni quef eel s . And t hi si st hepoi ntIwantt ohi ghl i ghti nt hi s chapt er . Somet i mes ,whatl ooksgr eatmi ghtf eelhor r i bl e, andwhatl ookshor r i bl emi ghtf eelgr eat .Igues s Shauni sanexampl eoft hi s .

1 03

Techni que

I can s ay t he s ame f or mys el f .I r emember br eaki ngmyact i on down and r ebui l di ngi tt oa poi ntwher eever ys i ngl ef r amehadt obeper f ect –andgues swhat ,i tevent ual l ywas ! ButIwasbowl i ngs l owert hanIhaveeverbowl ed i nmyl i f e.Is i mpl ycoul dnotunder s t andwhy.I t houghts ci encecoul dn' tf ai lyou? Onceagai n,Is t r es st hei mpor t anceofr es pect i ng t hear toff as tbowl i ngwhi l eunder s t andi ngt he s ci encei nvol ved. Locki e Fer gus on i s anot her exampl e, he i s s omeonewho i sal waysbei ng cr i t i ci s ed f ort he ext r emel at er alf l exi on t hathepos s es s esi n hi s act i on. I r emember s peaki ng t o hi m about t echni queandhi sappr oacht omaki ngchangest o hi sact i on.Hi sexactwor dswer e," t her ear eal ot ofver ys ucces s f ulf as tbowl er s who have had bi z ar r e t echni ques . Wi t h f as t bowl i ng, i t ' s howeveryourbodywor kst obowlt hatbal l " .For meper s onal l y,Il ookf or' cues 'wi t hi nabowl i ng act i on.

1 04

Techni que

Forexampl e,( 1 )havi ngener gy( moment um f r om yourr unup) .( 2)havi ngt i me( t ogot hr ought he mot i onsofyourl oad up and bowl i ngpat hway) . ( 3)havi ngan i mpactand bei ngabl et opr oduce f or cei nt ot hegr oundandbl ockt heener gyf r om yourr unup t hati st r avel l i ng l i near l y and ( 4) havi ngexpl os i vepowerands peed( t oexpl odeout oft hecr eas e)ar emor ecr i t i calf act or st of eelf or t hans ear chi ngf orwhatl ooksr i ghtonacamer a s cr een. WhenIwat chabowl i ngact i on,Il i t er al l yt r yt o f eelwhatt hebowl eri sexper i enci ng. I n my opi ni on,t he mos tcr uci alas pectoft he bowl i ngact i oni st hes t r et chedoutpos i t i oni nt he cr eas e,whi chIcal lt he' PowerPos i t i on'andwhat I anr ef er encesast he' s t ars hape' . Rememberme s peaki ng abouthei ghtbei ng an advant ageand adi s advant age?Wel l ,t hi nkofi t t hi sway,t hepowerpos i t i oni syourbodyut i l i s i ng ever ys i ngl ebodypar tt oi t smaxi malcapaci t yt o appl yf or cet ot hebal l .The' weaker 'yourpower pos i t i on,t hehi ghert hel os sofpot ent i alener gy. Forme,t hi spos i t i oni st hehear toft hebowl i ng act i on.

1 05

Techni que

How you get i nt o t hat pos i t i on, how you t r ans i t i ont hr oughi tandoutofi ti swor t habook ofi t sown.Fornow,Iwoul dl i ket ohi ghl i ghthow i mpor t anti ti st ous eyourbodyef f i ci ent l y,and ever yonewi l luni quel ydot hi s ;s omebet t ert han ot her s . To put t hi si nt o per s pect i ve, s omebody wi t h excel l entphys i calat t r i but ess uchashei ghtwhi ch cannotus e hi sorheradvant age wi l lf al ls hor t agai ns ts omeone s mal l er who i s get t i ng t he maxi mum ef f i ci encyoutoft hei ract i on. Thebes twayofconcept ual i s i ngt hi si st ot hi nkof your body and bowl i ng act i on as a human cat apul t .Thes er i esofmovement st hatyourbody goes t hr ough dur i ng your del i ver ys t r i de wi l l ei t herhel pyouenhanceormi ni mi s et heef f ectof t hi scat apul t . Ti mi ngi sanot hercr i t i calas pecti nvol ved. Thef i r s tt i meIeverwentt os eeI anPont .Iwass o exci t ed,and Ir ememberbowl i ng.Not hi ng f el t r i ght–Iwaswayt oor us hedi nmypr oces s–my t i mi ngwasul t i mat el yof f .Becaus eoft hi s ,t her e wasnowayIwasget t i ngi nt omypowerpos i t i on!

1 06

Techni que

I ans t oppedme,andhes ai d," t hel as tt hi ngyou doi sbowlt hebal l . " Thos ewor dshaver es onat ed wi t h meevers i nce he s ai dt hem. I t ' sf unny how a naï ve mi nd oper at es . As a f as t bowl er , your nat ur al i ncl i nat i on us ual l yi s ," oh,Ineed t o move my ar msr eal l yf as tt o bowlf as t " .The oppos i t ei s act ual l y whatyou wantt o do.By s l owi ng t he mot i ons down,you al l ow your body t o gl i de t hr ought hecr eas ewhi l s tyourupperbodycr eat es a nat ur al del ay and expl oi t s t he s t r et chs hor t eni ngcycl e( s t r et chr ef l ex) . Bys l owi ngdown,Idon' tmeanyourr unup,Iam r ef er r i ngt ot hemot i onofyourar mst hr oughyour l oadupandt hewayyourupperbodys et supj us t asyou ar eaboutt o del i vert hebal l .Al loft he abovei spoi nt l es si ft hemovement swi t hi n your act i on donotf eelcomf or t abl eand r i ghtt oyou. Your body i s your body, and one t echni cal f r amewor k wi l lnotguar ant ee t hatyou wi l lbe abl et obowlatyourf as t es t .

1 07

Techni que

I n myopi ni on,t her ear es peci f i cchar act er i s t i cs t hatabowl erneedst ohavet ogener at ehi sorher t ops peed.Themor echar act er i s t i csyoupos s es s , t he hi gher your cons equent i alt op s peed.And gues swhat ,t heyar eal lbas edonf eel i ng. 1-Energy Somebowl er sneedal otofgr ounds peedwher eas ot herbowl er sgener at eal otoft hei rpacef r om s heer br ut es t r engt h and power .However ,al l bowl er swi l lneed t o br i ng s omes or tofener gy i nt ot hecr eas ef r om t hei rr unup. Thekeyher e,t houghi st ounder s t andwhatyour opt i malr unups peedi s . Forexampl e,whenIt r yt or uni nt oof as t ,Ir us h myact i on,and ever yt hi ngj us tf eel sbr oken and outofs ync.I fIr uni nt oos l ow,If eell i keIhave an i ncr edi bl e amount of t i me i n my del i ver y s t r i de( whi chi sagoodt hi ng) .St i l l ,Ihavet or el y heavi l yonmus cl i ngt hebal ldownbecaus et her e' s notmuch gr ound s peed ormoment um t o pl ay wi t h.

1 08

Techni que

Whenyouhi tt hats weets pot ,wher eyouar enot r unni ngi nt oof as tbutnott oos l ow ei t her .You wi l ls t r i ke t he per f ectbal ance r equi r ed t o go t hr ough your act i on comf or t abl y whi l e havi ng enoughmoment um t ohi tyouropt i mum s peed. Remember ,t he key her e i s t o bui l d your moment um upasyouappr oacht hecr eas e. Themos tcr i t i cals t r i desi nyourr unupar eyour l as tt hr ee( orone)becaus et hos ear et hes t r i des t hatwi l ldet er mi newhet heryou accel er at ei nt o t hecr eas eorj us tf l oati nt oi t . Runup s peed i sa s i gni f i cant l yi ndi vi dual i s ed t hi ng,and t heonl y way you wi l lknow whati s r i ght f or you i st o exper i ment wi t h di f f er ent t emposwhi l er unni ng.You don' teven need t o bowlwhi l edoi ngt hes edr i l l s . I ti sal s owor t hment i oni ngt hatr unups peedand r hyt hm go handi nhand. I f you ar e not comf or t abl ewhi l er unni ngi n,youwi l lneverf i nd r hyt hm.Tr us tmeont hat .

1 09

Techni que

WhatIhavef ound i n mybowl i ng i st hatmos t days ,Is t r uggl et oat t ackt hecr eas eandIf al li nt o ahabi tofr unni ngi nwi t ht hes amet empo;s t uck i nonegear . However ,Iwi l lr andoml y have dayswher e my l egsf eelul t r al i ght ,andIf eell i keIam f l yi ngi n myr unup.Thes ear et hedaysIf eell i keIcan r eal l y at t ack t he cr eas e and not di s t ur b my r hyt hm orcomf or t abl enes si nt hepr oces s . WhatIhavef ound,( wewi l ls peakaboutt hi smor e i nt heFi t nes schapt er )i st hatt hef i t t erIam,t he bet t erIr un.And t he f as t erIam – t he mor e comf or t abl eIwi l lf eelwhenr unni ngi nataf as t er s peed. Ihopet hi smakess ens e. I fyouar eunf i t ,yourbodyhast owor khar dert o r un i n ata s peed of1 0kph ( I am us i ng t hi s numberasanexampl e) .So,1 0kphwi l lbeamax ef f or tf oryou.

1 1 0

Techni que

I fyourr unni ngmechani csar ecor r ectandyouar e f i t ,r unni ngat1 0kphwi l lt henbecomeanaver age s peedf oryou– t husmaki ngi teas i erf oryout o at t ackt hecr eas ewhi l emai nt ai ni ngr hyt hm. I ti snos ecr ett hatBr et tLeebowl ed hi sf as t es t whenhewaschar gi ngi nandat t acki ngt hecr eas e. Ial s or ecal lJockonces ayi ngt hatwhenBr et twas athi sabs ol ut ef as t es t ,hewass pr i nt i ng1 00m i n 1 1s econds . Thepoi ntIam t r yi ngt omakeher ei st hats ome s or tofener gyi sr equi r edt obowlf as t .St i l l ,t he s peed i n whi ch you can r un i n whi l epr es er vi ng ot herf act or sbel ow i swhatyouwi l lneedt of i gur e outf oryour s el f ,andt heyar ei mpor t antt hi ngst o cons i der !

1 1 1

Techni que

2-Bal ance Ir emembers peaki ngt o Pet erMar cas ci ano and Ruben Tabar es( t wo oft hemos twel lr es pect ed andl eadi ngs t r engt handcondi t i oni ngcoachesi n t hewor l d)aboutf as tbowl i ng.Mos toft hei rwor k hasbeenatt hehi ghes tl eveli not hers por t ss uch as boxi ng,at hl et i cs and f oot bal l .St i l l ,I have wi t nes s ed t hem br eakat hl et i cmovement sdown andanal ys et hem l i kenooneel s e! When Is howed t hem avi deo ofaf as tbowl er s ' act i on,t hef i r s tt hi ngt heyf l aggedupwast hatat ever ys t ageoft hebowl i ngact i on,youar eonone l eg! Thi nkabouti t . Whenyour un,yout r ans i t i onf r om onel egt ot he ot her . Yout hent akeof ff r om onel eg( yourl ef tl egi fyou ar ear i ght handbowl er ) . Yout henl andi nt hecr eas e,ononel eg( yourback l eg) .

1 1 2

Techni que

You t hen t r ans f eral loft hatener gy ont o your f r ontl eg ( yourback l eg may s t i l lbe gr ounded whi l et hi si shappeni ng) .Iam r ef er r i ng t ot he wei ght di s t r i but i on as al l of your wei ght i s event ual l yt r ans f er r ed t o yourf r ontl eg asyou bowl . You t hen exi tt hecr eas e,l and on yourbackl eg af t eri thasdr i venoutoft hecr eas eandr ecoveri n yourf ol l owt hr ough. Atever yphas eoft hebowl i ngact i on,yourbodyi s r equi r edt obal ancei t s el fononel egandathi gh s peed. Bal ancei ss uchacr i t i calas pectofbei ngabl et o pr es er ve ener gy and ens ur e t hat you ar e t r ans i t i oni ngs af el yt hr ought hecr eas e.

1 1 3

Techni que

3– Rel axat i on Evers i nce Icoul dr ememberbowl i ng a bal l ,I have done i t wi t h an i mmens e amount of aggr es s i on. Youar er ai s edt obel i evet hatf as tbowl er sneedt o bes car yandaggr es s i ve– Ius edt ot r yandhur l t hebal ldownwi t hasmuchs t r engt handpoweras Ipos s i bl ycoul d. ThenIs t ar t edt os t udyandl ear nt het r ut habout s peed and how ' t ens i on'act ual l ypr ohi bi t syour mus cl esf r om movi ngf r eel y. Whenwebowl ,weneedourbodyt ober el axedt o ut i l i s e t he s t r et chs hor t eni ngcycl e ( s t r et ch r ef l ex) whi ch i ss uch an i mpor t ant as pect of gener at i ngs peed. Her e' st hef unnyt hi ngt hough– t hes econdyou t ens eup;youki l lormi ni mi s et heef f ect soft he s t r et chr ef l exs i gni f i cant l y. Iam embar r as s edt os ayt hatt hi si ss omet hi ngI f i gur edoutver yl at ei nmygame.

1 1 4

Techni que

Themor e' r el axed'Iwas ,t hemor epowerIcoul d gener at e– i twass uch a s t r anger evel at i on f or me! Gr owi ngup,Ius edt ogetyel l edat( i napos i t i ve way)f r om Nheem f ornot' f i ni s hi ngmyact i on' .I r emember hi m s howi ng me vi deos of i tt o hi ghl i ghthow Iwoul dj us tl etgo oft hebal lat r el eas eandt heneas eoutofmyact i onf r om t hat poi nton.Whathe was s ayi ng t o me i st hatI was n' tf i ni s hi ng my act i on wi t hf ul ls houl der r ot at i on. Themor ehewoul ds ayi t ,t hemor eIus edt ot r y and f i ni s h my act i on and t he t ens er I woul d become. Nheem was1 00% r i ghti nwhathewass ayi ng.At t het i me,Ij us tdi dn' tknow how i mpor t anti twas f ormet or el axf ormybodyt ocr eat et heel as t i ci t y r equi r edt oexpl odeoutofmyact i onandf i ni s hi t ! I twasonl ywhen Iwat chedcl i psofMohammad Ami r bowl i ng f r om one s t ep,t wo s t eps ,t hr ee s t epsandevent ual l ygoi ngbackt ohi sf ul lr unup t hatIr eal i s ed how s moot h he wasdur i ng t he ent i r epr oces s .

1 1 5

Techni que

Is peakaboutt hi si nal otmor edet ai li nal at er chapt er . Whet herIwasbowl i ng f r om one s t ep or1 0,I woul dal wayst r yt obowlasf as tasIcoul d. s cover ed when wat chi ng Mohammad WhatI di Ami rwast hatwhen hewasbowl i ngf r om af ew s t eps ,ever yt hi ngwass os moot handnotf or ced. I fanyt hi ng,hewass eemi ngl y' s l ow'f r om j us ta f ew s t eps .I twasonl ywhen hewaschar gi ngi n f r om hi sf ul lr unup t hatever yt hi ng s t ar t ed t o cr ankup. It hens ear chedt hei nt er nett os eemor ebowl er s i nt hei rwar mup,andi ts eemedl i ket heywer eal l doi ng t he s ame t hi ng.Fr om a s hor t err unup, t hey woul d ' gr oove' t hei r way t hr ough t hei r act i ons ,and ast hey s t ar t ed r unni ng i nf r om a l onger di s t ance,wi t h mor ei nt ent ,ever yt hi ng s t ar t edt or ampupabi t . Ir emembergoi ng s t r ai ghtt ot henet sand j us t eas i ngmywayt hr oughmywar mup,exact l yl i ke how Ihads eent hem doi t .Icoul dnotbel i evet he r es ul t s– If el ts os moot h,s or hyt hmi caland s o expl os i ve!

1 1 6

Techni que

I twasonl yatt hi spoi ntt hatIs t ar t edt odomor e andmor er es ear chonhow t ens i onact ual l ys t ops youf r om pr oduci ngs peed,andmyf i ndi ngsbl ew meaway.I ncr edi bl y,Ihadf i r s tcomeacr os st hi s ent i r et heor y whi l e I was bowl i ng! But t hen, s ci ence al s o backed up ever yt hi ng t hat I was exper i enci ng. If eelembar r as s edt oadmi tt hi s– butIact ual l y s pentt hemaj or i t yofmyyoungeryear st r yi ngt o bowlatmymaxi mum s peedf r om j us taf ew s t eps . WhenIs eeot her sdoi ngt hes ame,Iur get hem t o us et hei rr unupandgi ver hyt hm andmoment um achancet ocont r i but et ot hei rs peed. Thi si soneoft hemai ndi f f er encesbet weenf as t bowl i ng and bas ebal l . They don' t get an oppor t uni t yt or uni nf r om adi s t ance.Wedo! 4-Ti mi ng A concur r entt hemei nt hi sbooki st heus eoft he wor d' ar t 'wheni tcomest of as tbowl i ng,andt hi s i sanot herexampl e ofi t .I n my poi ntabove,I ment i onhow i mpor t anti ti st okeepyourbodyi n ar el axed s t at e dur i ng your bowl i ng act i on. However ,t her ei sas t agewhent he' s nap'occur s .

1 1 7

Techni que

I fyou ar e notf ami l i arwi t ht he ki net i c chai n, al l ow met oqui ckl ybr eaki tdownf oryou. Thi nk off as tbowl i ng as a t r ans f er ofener gy whi chs t ar t satyourr unupandendsatt hepoi nt t hebal ll eavesyourpos s es s i on. Yourr unuphel psyougener at emoment um and ener gy. Theobj ect i veofyourj umpi st ot hen' car r y't hat ener gy f r om your r unup i nt o your back f oot cont acti nt he cr eas e.The mor e ef f i ci entyour t akeof fi s ,t hemor eener gyyoupr es er ve. oot cont act ,your obj ect i ve i st o Fr om back f t r ans f erener gyup t hebody( f or ces ummat i on) , t hr ought heki net i cchai n.Fr om yourbackf oott o backkneet obackhi p,t hr oughyourcor e,ches t , s houl der ,ar m,wr i s tandt hent hebal li sl i t er al l y aboutt ol eaveyourf i nger t i psandexi tyourhand. Thi sent i r emot i onhappensi nabl i nkofaneye– i ti sr api d!

1 1 8

Techni que

Onceyou ar ei nt hepowerpos i t i on and cer t ai n par t s ofyourbody ar e eccent r i cal l ys t r et ched, your mus cl es have an enor mous pot ent i al t o pr oducepowert hani ft heywer ei naconcent r i c s t at e. Thi s power pos i t i on i st he wi ndow of oppor t uni t yf oryout oexer tmaxi malf or cei nt he s hor t es tamountoft i me t o hel p accel er at et he pat hofyourar m.ButasIs ai dabove,t hi sent i r e mot i onhappenss oqui ckt hat9t i mesoutof1 0, youwi l lnotexecut ei tf l awl es s l y. I n myopi ni on,t hi scoul d beoneoft her eas ons whywehaven' ts een mor edel i ver i esat1 60kph and above f r om bowl er s who have al r eady achi eved t he l andmar k.Bei ng abl et o' execut e' per f ectt i mi ngi sanar t . Es s ent i al l y,t i mi ng i s a cr uci alas pect of f as t bowl i ng and t he bes tway t o hel p you i mpr ove yourt i mi ngi st of i ndcuesi n youract i on whi ch hel p you s epar at et he r el axed s t at e of your bowl i ngf r om t he' power 's t at eofyourbowl i ng.

1 1 9

Techni que

Forexampl e,f orme,mymos tcons i s t entper i od ofi nr hyt hm bowl i nghasbeenwhenIhavehada l ongl oadup.Ther eas onf ort hi si spur el ybecaus e oft he cue I was abl et o us e.As s oon as my bowl i ng hand ( r i ghtar m) had t r avel l ed down f r om myheadt opas tmybackl egandbehi ndme – Is ubcons ci ous l y knew t hat t he moment t o appl yf or cewasi mmi nent .Andt henboom – my l ef tl egwoul dhi tt hegr ound,andIwoul dexpl ode aspower f ul l yasIcoul d. Byus i ngaf eel i ngbas edcue,Iwasabl et of r eemy mi nd ofcompl ex t echni cal i t i esand execut emy del i ver i esal otmor econs i s t ent l y.Ihavehear d ot herbowl er ss peakaboutt aki ngt hei rt i mewi t h t hei rnonbowl i ngar m whi chwoul dgoups l owl y andt hent heywoul dr api dl ypul li tdownasacue. Somebowl er shaveacount ,s o,ast heyar ei nt he ai r ,t heycount( i nt hei rhead)1 ,2,3,and t hen t heyexpl odeoutoft hei ract i ons . Eachbowl erwi l lhavet hei rownpr oces st ot i mi ng and t he mor e you bowl ,t he mor e you wi l l under s t and youract i on and t he mor e you wi l l f i gur eoutwhatwor ksbes tf oryou.

1 20

Techni que

5-Fl ow One oft he r eas ons why I s t r ongl y encour age bowl er st onots ear chf orper f ect i oni sbecaus eof t he poi ntIam aboutt o make.The mor e you pr act i ces omet hi ng,t hemor eyouembedi t ,i nt o yourmus cl ememor yandt hemor econf i dentand comf or t abl eyou wi l lbewhen you ar er epeat i ng t hemovement . WhenIs ayf l ow,Iam r ef er r i ngt ot hepat hwayof yourl egsandar msdur i ngyourbowl i ngact i on. Thef as tbowl er s 'act i on i sl i kepoet r y– i ti sa har moni ousbl endofs moot hnes sandaggr es s i on. Sor r y. Cont r ol l edaggr es s i on. Theonl ywayt omas t eryouract i oni st os t i ckwi t h i t . Iam avi ct i m ofcont i nual l yexpl or i ngdi f f er ent act i onsand s t yl es .Al t hough att i mes ,i tcan be benef i ci al– you need t o know when enough i s enough.

1 21

Techni que

Remember , deci s i ons r egar di ng your act i on s houl d begover ned by( 1 )how you f eeland ( 2) whet her you ar es uf f er i ng f r om a s ever e and r epeat edi nj ur y. I fyouract i onf eel sgr eat ,yourobj ect i ves houl dbe t onow mas t eri t . When Is ays t i ck wi t hi t ,Iam notr ef er r i ng t o mi nort weaks– t hos ear ef i ne.Iam r ef er r i ngt o s i gni f i cantchangesi n youract i on ast hes e bi g movement s can di s t ur b( i f not des t r oy) your nat ur alf l ai rands t yl e. Remember ,f as tbowl i ng i saboutbei ng abl et o expr es syour s el f . I ti sal laboutconf i dence. Jus tt akeyour s el fbackt oat i mewhenyouwer e pl ayi ng a mat ch and t ook a wi cket . Now r emembert hever ynextbal laf t ert hatwi cket– t her ei sa hi gh chancet hatyou f el ta l otmor e ener get i c,al ots t r ongerandal otqui ckerr i ght ? That ' sal i t t l ebi tofadr enal i neandawhol el oad ofconf i dence!

1 22

Techni que

Conf i dencecomesf r om mas t er y. Mas t er ycomesf r om r epet i t i on. I fyoukeepchangi ngt hi ngs ,youwi l lonl ycr eat e doubt si n yourmi nd and f al li nt o bad t r ai ni ng habi t s !

1 23

EXPERIENCE

Experi ence

Iwas1 3 year sol d when If el li nl ovewi t hf as t bowl i ng.Iwaswat chi ngShoai b Akht arbowlon t heTV,andIr ememberbei ngbl ownawaybyt he s i ghtofhi sbl i s t er i ng s peed.Thecamer a angl e wasf r om af ar ,s oIcoul dn' tent i r el ybr eakdown orgets uperanal yt i calwi t hhi sbowl i ngact i on. Al lIknew i st hatIwant edt obowlj us tl i kehi m. Thecamer at hens wi t chedt oacl os euphi ghl i ght ofhi m bowl i ngs omeoneout– you know when t heyonl ys how yout het ophal foft hebowl eri n t he t el evi s i on hi ghl i ghtr eel .Ti l lt hi sday,t hat vi s uali ss t i l ls t ucki nmymi nd. The way Shoai b' s nonbowl i ng hand and ar m wr apped acr os s hi s body as he t wi s t ed i nt oa s i deon pos i t i on t os l i ng t hebal ldown athi gh s peed.Thi ss cene was al lIneeded t o getme s t ar t edi nmy' bowl l i keShoai b'mi s s i on. Ir emembergoi ngt ot henet sand j us tt r yi ngt o mi mi ct hatexactmot i onofmynonbowl i ngar m wr appi ngacr os sme.

1 25

Experi ence

If el tj us tl i keShoai b,andIwasbowl i ngf as t( f or my age and mul t i pl e age gr oups above me) . Looki ng back, t hi s was pr obabl y t he mos t ef f ect i veIhaveeverbeenasaf as tbowl eri nt he mi ddl e, i n mat ches . I was abl et o per f or m becaus e,i nmymi nd,ever yt hi ngwasokay.Iwas conf i dent .Iwass ur et hatmybowl i ngact i onwas exact l yl i keShoai b Akht ar ,s o Ihad not hi ngt o wor r y or t hi nk about .I had i mmens e ment al cl ar i t y,andt echni quewasnotaconcer nt omeat al l . WhenIwas1 4year sol d,Ir ememberwat chi ngmy act i onf ort hef i r s tt i meonas cr een– andIwas s hocked! I tl ookednot hi ngl i keShoai bAkht ar ' sact i on!For t he pas t year ,I had f el tl i ke my act i on was i dent i calt ohi s .Buti twast hecompl et eoppos i t e. Funni l yenough,t her eas onIwat chedmyact i on back i s becaus e I kept get t i ng r epeat ed back i nj ur i es .Ineededt ogi vemyphys i o,DrBaj wa,a cl i p ofmebowl i ngs o hecoul d det er mi newhat mi ghthavebeencaus i ngmet hepr obl ems .

1 26

Experi ence

Ot her wi s e,Ihad no des i r et o wat ch my act i on back.Hi sanal ys i swasi nt er es t i ng– het ol d me t hatIwascr os s i ngovermaj or l yi nmyl owerhal f . Asar es ul t ,Iwasput t i ngi mmens epr es s ur eon myback. Ir ememberhi m r ef er enci ng Ri char d Hadl eet o measagr eatt echni calbowl i ngr ol emodel . I wal ked away f r om t hat t r eat ment s es s i on t hi nki ng," Idon' tknow t oomuchaboutHadl eeor how f as thebowl ed,butIdo know aboutBr et t Lee,and hi s act i on l ooks l es s . . .wi l dt han my cur r entact i on" . So,Ibegan s cour i ngt hei nt er net ,t r yi ngt of i nd cl i psofBr et tLee,whi ch Icoul d us e asvi s ual exampl esandgui dest ohel pmet r yandmi mi chi s act i on. I t was one of t he mos t exhi l ar at i ng moment sofmyl i f e. AsmuchasIwass hockedanddi s gus t edt hatmy act i onl ookednot hi ngl i keShoai b' s ,Iwasexci t ed att hepr os pectofwhatImi ghtbowll i keonceI haveanact i onl i keBr et tLee.

1 27

Experi ence

Ther eas on Iam t el l i ngyout hi ss t or yi st ogi ve you s ome cont ext on wher et he s ear ch f or per f ect i onbeganf orme.Iam s ur et hatmanyof you r eadi ng t hi swi l lgo t hr ough ( orar e goi ng t hr ough)t heexactpr oces s . Fas tf or war d,Ir ememberbei ng abl et o br eak bowl i ngact i onsdownandbei ngabl et odr i l lt hem unt i lIhadnai l eds omet hi ngcl os et ot heor i gi nal . Icl as st hi sasoneofmybi gges ts t r engt hs . I twas n’ tt hateas yt hough.Theact i ont hatIhad beendr i l l i ngandwor ki ngonf ormont hsonend woul df al lapar t as s oon as I wal ked i nt oa compet i t i vemat chandbowl ed. Ir ememberatt het i met hi nki ng," oh,Ineedt odo mor edr i l l sbecaus eIhaven' tnai l edi tyet " . Buti nt henet s ,i twoul dbeper f ect– abs ol ut el y nopr obl ems . Ir emembers ki ppi ngent i r es eas onst oper f ectmy bowl i ng act i on becaus e of t he way i t woul d cr umbl ei nt hegames .

1 28

Experi ence

Iwasonl y1 7year sol dt hef i r s tt i mei thappened. Iwaspl ayi ngf i r s t t eam cl ubcr i cketi nt heHome Count i esPr emi erLeaguef orHenl eyCr i cketCl ub. Henl ey,t ot hi s day,i s a ver ys ucces s f uland pr es t i gi ouscl ub.Pl ayi ng f orHenl ey wasa bi g deal ,es peci al l yf ors omeoneasyoungasIwas .I r emembercal l i ngBj or n Mor dt ,mycapt ai n,and t el l i ng hi m t hatIcoul dn' tpl ay t he r es toft he s eas on – he i mmedi at el y as ked t o s ee me f acet of acet of i ndoutwhatwaswr ong.Hewas s hockedandannoyed,t os ayt hel eas t . Bj or n was ver ys uppor t i ve ofme,and I can' t t hank hi m enough f or gi vi ng me s uch oppor t uni t i es ,bei ngpat i entandput t i ngupwi t h myl udi cr ousi deas . Att het i me,Iwass of ocus ed on s t eppi ngback f r om t hegamet of ocuss ol el yon i mpr ovi ngmy bowl i ngact i onunt i li twas … per f ect . Whenyou' r epl ayi ngcl ubcr i cket ,yout r ai nt wi ce aweek( Tues dayandThur s day)andt hen pl aya l eaguemat chonSat ur dayandoccas i onal l yacup gameonSunday.

1 29

Experi ence

Iwant ed t os pend ever ys i ngl edaydr i l l i ngand i mpr ovi ngmyact i on.Us i ngaTues day,Thur s day, Sat ur day and Sunday,f orcl ub cr i ckett r ai ni ng andmat ches ,t ome,f el tl i keawas t eofpr eci ous t i me. Whyam Ibowl i ngwi t hani mper f ectact i ononal l of t hes e days when I can s pend t hat t i me per f ect i ngmyact i on?I swhatIt hought . Ir emember my f at her , my uncl e and cl ub capt ai nshoundi ngmet opl ay.Ther ewass omuch exci t ementandexpect at i on f r om measayoung f as tbowl er ,i twas nons ens i calt ot hem t hatI was n' touti nt hemi ddl e,pl ayi ngt hegame. Ir emembert hos et i mess ovi vi dl y. Iwoul dn' tbeabl et os l eepatni ghtbecaus eIwas s oconf us edast owhymyact i onwoul dbeper f ect i nt henet sbutf al lapar ti nt hegames . Thi si s one oft he mos tpai nf uland val uabl e l es s onst hatIhavel ear ned.Icoul d nevermake s ens eofwhyi twoul dhappen–unt i lIhadachat wi t h my f i r s t ever condi t i oni ng coach,Roddy Sl at er .

1 30

Experi ence

Het ol dmei ns t r ai ght f or war dt er mst hatt her ei s abi gdi f f er encei n' pr act i ce'and' per f or mance' . Es s ent i al l y,whatyoudoi npr act i cei snotal ways t hes ameaswhen you ' per f or m' ,and t hi si st he t hi ngIneverunder s t oodgr owi ngup. Why? Becaus ei n pr act i ce,you haveno pr es s ur e.You ar ef r eet o bowland execut eyourt echni queas youwi s h. Nof earofanobal l .Nof earofl os i ngamat chand nof earofembar r as s i ngl ys endi ngabal ldownt he l egs i def orf i vewi des . econd you wal ki nt oamat ch s cenar i o,t he Thes pr es s ur ei ns t ant l yki cksi n.Youhaveadaunt i ng umpi r es t andi ngt her e.Twobat s men.Abi g,open out f i el d. Youar es ur r oundedbyt enot heri ndi vi dual swho ar eal ll ooki ngatyout odoaj ob.Thi si saver y di f f er entenvi r onmentt owhatyouar eus edt oi n pr act i ce.

1 31

Experi ence

Ir ememberRoddyt el l i ngmet hatt her ear et wo waysofover comi ngt hechal l engesyouf acewhen s wi t chi ngf r om pr act i cet oper f or mancemode: 1– I nt r oducepr es s ur ei nyourpr act i ces es s i ons t ohel pyoumi ni mi s eandmanagei tbet t erwhen youencount eri ti ngames . 2–Pl aymor emat ches . Unf or t unat el y, I had t hi s conver s at i on wi t h Roddyi n201 8–i fonl yIhadi t1 1year spr i or ! To ver i f ywhatRoddys ai d,Iwascommi t t ed t o pl ayi ngasmanymat chesasIcoul di nt he201 8 s eas on andwi t heachgamet hatwentby,t hi ngs di ds t ar tt of eelbet t er . Suppos eyouar ewonder i ngwhyIam s har i ngt hi s exper i encewi t hyou.I nt hatcas e,i ti sbecaus eI know t hatan i ncr edi bl yl ar ge number off as t bowl er swi l lgot hr ought hes amet hi ng! Theywi l lmaket echni calchanges ,andt hes econd t heygoi nt oagame;i twi l lf al lapar t ,andt heywi l l bel ef tcl uel es sast owhyi thappened.

1 32

Experi ence

Andj us tl i keme,t heywi l lgobackt ot hedr awi ng boar dandgot hr ought hecycl eofdr i l l s ,dr i l l sand mor edr i l l s .Al loveragai n. Iwantt os t r es st hatdr i l l sdo havet hei rpl ace; t heyar evi t al .I fyou' r egoi ngt ol ear nanew s ki l l or movementpat t er n,t he s t ar t i ng poi nti st o br eakt hemovement sdownandper f or mt hem i n apr ogr es s i vemanner( dr i l l s ) . However ,t o be abl e t o execut e t he s ame movement si namat chs cenar i or equi r est i meand wai tf ori t . .exper i ence. Youcan' tdo1 0, 000 dr i l l sandwal ki nt oagame and expect your s el ft o r epl i cat e t he s ame movement swi t ht hes amepr eci s i oni nyourf i r s t game.Thi st r ans i t i oncant aket i me,andt hi s ,( i n myopi ni on)wast hemi s s i ngpi eceoft hepuz z l e f orme.Had Ibal anced myt i medoi ngt r ai ni ng and dr i l l sequal l y wi t h my t i me pl ayi ng act ual mat ches ,t heout comeofmycar eerwoul d have been s i gni f i cant l ydi f f er ent .Oratl eas tIwoul d havehoped.

1 33

Experi ence

Iknow whatyou ar et hi nki ngr i ghtnow – how l ong i t wi l lt ake t o l ear n a new bowl i ng t echni que? I ' m s or r y,butt her ei sno def i ni t i ve ans wert o t hat .I tal ldependson youandt hechangesyou ar et r yi ngt omake. Al lIwi l ls ayt hough i st hatyou can' tf as t t r ack exper i ence.Ihaveper s onal l ygonet hr ough t hi s pr oces smys el f– t he mor e Ipl ayed,t he mor e comf or t abl eIbecamei nt hos emat chs cenar i os . 1 0, 000hour sofdr i l l si nt henet swi l lnotcompet e wi t h1 0over si namat ch. emember r eadi ng Shoai b Akht ar ' s I r aut obi ogr aphy, ' Cont r over s i al l y Your s 'and i n t hat ,hes t at es ," netpr act i cei sb******t ,pl ayas manymat chesasyoucan" . I n my opi ni on,mat ches ar et he r ealt r ai ni ng gr oundf oranyat hl et et omas t ert hei rcr af t .

1 34

Experi ence

Unf or t unat el yf or me,Is t ayed away f r om t he mat chesbecaus eever yt i meIwoul d pl ayt hem, t hi ngswoul dn' tf eelr i ghtf orme( t echni cal l y) .I woul d go back t ot he dr awi ng boar df ora f ew mont hs and t hen r et ur nt ot he games and go t hr ought hes amecycl eagai nandagai n. Themor eIdi dt hi s ,t hemor es eas onspas s edme and t he ol der I gotand t he mor e pr es s ur eI s t ar t ed t o f eel wi t h how my car eer was pr ogr es s i ng–i ti savi ci ouscycl eandt r apt of al l i nt o. No mat t erhow manydr i l l syou do – unt i lyou pl ay as many mat ches as you can – you wi l l s t r uggl et omaket het r ans i t i on f r om pr act i cet o per f or mance. Si mi l ar t ot he poi nt I made above r egar di ng expos i ngbowl er st os peed gunsbef or et heyar e r eadyf ori t–t hes amepr i nci pl eappl i esher e.

1 35

Experi ence

I fyouar epl ayi ngcompet i t i vecr i cket ,t her ei sa ver ys l i m chancet hatyouar egoi ngt obeabl et o f ocusonyourt echni quedur i ngt hes egames . Thi nkbackt owhatJamesAnder s on s ai d above r egar di ng execut i ng del i ver i es i n games whi l s t t hi nki ngaboutyourbowl i ngact i on. Ruben,whowasapr of es s i onal400m Hur dl erf or Gr eatBr i t ai n,oncet ol dmet of i ndas mal lvi l l age cr i cketl eaguewher enobodyknew whoIwasand j us t pl ay as many l owpr es s ur e mat ches as I pos s i bl ycoul d. Now,t hi si snott os ugges tt hatyous houl dpl aya l owerl evelofcr i cketf ort hes akeofi t– t her e s houl dbeal ogi calr eas on. I fyou ar emaki ngs i gni f i cantt echni calchanges . Anexcel l entf r amewor kt of ol l ow woul dbe: 1–Doyourt echni caldr i l l si ni s ol at i onunt i lyou ar ecomf or t abl ewi t ht hem. 2 – Tr y and bowli n a compet i t i ve net bas ed envi r onment( agai ns ta bat s man)and f ocuson execut i ngyourt echni calcues .

1 36

Experi ence

3 – Fi nd s omel owpr es s ur emat chest o pl ayi n and us et hos e as ' t r ai ni ng'games wher e your f ocusi spur el yonyourt echni que. Remember ,t hi si sgoi ngt ogowr ongf oryoual ot oft i mess oyouneedt opl ayasmanymat chesas youcan.Thepur pos eoft hes emat chesi snotf or out comes s uch as accur acy, var i at i ons and devel opi ngbowl i ngs ki l l s .I t ' sat echni calt r ai ni ng mat ch.Yourobj ect i vei nt hes egamesi st obr i dge t hegapbet weendoi ngt echni calwor ki nanett o execut i ngyournew t echni quei nagame,wi t hout t hi nki ngaboutt echni que. 4–Themor eyoupl ayandt hemor ecomf or t abl e yous t ar tt of eelwi t hyournew t echni calchanges , begi nt oi ncr eas et he l evelofcr i cketyou ar e pl ayi ng.Dot hi ss l owl yand maket het r ans i t i on backt ot hes t andar dofcr i cketwher eyoubel ong. Whi l s t you ar e pl ayi ng t hes e mat ches ,i t ’ s i mper at i ve t ol etgo ofyourcompl ex t echni cal t hought sandi ns t eadus ecuest ohel pyouachi eve t hes amet echni calobj ect i ves .

1 37

Experi ence

An exampl e of t hi si s an excer pt f r om Tom Bar ber ’ si nt er vi ew wi t hThePaceJour nal .Tom i s al ef t ar mf as tbowl erf r om Not t i nghams hi r eCCC who i st hef as t es tbowl erevert o bet r acked at Engl and Cr i cket ’ s Hi ghPer f or mance Cent er i n Loughbor ough. Accor di ng t o Kevi n Shi ne, he woul dcomeupas94mphont heTV. When Tom s poket o ThePaceJour nal ,hes ai d abouta t echni calchanget hathewast r yi ng t o make; goi ng f r om mi don t oaf ul ls i deon pos i t i on.Thecuet hatheus ed wast ot hi nk of f aci ngt heot hernetwhi l s thewasbowl i ng. t . You have mul t i pl e l anes Thi nk about i s i debys i dei n at r ai ni ng gr ound.ForTom,he woul dt r yandf acet heneti nt hel anenextt ohi m asacuet ohel phi mt wi s thi sbodyi nt oas i deon pos i t i on. Cues l i ke t hi s ar e br i l l i ant as t hey hel p you s i mpl i f yat echni calobj ect i ve.ForTom t oachi eve hi ss i deon pos i t i on,he does n’ tneed t ot hi nk s peci f i cal l yaboutt hepos i t i onsofhi sf oot ,l egor body.

1 38

Experi ence

Al lhei st r yi ngt odoi s“ f acet heot hernet ” ,andi n doi ng s o,he can nat ur al l y achi eve a s i deon pos i t i on.Thi si scal l edaf eel i ngbas edcue. I t ' svi t alt o di s coverf eel i ng bas ed cuesast hey wi l lt ake t he ment all oad of fofyou when you event ual l y l et go of your s peci f i ct echni cal t hought s . 5 – When you s t ar tpl ayi ng mor e compet i t i ve cr i cket ,t r us tt hatyourt echni quei shol di ngup and wher ei tneeds t o be.When you ar ei na mat ch,f ocusonpr oduci ngr es ul t sf oryourt eam ( doi ngyourj ob)andl eaveanyt echni calt hought s t ot henet sand' t echni calt r ai ni ngmat ches ' . Unt i lyou " l etgo" ,you wi l lnevers etyourmi nd f r ee. Remembermes peaki ngabouthow i mpor t anti ti s f oryout oi dent i f yyour' f eel i ngbas ed'cues ? Thi si s why i ti ss o i mpor t ant – becaus e, event ual l y,i n mat ches ,your f ocus s houl d be s ol el y on t he game and how you can pr oduce r es ul t sf oryourt eam.

1 39

Experi ence

Your f eel i ngbas ed cues wi l lhel p you execut e yours ki l lwi t houtdi s t r act i ngyouf r om t hes t at e oft hegame. Ican' ts t r es senoughhow i mpor t anti ti st ol ear n how t omaket hement als hi f tf r om ' pr act i ce't o ' per f or mance' . Youar enotj udgedonhow wel lyouexecut eyour t echni que–youar ej udgedonhow manywi cket s yout akeandhow muchpos i t i vei mpactyouhad i nagame. I fyou have any as pi r at i ons t o pl ay hi ghl evel cr i cket ,j us ti magi newhats or tofpr es s ur eyou wi l lbeunder .Thous andsofpeopl ei nat t endance andTV camer asever ywher ebr oadcas t i ngevent s t ot heent i r ewor l di nr eal t i me.Youar epl ayi ng agai ns ts omeoft hemos ts ki l l edopponent si nt he s por t .Expect at i onsand pr es s ur ef r om a whol e t eam ( orcount r y)r es t i nguponyours houl der s . Ar eyous ur eyouwantt obet hi nki ngabouts hi n l eadandf r ontf ootbl ockatt hi smoment ?

1 40

FITNESS

Fi t nes s

Bowl i ng f as ti s an ext r emel y unnat ur al and expl os i vemovement .Ir ecal lmyphys i ot her api s t t el l i ngme," t hehuman bodyi snotdes i gnedf or bowl i ngacr i cketbal l " . I thasbeeni nt er es t i ngt os i tbackandobs er vet he s hi f ti n per cept i onsr egar di ng f as tbowl i ng and f i t nes sovert hel as t1 5year s . I fyoul ookathi s t or i ccr i cketi mages ,youcans ee i nt er nat i onalpl ayer si nt hechangi ngr oom af t era gamewi t h aci gari nt hei rmout h and api ntof beer i nt hei r hand.Now,changi ng r ooms ar e packed wi t h mas s age t abl es ,f oam r ol l er s , mas s ageguns ,s uppl ementbot t l esandi cepacks . Fi t nes s has not onl y ent er ed t he s por t but r evol ut i oni s edi t . However ,f i t nes si n cr i ckethasr ecei ved al otof cr i t i ci s mi nt hepr oces s . Look,t her ei sf i t nes s ,andt her ei sbowl i ngf i t nes s – I under s t and t hat .No amount of r unni ng, s pr i nt i ng,orr es i s t ancet r ai ni ngwi l lr epl i cat et he s heerdemandsofbowl i ngacr i cketbal l .

1 42

Fi t nes s

However ,i t ' squi t econf us i ngt os eepeopl ecome outand l abelf i t nes sasan al mos tt i mewas t i ng andi r r el evantt ypeoft r ai ni ngf orf as tbowl er s .I s houl d pr obabl y be mor es peci f i c her e – Iam s peaki ngaboutt hegym mor et hananyt hi ngel s e. ds choolmet hodol ogyi st hatyou s houl d Theol r un, s pr i nt ,s t r et ch and bowl f as t . That ' si t . St r engt h and condi t i oni ng coaches have i nt r oducedawhol epl et hor aofconcept s ,r out i nes and s t yl esoft r ai ni ng whi ch appar ent l yhaven' t pr ovent hei rwor t hyet . Idi s agr eewi t ht hi ss ent i ment–It hi nkf i t nes si s an i ncr edi bl yi mpor t antpar toff as tbowl i ng.I n t hi schapt er ,It r yt os har emor ei ns i ghti nt owhy Ibel i evet hi s . Pl aceboEf f ect Gr owi ng up,Mi ke Tys on ( f or mer heavywei ght boxi ng champi on) had al ways been a mas s i ve i ns pi r at i ont ome.Hes t i l li s .Il ovewat chi nghi s t r ai ni ngcompi l at i onvi deos .I nanol di nt er vi ew, hewasas kedwhyhegoesj oggi ngat4am i nt he mor ni ng.Hes ai d," i fmyopponenti ss l eepi ngand Iam r unni ng,i tgi vesmeaps ychol ogi caledge" .

1 43

Fi t nes s

Putr es ul t sas i def oras econd,i s n' ti tanobr ai ner t hatcr i cket er ss houl d bei n bet t erat hl et i cand phys i calcondi t i ont hannot ? Agai n,If eell i ke emot i onali nt el l i gence,and a bas i cunder s t andi ngofps ychol ogyi sal s omi s s i ng her e. Br et tLeehadopenl ys t at edt hathequi tdr i nki ng al cohol1 2 mont hsbef or et he 2003 Wor l d Cup ( wher ehecr os s edt he1 60kphmar k) .Ir emember Jockr ecal l i nghow muchwor kheandBr et thad puti n behi nd cl os ed door st o pr epar eBr et tf or t hatWor l d Cup.I ' m s ur e Br et ti snota s er i al al cohol i c – s o what ever quant i t i es he was dr i nki ng,i tmus tnothavebeenhuge. Even i fhehad an occas i onaldr i nk i nt hos e1 2 mont hs , woul d i tr eal l y have af f ect ed hi m? Pr obabl ynot . Butt heps ychol ogi caladvant aget hathi ss acr i f i ce had gi ven hi m hass t uck wi t h hi m t i l lt hi sday whi ch i s why he f l ags i t up i n al mos t ever y i nt er vi ew when s peaki ng aboutt hatWor l d Cup and1 60kphdel i ver y.

1 44

Fi t nes s

Sel f W ort h & Presence Ir emembermeet i ngRubenaf t ernots eei nghi m f oral mos tayear .I twasatat i mewhen Iwas over wei ght .He l ooked at me and s ai d," your phys i calcondi t i oni sar ef l ect i onofyourment al s t at e" . Thatcommenthasneverl ef tmymi ndbecaus ehe i ss or i ght . Iam l uckyi nt hes ens et hatIhaveexper i enced l i f easaver yf i tandaver yunf i ti ndi vi dual .Ican hones t l ys ayt hatt her ei ss uchabi gdi f f er encei n how youper cei veyours el f wor t handhow ot her s per cei veandt r eatyou. Whenyouar eunf i t ,youar econs i der edl az y.You ar e vi ewed ass omeone wi t h no di s ci pl i ne who does n' t hol d t hems el ves t o hi gh per s onal s t andar ds .I t ' s al mos ta r ef l ect i on ofyou as a per s on.I have f el tt hi sj udgement ( not i na s i ni s t erway)i nmyi nt er act i onswi t hpeopl e. WhenIwasover wei ght ,Icoul df eelt hei rpi t y.

1 45

Fi t nes s

Ihadal s os eent hewaypeopl ei nt er act edwi t hme when I was f i t .I twas a wor l d ofdi f f er ence; becaus eyou l ookat hl et i cand i ns hape,you ar e aut omat i cal l y per cei ved as s omeone mor e s ucces s f ulandmor edi s ci pl i nedi nl i f e. Cr az y,Iknow. Yourpr es encehass uch as i gni f i canti mpacton yourener gyandaur awi t hi nat eam aswel l . I was l ucky enough t o be coached by f or mer Engl and al l r ounder ,Chr i sLewi sf r om ayoung age. s a man who t akes gr eat pr i de i n hi s Chr i si appear anceand f i t nes s– coupl ed wi t ht hef act t hat I don' t ever r emember s eei ng hi m i n anyt hi ng ot her t han mus cl ef i t compr es s i on l ayer s–hewasqui t eas peci men! Ir emembert ur ni ngupt oat r ai ni ngs es s i onone mor ni ng,andChr i sas kedi fIwant edt obowlor bat .Is ai dIwant edt obowl ,s ohet ol dmet oput mypadson.

1 46

Fi t nes s

Thef i r s tbal l ,hepi nned mer i ghti nt hehel met wi t has ear i ngbouncer .Hedi dn' tevenr uni n;i t wasof fones t ep.Hegr unt edvi ci ous l ywhenhel et gooft hebal l . Af t erhepi nnedme,hecameupt omel aughi ng ands ai d," doyouknow whatmi s t akeyoumade? You di dn' ts ee t he bal l . You s aw t he bi g mus cl eboundmant hatwasl ooki ngatyouwi t h bad i nt ent i ons .Nextt i me,i gnor et he man and f ocusont hebal l .I t ' snotyouagai ns tme.I t ' syou agai ns tt hi ss mal l ,5andahal f ouncebal l " . i nci pl e ofwhatChr i ss ai di s power f ul . The pr When you s eea f as tbowl er ,who l ooksf i tand at hl et i c–t heyj us ts eem t ohaveabi tmor eabout t hem. WhatmadeShoai bAkht ars oi nt i mi dat i ng? I twas n' tj us tt hes peed.I twas n' tj us tt heact i on. Ther ear eal otofbowl er si nt hewor l dwhohave pr oducedhi gh s peedswi t h unus ualact i ons .But how manyoft hem char ged i nf r om al mos tt he boundar y?

1 47

Fi t nes s

Thi s has not hi ng t o do wi t h per f or mance and ever yt hi ngt odowi t hps ychol ogy. For Shoai b,i t was a s i gni f i cant as s et i n hi s ar mour yt ogeton t opoft hebat s man bef or ehe hadevenar r i vedatt hecr eas e! Is peakaboutconf i dencebei ngs uchanes s ent i al f act or i n bowl i ng f as t ,and your f i t nes si sa mas s i vepar toft hatt oo. Asaf as tbowl er ,youneedal loft headvant ages t hatyoucangetandwhenyouar ef i t– youwi l l s ubcons ci ous l yknow t hatyouhaveputt hewor k i nandhavemor ei nt het ank–andt hatwi l lhel p youcr ankt hi ngsup. Havi ngconf i denceandpeaceofmi ndcanl i t er al l y pus hyout ot henextl evel . Jus tt hi nkbackt oat i mewhenyouwer ei nj ur ed. Now t hi nk aboutyourf i r s tbal l sback af t ert he i nj ur yl ayof f .Ther ei sahi ghchancet hatyouwer e r es er ved,caut i ousandbowl i ngwi t hi nyour s el f . Why?

1 48

Fi t nes s

Becaus eyouhaven' tgott heconf i denceorment al abi l i t yt ol etl oos eandbowlatf ul lt i l tyet . Remember ,f as tbowl i ngi sal laboutexpr es s i ng your s el f ,and you can' t expr es s your s el f wi t h boundar i es . Youneedt ober el axedandment al l yf r eet ot r ul y expr es syour s el fmaxi mal l y. Ir ememberat i mewhenIbowl edaf t erabi tofa l ayof f ,Ihadn' tbeen t r ai ni ng,and Iwas ver y unf i t .Iwaspumped t o bowlagai nt hough,and adr enal i nel i t er al l ygotmet hr ough i t .Af t ermy ext ens i vewar mup,Iwasgas pi ngf orai r–Ihad notevenbowl edabal lyet ! et l yt houghtt omys el f ," t hi si sgoi ngt obe Iqui embar r as s i ng"asIwass ur eIonl yhad enough ener gy f or an over . Coi nci dent al l y, I s t ar t ed mi xi ng my del i ver i es ( s l owerbal l s and cut t er s mi xed i n wi t h my f ul l paced del i ver i es ) and managedt obowlt hr eeover sbef or eIcal l edi ta day.

1 49

Fi t nes s

Agai n,t her eas onIam s har i ngt hes es t or i esi st o hi ghl i ghthow much ofan i mpactf i t nes shason yourappr oacht ot hegameandabi l i t yt oper f or m atyourbes t . We have al l been t her e and exper i enced t he f eel i ngofgui l twhenyouhavei ndul gedi nonet oo manydes s er t sandj unkf ood.Nomat t erhowhar d yout r y,youcannott r i ckyourmi nd! ameappl i est ot hei nt ens i t yyoubr i ngt ot he Thes t abl easaf as tbowl er– whenyouhavemadet he s acr i f i ces and put t he wor k i n, you s ubcons ci ous l yf eell i keyouar eunt ouchabl e. Thi sgoesal ongway. When you have been l az y and cutcor ner si n t r ai ni ng - your mi nds et , ener gy, and body l anguagewi l lal lr ef l ecti t .Onceagai n,youwi l lbe i navul ner abl epos i t i on. Ihave been f or t unat et ol ear ns o much about f i t nes s . However ,I want t o hi ghl i ght j us ta f ew key f act or swhi chIt hi nkar ees s ent i al .

1 50

Fi t nes s

Uni l at eralSt rengt h Ear l i er ,Ides cr i bedhow f as tbowl er sar eonone l egf ort hemaj or i t yoft hebowl i ngact i on – t hi s cal l sf orhi ghuni l at er als t r engt hands t abi l i t y. Ther e ar es o many exer ci s es and pi eces of equi pment now t hat can hel p you t r ai n and devel opyouruni l at er alat t r i but es . Speaki ng on s t r engt h,If i nd i ti ncr edi bl et hat s t r engt hwor ki nt hegym asabenef i ci alt r ai ni ng met hodf orf as tbowl i ngi smetwi t hcr i t i ci s m. Pr oduci ng s peed and peak per f or mance i n any s por t i ng f i el d r equi r es a di ver s e t r ai ni ng appr oach.WhatImeani s ,t obowlabal lf as ti s n’ t ass i mpl easwor ki ngon s peedands peedal one. Toi mpr oves peed,youmus ti mpr oveever yot her at hl et i cat t r i but ewhi chs uppor t st hepr oduct i on ofs peed.St r engt h,f l exi bi l i t y,mobi l i t y,power andendur ancear eal li ndi vi dualat t r i but eswhi ch mus tbe devel oped t o gi ve t he body t he bes t chanceofpr oduci ngi t smaxi mum s peed.

1 51

Fi t nes s

The t i me you s pend wor ki ng on each oft hes e at t r i but es ,how youwor kont hem andwhenyou wor kont hem ar eal ldet er mi nedbyyourt r ai ni ng pr ogr amme. I t ’ ses s ent i alt os t r uct ur eyourt r ai ni ngi n away whi ch al l owsyou t o‘ peak’f ormaxi mum s peed whenyouneedi t ,t hecr i ckets eas on. Bynegl ect i ngot herat hl et i cat t r i but es ,you wi l l onl yl i mi tyourf ul lpot ent i aland caus eat hl et i c def i ci enci es . Fas tbowl i ng i sa hi ghl y expl os i ve and at hl et i c movement .Tr ai nl i keanat hl et e! PowerEndurance You can' ti nt er vi ew as t r engt h and condi t i oni ng coach who i sknown f orhel pi ngBr et tLeebowl 1 00mph wi t houtas ki nghi m how and whatt hey di dt ohel pachi eves uchaf eat ! When Ias ked Jock abouthow he gotBr et tt o cr ank i tup t ot hats peed,Iwass hocked athi s r es pons e,buti tmadecompl et es ens e.

1 52

Fi t nes s

He t ol d me t hat t hey di d not t r ai nt o bowl 1 00mph. Theyt r ai nedt omakebowl i ngat95mpheas i er . So,on t he day wher e Br et twas f i r i ng and i n r hyt hm,hecoul dpus hhi sl i mi t sbyaf ur t her1 0% andr eachat ops peed( whi chcoi nci dent al l ywas 1 00mph) . If ound t hi ss of as ci nat i ng as i t once agai n hi ghl i ght show neces s ar yf i t nes si si nyourabi l i t y t obowlf as t . I fyourmaxef f or ti s70mph.Fi t nes scanhel pyou ( 1 )make i teas i erf oryou t o gener at et hatt op s peedand( 2)hel pyous us t ai nt hathi ghs peed. Sust ai nabl eSpeed I t ' seas yt obowlones pel lathi ghs peed,butt odo i ts pel laf t ers pel l ,mat chaf t ermat chr equi r esa l otmor et hannat ur alat t r i but esal one. I tr equi r esf i t nes s .

1 53

Fi t nes s

Oneoft hemos tdemandi ngchal l engesasaf as t bowl eri ss us t ai ni ng yours peed,and f ew have managedt odoi tatevent hehi ghes tl evel . Thi s r equi r es a bi g hear t and even mor e di s ci pl i ne. Anot herf act orwor t h hi ghl i ght i ng her ei syour i nt ens i t yandwi l lt obowlf as t . I thast ocomef r om wi t hi n,buti fyourbodyand f i t nes sdon' ts uppor tyourwi l l ,youwi l lf aceal ot ofs et backs . I nj uryPrevent i on Ir ememberbowl i ngwhen Iwasover wei ght ,my bodywasabl et ohol dandmai nt ai nabr acedf r ont l egpos i t i on f orabout2 t o 3 over s .Thes econd f at i gue s t ar t ed t o ki ck i n,ever yt hi ng aboutmy bowl i ngs t ar t edt of eelcl ums y.Iwass t ar t i ngt o col l aps eatf r ontf ootcont act .Iwasf al l i ngaway. Icoul dn' tdr i veoutoft hecr eas ewi t h asmuch f or ce,and my f ol l owt hr ough was di mi ni s hi ng wi t heachbal lt hatIdel i ver ed.

1 54

Fi t nes s

Ther ei ss omet hi ng mor e danger ous goi ng on her e,t hough.Themor eyou f at i gue– t hemor e your t echni que s t ar t st os uf f er .And t he mor e yourt echni ques t ar t st os uf f er ,t hehi gheryour chancesofi nj ur y.Fi t nes spl ayss uchabi gpar ti n t he l i f e ofa f as tbowl er .I tnotonl y hel psyou gener at es peed,buti tenabl esyout omai nt ai ni t andal s or educesyourchancesofi nj ur y. WhenLocki eFer gus on,New Zeal andf as tbowl er and cur r ent l y one of t he qui ckes ti n t he I nt er nat i onalar enas poket oThePaceJour nal ,he s ai doft hebenef i t st hats t r engt hwor ki nt hegym hashad on hi sgame.“ I ’ vebeen doi ng a l otof s t r engt hwor k,andi t ’ scutoutal otofmyni ggl es . Ofcour s e,you’ r egoi ngt ohavei nj ur i esbutj us t dayt odayni ggl eshaver eal l ybeencutdownand keptmeont hepar kf orl ongper i ods ” . Over al l ,f i t nes sof f er sexcel l entphys i cal ,ment al andl i f es t yl ebenef i t st oaf as tbowl erands houl d bepr i or i t i s ed. As t he l egendar y Aus t r al i an f as tbowl er ,Br et t Lee,onces ai d," t obeagoodf as tbowl er ,f i r s tof al l ,youneedt obeagr eatat hl et e" .

1 55

MINDSET

Mi nds et

Shoai bAkht aroncef amous l ys ai d,“ you havet o bemadt obeaf as tbowl er ” . Thi s can mean di f f er ent t hi ngs t o di f f er ent peopl e.Al l ow met os har ewhati tmeanst ome. Tor un i n,j ump,t wi s tand s l am yourbodyi nt o t hegr ound and hur labal lasf as tasyou can i s abs ol ut el ycr az y! I fyou j us tbr eak down t he s ci ence behi nd t he muchdes i r edhi ps houl ders epar at i ont hatweal l cr ave f or ,t he i nf or mat i on i s qui t ei nt er es t i ng. Themai nr eas on f as tbowl er sai mt ocr eat et hi s s epar at i on i s becaus e oft he way i tal l ows t he body t o ut i l i s e t he s t r et chs hor t eni ngcycl e ( s t r et chr ef l ex) .Bydoi ngs o,wear eabl et oacces s a‘ s uper nat ur al ’t ypeoff or cet o hel ps peed our ar m upwhenwebowl .

1 57

Mi nds et

Ir ememberTer s eusLi ebenber g,oneoft hef i nes t t echni cal Javel i n coaches i n t he wor l d once des cr i bi ngi tt o mel i ket hi s ,“ you ar et r yi ngt o pr oduce a s epar at i on bet ween t he axi sofyour hi psandyours houl der ss ot hatwhen youpl ant yourf r ontl eg,t hebodyhast wo choi ces ,( 1 )t o di s l ocat et hes houl deror( 2)r api dl y accel er at e t hes houl derand br i ngi tbacki nl i nes ot hati t does n’ tdi s l ocat e” . Thi nkaboutt hi sf oras econd,ever yt i meaf as t bowl err unsi nt obowl ,t heyar ees s ent i al l yt r yi ng t odi s l ocat et hei rs houl der ! Soundcr az yt oyou? Overt heyear s ,i t ’ sbeen i nt er es t i ngt os eewel l knownf as tbowl er sr ecei veani ncr edi bl eamount of cr i t i ci s m becaus et hei r pace had dr opped s i gni f i cant l y f r om when t hey bur s t on t he i nt er nat i onals cenei n compar i s on t ot hes peeds t heybowl edatdur i ngt hemi ddl eandendoft hei r car eer s . EvenIam gui l t yofj udgi ngt hes ebowl er s .Iwoul d ques t i onwhyt heyhadl os tpaceorar et heyj us t bei ngl az y?

1 58

Mi nds et

Butyoumus tr eal i s e,f as tbowl i ngi shar dwor k. The l i f es pan of a f as t bowl er can r educe s i gni f i cant l yi ft hei rbodi esgetputt hr ough t oo mucht ur moi l . Notj us tt hei rbodi es ,butt hei rmi ndsaswel l . Idon’ tneces s ar i l yagr eewi t hi t ,butIal s ocan’ t bl ames omeonef ormaki ngt hes ens i bl edeci s i on t ocompr omi s eont hei rs peedi nor dert or emai n ef f ect i veort opr ol ongt hei rcar eer s . AsShoai b Akht ars ai d,you have t o be mad t o wantt odot hi s . soneoft her eas onswhyIappl aud gr eat s Thi si l i ke Br et t Lee and Shoai b Akht ar s o much – becaus et hey ar et wo exampl esofexpr es sf as t bowl er swhomai nt ai nedt hei rs peedst hr oughout t hecour s eoft hei rcar eer swhi cheas i l ys panned overadecadeeach! et hemi nds etofan 1 8year ol d When Icompar me ver s us a 28year ol d me,t he di f f er ence i s huge!

1 59

Mi nds et

Ir ememberbei ngyoung,r aw and nothavi nga car ei nt hewor l dabouthow f as tIwasr unni ngi n, what s or t of f oot wear I had on or what t he condi t i on oft he pi t ch wast hatIwasaboutt o bowlon. or war dadecade,I ’ m notevenabl et oeven Fas tf r ol l my ar m over wi t hout maki ng s ur e my pr ebowl i ng meali s on poi nt ,my war mup i s t hor ough and l i t t l e t hi ngs s uch as t he t emper at ur eofmybodyandt hecondi t i onoft he cr eas ear ei nmyf avour .Al loft hes et hi ngswoul d pl ayahugepar ti nmydes i r et ol etl oos e. You need t of i nd or keep a bal ance i n bei ng di s ci pl i nedwi t hyourr out i nesandr i t ual sbutat t hes amet i me– donotl os et hatr aw f as tbowl er i n you t hatj us twant st ot ear i n and gi ve i t ever yt hi ng. ayss uch ahugepar ti nf as tbowl i ng Mi nds etpl and al loft het hi ngsIr ef ert oi nt hepr evi ous cat egor i escont r i but et oyourmi nds et . Whenyouhavebel i efi nyourabi l i t y,youwi l lbe abl et os t ays t r ongdur i ngt oughdays .

1 60

Mi nds et

When your t echni que i ss ound,you wi l lhave conf i dencei nyouract i on. Whenyou’ r ef i t ,youwi l lhaveconf i dencei nyour body. When you’ ve gotmat ch exper i ence underyour bel t ,you wi l lhave conf i dence i n youronf i el d per f or mances . Whenyou’ r ei nt her i ghts t at eofmi nd,youwi l lbe abl et ol etl oos eandr eal l yexpr es syour s el f . Fas tbowl i ngi snotf ort het i mi d. Oneoft hemos ts t r i ki ngcomment st hatTi noBes t madedur i ngourchatwast hat ,“ f as tbowl i ngi san at t i t ude” . i mpl e,t hi squot ehasbecomei coni cf or Al t houghs meandf orThePaceJour nalbecaus ei tcapt ur es exact l ywhatf as tbowl i ngi s ;anat t i t ude. You have t o be char ged up and wi l l i ng t of ace pai n,dayi n,dayoutwhenyouchoos et obeaf as t bowl er .

1 61

Mi nds et

I fyoudon’ thavet her i ghtmi nds et ,youwi l lgi ve upver yqui ckl y! KemarRoach i saf i neexampl eofs omeonewho bur s tont hei nt er nat i onals cenebei ngabl et ohi t t he95mphmar k. I nt hel as t5or6year st hough,Kemar ’ spacehas bar el ycr os s ed85mph. Thi si shi ghl y unus ual .A 1 0mph di pi ns peed, es peci al l y at i nt er nat i onal l evel does n’ t go unnot i ced. Kemar had been as ked a l ot of ques t i onsont hi st opi candIr ememberl i s t eni ng t ohi ms peakonanI ns t agr am Li vei nr es pons et o s omeonewhoas kedhi mi fandwhenhe’ sgoi ngt o beback,bowl i ngathi ghs peeds . Kemarputi tbl unt l yt hathi sambi t i on t o bowl f as ti sbehi ndhi m. As i t t ur ns out ,i n 201 4, he s uf f er ed a l i f et hr eat eni ng car acci denti n hi s homet own, Br i dget own,Bar bados .

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Mi nds et

Thef ol l owi ngyear saf t ert heacci dentwer es ome oft het oughes tKemarhashad.Heopenl ys t at ed t hathi sbodydoes n’ tal l ow hi mt obowlasf as tas heoncedi dandt hathe’ shavi ngt oi nt ent i onal l y compr omi s eonhi ss peedi nor dert os ur vi ve. Ir epeat ,youhavet ohavet hedes i r eandmi nds et t oact ual l ywantt obowlf as t . I ’ ve been l ucky t o notbe pl agued wi t h many i nj ur i es . One i nj ur y Ir ecal lvi vi dl yi swhen Ipul l ed an i nt er cos t almus cl e( s i des t r ai n)f r om s l i ppi ngon an i ndoormat .I twasone oft he mos tpai nf ul i nj ur i esIhaveeverhad.Thi ngsl i ket ur ni ngover i nbedorcoughi ngwoul dcaus es omuchpai n–I r emembert hi nki ngatt het i me,“ how onear t ham Igoi ngt obowlagai n?” Iwasver yl ucky t o be putback t oget herby a wor l d cl as s exper tl i ke Ruben who us ed s of t t i s s ue mas s age, nut r i t i on, acupunct ur e and a bunchofot hers t uf ft hathedoest ohealmeand t henIs t ar t edonmyr ehabpr ogr amme.

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Mi nds et

Funni l y enough,t he r ehab or get t i ng back t o f i t nes swas n’ tt he gr eat es tchal l enge f orme,i t wasbei ngabl et obowlwi t hf ul li nt ens i t yagai n! Ir ememberbei ngs os car ed and hes i t antabout l et t i ngl oos e,“ wi l lmyi nt er cos t algoagai n,maybe i ti s n’ theal edyet ,maybeIs houl dj us tpl ayi ts af e and bowlwi t hi n mys el f ” wer e al lunans wer ed ques t i onsi nmymi nd. Thi si swhy i ti ss oi mpor t antt ot r eati nj ur i es wi t h car eand r es pect .Becaus ei t ’ snotj us tt he phys i calt hatyouar et r yi ngt ohealf r om,i ti st he ment alaswel l .I fyoupus ht hr oughani nj ur yor r us h t hr ough a r ehab pr ogr amme, t he ps ychol ogi caldamage you can cr eat ei s car eer t hr eat eni ng. Notj us tme,buteven f as tbowl er st hatIknow haves uf f er edwi t ht hement als t r ai nt hatcomes wi t ht hecr af t . Ibel i evet hatf as tbowl er shavean‘ i ns t i nct ’about t hem,and you need t o makes ur et hatyou ar e t i cki ngal lt her i ghtboxest ogi veyourmi ndand yourbodyt hebes tchanceofpr es er vi ngt hatf as t bowl er s ’i ns t i nct .

1 64

CONFIDENCE

Conf i dence

Over t he year s ,I have bowl ed wi t hs o many di f f er entbowl i ngact i ons . At t he s t ar t of t hi s book,I s poke about t he mount ai nt hatIhad t o cl i mb i n 201 7 when I deci dedt os t ar tpl ayi ngcr i cketagai n. Tor ecap,Ihadt ol os eover30kgsandl ear nhow t obowlagai n. Is t ar t edmyt r ai ni ngi nJune201 7butdi dn' ts t ar t any bowl i ng unt i lAugus torSept emberoft hat year .Thef as tbowl i ngact i onpr oducesenor mous amount soff or ceont hebody.Iwasver ycaut i ous aboutmaki ng s ur eIdi dn' tdo anyhi ghi mpact t r ai ni ngunt i lIhadl os tqui t eabi tofwei ght ,and mybodywasus edt oexer ci s eagai n. WhenIf el t' r eady' ,It ookbabys t eps .Ibr okemy bowl i ngpl andowni nt obi t s .Iwoul ds t ar ts t at i c, wi t hdr i l l sandt henpr ogr es si nt obowl i ngf r om a f ew pacesandt henevent ual l yt akei tbackt omy f ul lr unup.Ever yt hi ngwasgoi ngs moot hl y.Iwas hi t t i ngal lofmyt ar get sandwasi nagoodpl ace.

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Conf i dence

I nSept ember ,j us taf t ermybi r t hday,Ideci dedt o doat es tdaywher eIwasgoi ngt ol etl oos eand bowlf r om myf ul lr unup. Iar r i ved att he net s ,ni ce and f r es h.Idi d my war mup and went t hr ough my t echni cal checkpoi nt s . Theni twast i met obowl .Is t oodatmymar kand r ant hr oughal loft het echni calcuest hatIneeded t ohi t . ,r un i n har d,dr i vef or war d wi t h " OkayShahbaz yours hi n( s hi nl ead) ,keepyourbowl i ngar m back asl ong aspos s i bl e,pul lyourf r ontar m down har d,s l am yourl ef tl eg i nt ot he gr ound,dr i ve yourr i ghthi pf or war d,dr agyourbackf ootand f i ni s hs t r ong" . Bef or er eadi nganyf ur t her ,can you gues swhat t heout comewas ? Yep.Tot aldi s as t er .

1 67

Conf i dence

Ir emember f eel i ng l i ke abs ol ut e cr ap. My bowl i ng act i on j us tf el lapar t .The f unny t hi ng t hough,i st hatmyact i onwast echni cal l ygr eat .I t even l ooked gr eat on camer a, but i tf el ts o di s j oi nt ed and uncomf or t abl e. I i ns t ant l y t hought ," t hi si s n' tgoi ngt owor k" . Iwashear t br oken.Agai n. It r i edaf ew mor ebal l s .Thenmor ebal l s .Not hi ng changedt hef eel i ngIwasexper i enci ng. It hen goti nt opani cmode.A modeIwasohs o f ami l i arwi t hovert heyear s ." Maybei fIr uni na bi ts l ower ,t hi ngs wi l lf eel bet t er agai n" .Or maybeIs houl dj ump abi thi gher ,per hapst hat wi l lwor k" . It r i edever yt hi ng. Att hatmoment ,Is l umpedt ot hegr ound,l aymy headbackont henetandj us tbur s ti nt ot ear s . I t ' sover ,i swhatIt hought .

1 68

Conf i dence

Al loft heef f or tovert hel as tf ew mont hst ol os e wei ght .Al loft hes acr i f i cesImadewi t hmydi et and l i f es t yl e.Al loft hemet hodi calpl anni ng of how Iwasgoi ngt or et ur nt o bowl i ngagai n.At t hatmoment ,If el ti thadal lgonet owas t e. Imus thave s att her ef oratl eas t30 mi nut es f eel i ngs or r yf ormys el f . Ievent ual l ygotup,wal kedhomeandwasgr eet ed bymymum.Sheas kedmehow t r ai ni nghadgone. Il ooked ather ,s mi l ed and s ai d ever yt hi ngwas f i ne. I had become s o us ed t o mas ki ng my r eal emot i onsand put t i ngabr avef aceon f ort hos e ar ound me.I di dn' twantt hem t o know how br okenIwasi ns i de. Il i eddownont hes of a,f eel i ngl i f el es s .Al ls or t s oft hought swer er unni ngt hr oughmymi nd.Iwas l os i ng mot i vat i on f as t and f el tl i ke di vi ng f acef i r s ti nt oapi z z aandeat i ngi t . Iwast r ai ni ngt wi ceaday,di et i nghar dandhad noener gyordes i r et ogetupandgot ot hegym f or myeveni ngf i t nes ss es s i on.

1 69

Conf i dence

But I knew i fI s t ayed at home,I woul d be bombar dedbymyf ami l yaboutwhyIhadn' tgone t ot r ai n– s ot oavoi dt heques t i ons ,Ideci dedt o got ot hegym.Butnott ot r ai n. Whent hi ngsdon' tgor i ghtf orme,Il i ket os i tand cont empl at e.Andt hat ' swhatIpl annedondoi ng t hateveni ng.Iwentt ot hegym,s t r ai ghtt ot he s t udi oandj us ts atont hef l oor ,ononeoft hegym mat s . I opened YouTube on my phone and wat chedr andom f as tbowl i ngvi deos .That ' swhen Is t umbl ed acr os st hevi deo ofPaki s t anipacer , MohammadAmi rwhi chIt ouchedonear l i er . I twasoneoft hos eamat eurvi deos ,s hotf r om a phone.Ami rwaswar mi ngupandgoi ngt hr ough t hemot i ons .Thevi deogr i pped me.Ihaveonl y ever s een Mohammad Ami r char gi ng i n and bowl i ng r ocket st hati twas an al mos ts t r ange exper i ence t os ee hi m bowl i ng f r om a s hor t r unup.I cont i nued wat chi ng and pai d cl os e at t ent i on t o t he f l ui di t y of hi s movement s . Not hi ngwasr i gi dorf or ced;i ts eemedef f or t l es s . Iwat chedhi m bowlf r om af ew pacesal lt heway backunt i lhewascomi ngi nf r om hi sf ul lr unup.

1 70

Conf i dence

I coul d notbel i eve t he way t he i nt ens i t y and s peed ofhi sdel i ver i ess t ar t ed t oi ncr eas eashe char gedi nf r om mor epaces . Thepennydr opped.Al lt hi st i me,Iwast r yi ngt o bowlf as tf r om as hor tr unup,l i t er al l y,maxi mum ef f or tbowl i ngf r om t wot of i ves t r i des . Ir ememberbei ng s o per pl exed by whatIhad s een i nt he vi deo ofAmi rbowl i ng f r om a f ew s t r i des .It hens cr ambl edar oundt hegym s t udi o t of i nds omet hi ngt hatIcoul dus et obowlwi t h.I f oundar ol lofs el l ot apeandpi ckedi tup. Is t oodatt heendoft hes t udi owi t honet hi ngi n mymi nd:t hevi s ualofAmi rbowl i ngwi t hs uch f l ui di t yi nhi sact i on. Ipr oceeded t o bowland gues s what ?I tf el t … i ncr edi bl e. Myt i mi ngf el tgr eat .Idi dn' tneedt ot hi nkabout i t . Myf r ontf ootbl ockwasexpl os i ve.Idi dn' tneedt o t hi nkabouti t .

1 71

Conf i dence

My ar m s peed was good.If el twhi ppy,and I was n' teven t r yi ng.Butmos ti mpor t ant l y,Idi d notneedt ot hi nkabouti t . Ever yt hi ngwas' cl i cki ng' ,ast heys ay. " Wasi taf l uke?"It hought . Ibowl edagai n;i tf el tevenbet t er . Icoul dn' tbel i evewhatwashappeni ng.I twasa eur eka moment f or me. They s ay a l eopar d does n' t change i t ss pot s – wel l ,I gues st he anal ogyi saccur at ei nmycas e.Iwasdes per at et o s eehow t hi snew appr oach t obowl i ng( wi t h no t hought si nmymi nd)l ookedt ot heeye. ef tt hegym s t udi oandgr abbedt hef i r s tper s on Il I coul ds ee and as ked i ft hey woul d be ki nd enought ohol dt hecamer af ormewhi l s tIbowl ed. I twasal adywhoIhads eeni nt hegym f oryear s –s hef ol l owedmei nt ot hes t udi o,andIdi r ect ed heronwher et os t andandhow t opant hes hotas Ibowl ed.

1 72

Conf i dence

I ns i de,Iwass oexci t ed becaus ebowl i nghadn' t f el tt hi sgr eatf ors ol ong.St i l l ,ont heot herhand, If el tembar r as s edbecaus eofhow l udi cr oust hi s ent i r e t hi ng was . What mus tt hi sl ady be t hi nki ng? I don’ tt hi nk s he knew much about cr i cket .Butt hes i ghtofmebowl i ngwi t har ol lof s el l ot ape,i nagym s t udi o?Ohwel l ,noneoft hat mat t er edt ome! Ibowl edwi t ht hes el l ot apei nmyhand,wat ched i tbackandwasbl ownawaybyhow beaut i f ulmy act i onl ookedoncamer a. It hankedher ,ands hel ef t .Iwat chedt hevi deo agai n,about1 00t i mesmor ebef or ebowl i ngwi t h t he s el l ot ape anot her 1 00 t i mes . My wor s t ni ght mar ewoul dbel eavi ngt hegym t hateveni ng and f or get t i ng abs ol ut el yever yt hi ng abouthow t hat i mpr ompt u bowl i ng s es s i on j us t went .I power wal ked s t r ai ghthome,pr ayed and r ang Jahngi r .It ol dhi m weneededt ogett oapr oper netas s oon as pos s i bl es o Ican bowlwi t ha cr i cketbal l ." It hi nkI ' vej us ts t umbl edacr os st he s ecr ett ounl ocki ngmymi nd" ,i swhatIt ol dhi m. Ical l edBr adf i el dCol l egeandbookedanetf ort he f ol l owi ngeveni ng.

1 73

Conf i dence

Thenextday,Idi dal i ghts es s i ondur i ngt heday, war med up and j us tpr i med my body f or t he eveni ng s es s i on t hatwas comi ng up.Iwas s o anxi ousabouti t .Twent yf ourhour sago,If el t t hatmyj our neyhadcomet oanend,andher eI am,24 hour sl at erwi t h anot herl i f el i ne i n my hands . Theeveni ngcame,andwet r avel l edt oBr adf i el d. Iwentt hr ough my war mup asus ualand t hen s t ar t ed bowl i ng f r om a f ew paces .Dur i ng t hi s t i me,It houghtofonet hi ng:bes moot h. That ' si t-not hi ng el s e.Jus tbe s moot h.Ihad conf i dence i n my mi nd t hat 24 hour s ago,I bowl ed and bl ocked my f r ontl eg har d wi t hout t hi nki ngabouti t . Ihad conf i dence i n my mi nd t hatIhad done enought echni calwor kovert heyear s . AsIs t ar t edt or uni nhar der ,t hi ngswer ef eel i ng bet t erandbet t er . Ineededt opus hmys el f .Thepr obl em wi t hi ndoor net si nt heUKi st hatt hes por t shal li sr ar el yl ong enoughf oryout of i tyourent i r er unup.

1 74

Conf i dence

So,Ideci ded t os hor t en t he pi t ch and us et he s pacef ormyr unup.Ther ewas n' tabat s man at t heot herendaf t eral l . Thi swast hef i r s tt i meIwasr unni ngi nf r om a l ongerr unup t han f i ve s t r i des ,and Ij us tl et l oos e.Mymi ndwascl ear ,andever yt hi ngf el ts pot on.It ur nedt oJahngi r ,andhegavemet henodof appr oval .Het ol dmet hati twast hebes thehad s eenmebowlf oral ong,l ongt i me. Thebooki ngf orournets es s i onf i ni s hedat9pm i nt heeveni ng.I twas9: 20 pm,and Iwass t i l l t her ebowl i ng.Idi dn' twanti tt oend. Igotbackhomeandwents t r ai ghtt omyf at her ' s r oom ands howedhi m avi deoofmybowl i ng.He i mmedi at el ygotupf r om t hef l oorwher ehewas l ayi ng,put hi s gl as s es on,wat ched t he vi deo agai nands ai d," wel ldone" . Myf at herwasandi sat oughmant opl eas e.He wasal waysver ycr i t i calandf ort her i ghtr eas ons . Wi nni ng pr ai s ef r om hi m us ual l y meantt hatI had done s omet hi ng r i ght .Overt he year s ,my f at herhads een mebowl i ngwi t hs uchl udi cr ous act i onsands t yl es .

1 75

Conf i dence

Wheneverheques t i onedmeaboutt hem,Iwoul d gi vehi ms omes pi elt oi ns t i lconf i dencei n hi m t hatIknew whatIwast al ki ngabout .Het r us t ed me, but deep down, I knew he di dn' tf eel compl et el y comf or t abl ei nt he way t hatI was bowl i ng.On t hi soccas i on,however ,hemadei t cl ear t o me t hat my bowl i ng act i on l ooked nor mal ,andhewast hr i l l edwi t hwhathes aw. Thatni ght ,Iwentt obedwi t habi gs mi l eonmy f ace.ButIal s of el tannoyed.Al lt hes eyear s ,my mi nd was s o f i xat ed on t echni cal t hi s and t echni calt hat– Ihadcompl et el yf or got t enwhat i twasl i ket obowlwi t h conf i denceand expr es s mys el ff r eel y. Ihadal wayss t r uggl edwi t hi ncons i s t enci eswi t h mybowl i ng.Myact i onwoul dchange,myr hyt hm woul ds how up r andoml y,and mys peed woul d di f f erwi l dl y.Somedays ,Iwoul dbeonf i r e,and ot herdays ,mybowl i ngwoul dbeunr ecogni s abl e ( i nabadway) . Af t ert hi sbowl i ngs es s i on atBr adf i el d,wi t h my new appr oach( don’ tover t hi nk,j us tbowl ) ,about 99% ofmybowl i ngs es s i onsf el tgr eat .

1 76

Conf i dence

Ihad s upr emeconf i dencei n myabi l i t yt or ock up,onanygi vendayandbeabl et obowlwi t hout wor r yi ngaboutmyact i on. Iwantt omakeapoi nther e;I ' m nots ayi ngt hat yous houl dn' tt hi nkaboutt echni queorpr i or i t i s e i t .AsIhaves ai d bef or e,t echni quei ses s ent i al , and dr i l l s ar ei mpor t antas t hey al l ow you t o embedamovementi nt oyourmus cl ememor y.I f i r ml y bel i eve t hat had I not done t hos e t hous andsofdr i l l s ;Iwoul dn' tbeabl et oexecut e my t echni que wi t hout t hi nki ng.However ,t he mos tcr uci alt r ans i t i on you can makei sf l i cki ng t hes wi t ch f r om t echni calmodet o per f or mance mode. I n my opi ni on, t hi si st he s i ngl e gr eat es t chal l enget hatever yf as tbowl erwi l lf acewhen t heyar ewor ki ngont hei rt echni que. The r eas on Ihave s har ed t hi ss t or y undert he conf i dence chapt eri st hatbowl i ng wi t h af r ee mi nd, i n my opi ni on, i s t he pi nnacl e of conf i dence i n your bowl i ng act i on. Wi t hout conf i dence,you wi l lbes t uck i n anever endi ng t r ai loft hought saboutyourbowl i ng act i on.I t wi l lonl yl eadt oas t at eofconf us i on.

1 77

Conf i dence

Wher edoesconf i dencecomef r om? I nmyopi ni on,i tcomesf r om r emi ndi ngyour s el f aboutal loft hecheckpoi nt st hatyouhavet i cked. I fyou havedonet hedr i l l sand devel oped your t echni que pr ogr es s i vel y and been pat i entwi t h your pr ogr es s ,you need t o keep t hi si nt he f or ef r ontofyourmi nd.Thi nkaboutdr i vi ngacar . You t akel es s onswi t h an i ns t r uct ors atnextt o you.Yout hent akeyourt es tand( hopef ul l y)pas s . Ats omes t age,youhavet ogetbehi ndt hewheel anddr i vebyyour s el f .Fort hemaj or i t yofpeopl e, t hi si sanent i r el ynew anddaunt i ngexper i ence. Whathel psyougett hr ought hi s ? Yous ubcons ci ous l yr emi ndyour s el fofal loft he pr act i ce you have al r eady done. You gai n conf i dence f r om act ual l y pas s i ng yourt es tand bei ng gi ven a dr i vi ng l i cens e.You know you bel ongont her oad,andi tmakesi teas i erf oryou t ogetoutands t ar tdr i vi ngi ndependent l y.

1 78

Conf i dence

Ihears omanybowl er st el l i ngmet hatt heyar e des per at el yt r yi ng t oj ump hi gher ,j ump l ower , bowlwi t has hi nl ead,dr agt hei rbackf ootandal l s or t s .Icanf eelt hewei ghtoft hebaggagei nt hei r mi ndsast heyar ebowl i ng.Notonl ycanIf eelt he wei ght ,Iunder s t andwhatt heyar egoi ngt hr ough asIwentt hr ought hes amet hi ng. Bei ng abl et o' l etgo'r equi r es conf i dence and conf i dence r equi r espr act i ce.Thi si swher et he dr i l l shavet hei rpl ace.Bydoi ngt hem,you wi l l devel op t he f eel i ng ofexecut i ng yourt echni cal goal . But t hat does n' t guar ant ee a s moot h t r ans i t i on. Techni calbowl i ngs es s i onsar epr obabl ymor eof ament alchal l enget hant heyar ephys i cal .Inever t houghtIwoul d be abl et o bl ock my f r ontl eg expl os i vel ywi t houtt hi nki ngabouti tunt i lIl etgo andj us tbowl ed… wi t houtt hi nki ngabouti t ! Ther ei saf i nel i neher ebecaus eyouneedt odo enough t echni calwor k and dr i l l st ol ear nt he movement ,butyoudon' twantt odos omucht hat youf or getwhatbowl i ngi sl i kewi t hacl earmi nd.

1 79

Conf i dence

If eelt hatIs pents omucht i mebowl i ngwi t hal l s or t soft echni calcuesi nmyhead,t hati tbecame t he new nor malf or me.Bowl i ng wi t houtany t echni calt hought si nmymi ndwasanabnor mal f eel i ng. I twasonl ywhen Iwasi n a des per at es t at eof mi ndandhadnot hi ngt ol os et hatIbowl edwi t ha compl et el ycl earmi nd,andi twast hebes tt hi ngI di d. Is omet i mes s i t back and l augh. Had t hat Sept ember eveni ng,i nt he gym wher e I was bowl i ngwi t har ol lofs el l ot apei nmyhandcome ei ghtyear sago,whatcoul dhavebeen?

1 80

FINAL THOUGHTS

Fi nalThought s

Ihavel os tcountoft henumberoft i mespeopl e haveas ked met heques t i on," how do you bowl f as t ?" . Gr owi ngup,Ihadt hes ameques t i onci r cul at i ng i nmymi nd,andt hes heeramountofdemandf or anans werpl ayedabi gpar ti nmot i vat i ngmet o wr i t et hi ss hor tbook. Whet heri ti si nper s on,i napr i vat emes s age,i na comment on s oci almedi a or by emai l– my ans wert ot hi sques t i on i sal wayst hes ame:f as t bowl i ng and i ncr eas i ng s peed r equi r es a combi nat i onoff act or ss uchas( 1 )t echni que,( 2) f i t nes s ,( 3) exper i ence and ( 4) conf i dence. Genet i cspl ayapar t ,yes ,butt her ei snor eas on whyyou cannoti ncr eas eyours peed wi t hs heer di s ci pl i ne,har dwor kandpat i ence. Regar dl es soft hedept h Ihavegonei nt owi t hi n t hi sbook,Is t i l lf eelt hatIhaveonl ys cr at chedt he s ur f ace wi t ht he amountofi nf or mat i on Ihave di s cover edi nmyj our neyofpur s ui ngs peed. However ,Ihopeyoucanappr eci at et hes t ar tt hat I have made i n document i ng my j our ney and f i ndi ngsi nt hi spr oj ect .

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Fi nalThought s

I nt hewor dsofar eader ," t hi si sagr eati ns i ght i nt ot hemi ndf ul nes soff as tbowl i ng" . If eelt hatt hi sbookcont ai nsmanygr eatgui di ng pr i nci pl es . i s t en t o a newcomer i n pr of es s i onal I f you l cr i cket ,t heywi l lof t en t el lyou t hatoneoft he mos tef f ect i ve f or ms ofl ear ni ng f or t hem has mer el ybeens har i ngachangi ngr oom wi t hamor e exper i encedpl ayer . Jus t bei ng ar ound and l i s t eni ng t o ot her hi ghqual i t y pl ayer s can have s uch a mas s i ve i mpactonyou. Theor i es come and go, but exper i ence l as t s f or ever – and t hi si s pr eci s el y whatI bel i eve makesourwor ks ouni queands opower f ul . ThePaceJour nali sl i kes har i ngachangi ngr oom wi t hawhol ehos tofpr of es s i onalcr i cket er sand coachesf r om ar oundt hewor l d. The onl y di f f er ence i st hatwe as k al loft he ques t i onst hatyou mi ghtnothavet hecour age, t i meoroppor t uni t yt oas k!

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Fi nalThought s

AsIment i oned ear l i er ,If eela gr eats ens e of r es pons i bi l i t yi n us i ngmyper s onalexper i ences andj our neyt ohel ppr ot ectf as tbowl er swhof i nd t hems el vesi nas i mi l arpos i t i ont ome. Al t hough s omeofmyvi ewsmaybecons i der ed cont r over s i al t o s ome – I bel i eve i n t hem whol ehear t edl y. My i nt ent i on i s nott o cr i t i ci s e or of f end any pl ayer ,per s on or coach.But s i mpl yt or ai s e awar enes s of mat t er s whi ch ar e of t en mi s s ed when s peaki ngaboutf as tbowl i ngand coachi ng asawhol e. Iwi l lcl os et hi sbookwi t ht hef ol l owi ngf ourt ake awaypoi nt s . 1–St ayi nt hegame. WhenIwas1 5year sol d,myf at heror gani s edf or myuncl e,Shahi dt ocomeand l i vewi t h us .Hi s pr i mar yr ol ewast ot r ai nmeandmakes ur et hatI was eat i ng cl ean.At t he t i me,I never r eal l y appr eci at ed how much ofa pr i vi l ege i twast o haves uchl evelofcar eands uppor t .

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Fi nalThought s

Iam f or evergr at ef ult omyf at her ,myuncl eand ever yonewhohaspl ayed apar t( nomat t erhow bi gors mal l )i nmydevel opment . Onedayaf t eraj ogi nt hecr i cketcl ub,Shahi dwas s t r et chi ngme,andhes ai d," r ememberonet hi ng, youcan' twal kawayf r om t hegame.Thegamewi l l wal kawayf r om you" .Ias kedhi m whathemeant byt hi s ,andhes ai d," i fyoumi s sadayoft r ai ni ng, you wi l lbedoi ngt oday' swor k,t omor r ow.And t omor r ow' swor k,t hedayaf t er .You wi l lal ways bepl ayi ngcat chup" . Now,don' tt akei tt oos er i ous l y.I t ’ saquot e.For t he r i ght r eas ons , of cour s e, you wi l l mi s s t r ai ni ng s es s i ons .The deeper meani ng behi nd whatShahi d wass ayi ngi st oj us ts t i cki nt her e anddon' tt akel ongbr eaksf r om t hes por t . Cr i cketi saf unnygame.I nf act ,l i f ei saf unny game.Ir ememberwhen Iwas1 9 year sol d.I coul dt r ai nf orhour son end,dayaf t erdaywi t h mi ni mals l eep and f eelnot hi ng!Iwasf r es h,f i t and f ul lofener gy.Fas tf or war d,at29,I ' m not abl et o getawaywi t h even 20% oft het eenage l i f es t yl et hatIhad!

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Fi nalThought s

Why? I nmyopi ni on,asyougetol der ,t hebodyr equi r es mor ecar eandat t ent i on.I ' vehear dt hi sal otf r om ot her saswel l .At1 9,Inevert houghtt her ewoul d beadaywher es l eepwoul dpl ays uchahuger ol e i nmyt r ai ni ngandr ecover y.At29,I ' m payi ngf or pr emi um s ubs cr i pt i on appst o hel p memoni t or t hequal i t yofmys l eep,andI ' mi nves t i ngi ns l eep hygi enehacks . Thepoi ntI ' mt r yi ngt omakeher ei st hatyoucan make i ncr edi bl e pr ogr es s by s i mpl y bei ng cons i s t entands t i cki ngt oyourgoal s .Ther ewi l l be t i mes when t hi ngs get t ough, emot i onal , over whel mi ngandugl y–butj us ts t i cki nt her e.I f you s t ar tt aki ngbr eaksf r om t hegame,you wi l l r ever s e al loft he pr ogr es sand conf i dence t hat youaccumul at edovert heyear s .Don' tendupi na pos i t i on wher e you ar et r yi ng t or ewi nd t i me. Tr us tme,i t ' snotaneas yt as k! Oneofmybi gges tr egr et si st hef actt hatIdi dn' t r et ur nt ocr i ckets oonert han201 7.Iknow many ofyououtt her ewi l lhaveal ovehat er el at i ons hi p wi t ht hegamel i keIdi d.Becar ef ulwi t ht hi s .

1 86

Fi nalThought s

Becar ef ulwi t ht hi s .I t ' sact ual l yqui t eannoyi ng whent aki ngt hi ngst oos er i ous l y,cans omet i mes backf i r eon you.Ever yonehasbad days ,weeks , mont hsandevens eas ons .Youar enoti mmunet o t hi s .I fyou f i nd your s el fgoi ngt hr ough ar ough pat ch,j us tr i dei toutandwhat everyoudo,don' t makeal ongt er m deci s i onbas edonat empor ar y f eel i ng.Thebr eak orr el i efyou ar el ooki ng f or mi ghtj us tbeonegameaway. 2–Succes si samar at hon,notas pr i nt . I ' veneverbeen onef ors hor t cut s .Ihaveal ways dedi cat ed mys el fwhol ehear t edl yt o what everI putmymi nd t o.Oneoft hekeyl es s onsIhave l ear ned i st hats ucces s( i n anyas pectofl i f e)i s notas pr i nt ,i ti samar at hon.Ear l i eri nt hi sbook, Is poke ofan exci t i ng per i od ofmy chi l dhood whenIwasayoungt eenageraboutt oembar kon a new act i on change.Mi s s i on Br et t+ Shoai b, r emember ?Wel l ,ascr az yast hi ss ounds ,att hat t i me,Ihones t l yt houghtt hatass oon asIhad madet hechanges ,I ' d beup t her e,bowl i ngf as t andknocki ngont hedoorofpr of es s i onalcr i cket . I t ' snott hats i mpl e!

1 87

Fi nalThought s

Lear ni ng t akest i me,and s ucces st akest i me.I know whati t ' sl i ket o bes o hungr yf ors ucces s t hatyou' r ewi l l i ngt odoanyt hi ngandever yt hi ng t ogeti t .Andyouwanti tf as t .Butdon' tl etyour pas s i on bur n you.You mus t be r eal i s t i c and acceptt hatmaki ngpr ogr es si saj our ney,andi t t akes t i me t o achi eve t hos er es ul t s .The mor e i r r at i onalyour expect at i ons ,t he qui cker your hear twi l lbr eak,andyourl ovef ort hegamewi l l dr op. 3–Bepr epar edt of i ght . Notj us ti nt hephys i cals ens e,butal s ot hement al s i deoft hi ngs . Ioncewr ot ean ar t i cl eabouta par adox wi t hi n cr i cket ; how a changi ng r oom wi t h over 1 0 i ndi vi dual scan f eell i ke t he l onel i es tpl ace on ear t hwhent hi ngsar enotgoi ngyourway. I ' m wel lawar et hatmanyofyou wi l lnotbeas l ucky as I was t o have i ncr edi bl ys uppor t i ve peopl ear oundyou.

1 88

Fi nalThought s

Letmet el lyous omet hi ng.WhenImadear et ur n t ocr i cketi n 201 7,Iwasover wei ghtandhadno cl uehow Iwasgoi ngt obowlorwhatact i onIwas goi ngt obowlwi t h,Ideci dedt hatIwasgoi ngt o doi tent i r el ybymys el f . Ihadacces st os omeoft hegr eat es tcoachesi nt he game,butIdi dn' tt el la s i ngl es oulaboutmy pl ansori nt ent i ons .Ievenhadanar gumentwi t h myf at heraboutt hi s–hekeptpus hi ngmet oget s uppor tf r om t hem,butIs ai dno. Why? Becaus eIknew t hatt hi st i mear ound,at27,Ihad t of i ght .I t was my bat t l e,and al t hough t he s uppor twoul dhavebeenni ce,Iknew t hatdeep down,Ihadt odot hi sbymys el f . twast he bes tdeci s i on Imade Looki ng back,i becaus ei tr eveal edt hi ngst omeaboutmys el ft hat I di dn' t know bef or e. I l ear ned s o much. Somet i mes ,i tt akesi s ol at i ont or evealt hi ngs .

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Fi nalThought s

I twasonl yaf t erIhad l os tcons i der abl ewei ght andwant edt os t ar tt hebowl i ngphas eofmypl an t hatIr eached outt o my good f r i end,Jahngi r . Toget her ,wef ol l owed a pr ogr am Ihad s etout r el i gi ous l y. Ther eas on I ' mf l aggi ngt hi sup t oyou i st hatI wantyout oal s opr epar eyour s el ff ort hement al bat t l e.Iwantyou t o devel op t he s ame ment al f or t i t ude.Somet hi ng Is uf f er ed f r om a l otbut event ual l yachi eved. Cr i cketi sal onel ygame,andyouneedt ohavet he abi l i t yt of i ndpeaceands ol acef r om wi t hi ni fyou wantt os ur vi veandmai nt ai nyourment alheal t h. Li t t l e t hi ngs hel ped me al ong t he way. I s t r engt hened my f ai t h.Is ur r ounded my mi nd wi t h pos i t i vet hought s .Idi s t r act ed mys el fwi t h act i vi t i es t hatdi dn' ti ncl ude bowl i ng a cr i cket bal l . You wi l lbe s ur pr i s ed athow ef f ect i ve a l i t t l e br eak can be.I fyou' r e cont i nual l yl ooki ng at cr i cket ,pl ayi ngcr i cketandt hi nki ngaboutcr i cket –you' r egoi ngt oment al l yf at i gue,f as t !

1 90

Fi nalThought s

I t ' sgood t obepas s i onat e.I t ' sgood t obecr az y aboutbowl i ngf as tbutf i ndbal ancei nyourl i f e.I t wi l ldoyouawor l dofgood,t r us tme! Cr i cketi sl i f e.Butt her ei s mor et ol i f et han cr i cket . 4–Doyou. Fi nal l y,my l as t pi ece of advi ce i s a pl ea t o bul l et pr oofyourmi nd.I nyourj our ney,youwi l l meetmanypeopl e.Somewi l ls t ay,ands omewi l l go.Some wi l lf i l lyourl i f e wi t h pos i t i vi t y and happi nes s ,wher easot her swi l lpul lyoudownand cr us hyourambi t i ons . Letme t el lyou s omet hi ng,t her ei snota s oul al i vewhocan t el lyou how yourcar eerwi l lpan out .No mat t erhow gr eatt he coach i sorhow many r ecor ds t he pl ayer has s et ,no one can di ct at eyourdes t i ny. I fyouwantt obowlf as t . . .bowlf as t . ett heopi ni on ofanot herper s on t hr ow Donotl you of fcour s e and s t r ay you away f r om your pas s i on.

1 91

Fi nalThought s

Ther ei soneper s oni nt hewor l dwhoyouneedt o s at i s f y.I ti st heper s oni nt hemi r r or .Asl ongas you can l ook atyour s el fand acknowl edge t hat yougaveyourcar eeranhones tandwhol ehear t ed oppor t uni t y,bepr oud. Ther e ar e mi l l i onsofpeopl e ar ound t he wor l d whoar et r yi ngt omakei ti nt hei rs por t ,notal lof t hem wi l lachi evet hei rgoal– t hatdoes n' tmake you a f ai l ur e. I t makes you a br ave and cour ageousi ndi vi dualf orchas i ng yourdr eams whi l s t ot her ss at back, wat ched and eas i l y cr i t i ci s edpeopl el i keyou. Rememberal loft heexampl esIgaveyouatt he s t ar toft hi sbook?Aboutt hebowl er swhowent f r om medi um t of as t .

1 92

Fi nalThought s

Remembert heexampl esIhavegi ven youabout mys el f ? Fr om bei ng s l umped on t he s i de ofa cr i cketnet ,cr yi ng t o bei ng f i l l ed wi t hj oy and opt i mi s m 24hour sl at er ? Youdon' tknow whati sar oundt hecor ner . Noonedoes . So,keepmovi ng,andnevergi veup. Thankyouf orr eadi ng.

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OTHER W ORKS

Ot herWorks

KeepBal anced– FastBowl i ngMot i vat i on I n cas eyou haven' tchecked i toutyet ,i n 201 9, ThePaceJour nalcr eat edt heWor l d' sFi r s tFas t Bowl i ngAnt hem,KeepBal anced. cht hevi deoandl i s t ent ot hes ongby Youcanwat doi ng a qui ck YouTube s ear ch ( Pace Jour nal , KeepBal anced) . Asyou can pr obabl yt el lbynow,Ibel i evet hat ps ychol ogy and ment alheal t hi ss uch a vi t al as pectofl i f eands por t ses peci al l y. Thes ongandvi deower edes i gned,di r ect edand publ i s hedent i r el yi nhous ebyThePaceJour nal t eam and has been a mas s i ve hi t wi t h our communi t ys of ar . TheUnt ol dTrut h – Li f eMot i vat i on For our s econd bi r t hday, we chos e agai ns t pr oduci ngas econdant hem.I ns t ead,wecr eat eda r aw mot i vat i onals peechwhi chcommuni cat est he ment aland emot i onalchal l enges t hatamat eur cr i cket er sf acei nt hei rj our ney.

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Ot herWorks

Us i ngr eal l i f eexper i ences ,t hevi deot oucheson car eer anxi et i es as wel l as pr es s ur e t hat cr i cket er ’ sf acef r om f ami l ymember s . TheUnt ol dTr ut hi sapower f ulvi deowhi chhas hel ped br i ng comf or t and cl os ur et ot ens of t hous andsofpeopl ear oundt hewor l d. The f ul lvi deo can be f ound on Pace Jour nal ' s YouTubechannel .

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JOCK CAMPBELL

JockCampbel l

The Aus t r al i an cr i ckett eam hasal waysbeen a f or cet ober eckonedwi t h.Thei rdomi nancei nt he mi l l enni um,however ,i sat es t amentt oar guabl y t he gr eat es t Aus t r al i an t eam t hat has ever r epr es ent ed t he Nat i on.They conquer ed t eams al lovert hegl obeandwer ecr owned,t r i pl eWor l d CupWi nner swi t h cons ecut i vet r ophi esi n1 999, 2003and2007. I t ’ snotj us tt hepl ayer swhohel pt eamswi n,but al s ot hes uppor ts t af fwhopl ayas i gni f i cantr ol e behi ndt hes cenes . If i r s tcame acr os sJock Campbel lon YouTube whenIwasj us t1 4ors oyear sol d.Iwass ear chi ng f ori nf or mat i onwhi chcoul dhel pmeandl anded on avi deo ofJock i mpar t i nghi swi s dom about f i t nes sandf as tbowl i ngwi t ht hegr eatBr et tLee. Ti l lt hi sday,i ti ss t i l loneofmyf avour i t evi deos ever . Overt enyear saf t erIf i r s tcamet oknow ofJock, If i nal l yhadt hehonourt os peakt ohi m andpi ck hi sbr ai ns .Icans eewhyhi sef f or t sandwor khave beens os ucces s f uloverhi sl ongcar eers pan.

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JockCampbel l

I ti snotonl yanachi evement ,butanhonourf or met os t andher et odaywi t habodyofwor kt hat i ncl udeswor dsf r om Jock. I nt hi s book,I t al k about at t r i but es whi ch I bel i eve,makeagr eatcoach,s uchasknowl edge, exper i ence,empat hyand emot i onali nt el l i gence bei ngt hegr eat es toft hem al l . Notonl yi shea phenomenalcoach,butal s oa genui nel yni cehumanbei ng. Ther ei sanenor mousnumberoft heor i esi never y s por t .Iwhol ehear t edl ybel i evet hatJock’ swor k andmet hodol ogi esar er i ghtupt her eamongt he bes t . 7,hel aunchedaf i t nes st r ai ni ngappwi t h I n201 l egendar y Aus t r al i an f as t bowl er , Mi t chel l Johns on.Theappi sdes i gnedf orf as tbowl er st o r ecei ve per s onal i s ed exer ci s esand pr ogr ammes t os uppor tt hem i nt hei ras pi r at i onst obowlf as t . Iwasi mmedi at el yexci t edbyt heconceptoft he app.Knowi ngt hatever yr ecommendat i on,ever y exer ci s e,andever ypr ogr am i sf i l t er edbyJock’ s knowl edge,gi vesmegr eatconf i dencei nt heapps abi l i t yt ohel pf as tbowl er s .

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JockCampbel l

I fIl ear neds omuchf r om a20mi nut eYouTube vi deof r om Jock,j us ti magi nehow i mpact f ulan appl i keBowl f i tcanbe. It hank Jock f or hi s ki ndnes s , wi s dom and never endi ngs t r eam ofpos i t i vi t y. Bowl f i ti savai l abl ear oundt hewor l doni OSand Andr oi ddevi ces .

200

ACKNOW LEDGEMENTS

Acknowl edgement s

Onet hi ngyouwi l lneverhearmes ayi st hatIam " s el f made" . Ihave been ver yf or t unat et or ecei ve a l otof s uppor t .Iwoul dneedanot her1 0pagest ol i s tout al loft he peopl e who have cont r i but ed t o my j our neyanddevel opment .Iwoul dl i ket oment i on af ew i ndi vi dual swhohavepl ayed abi gpar ti n hel pi ngt hi sbookcomei nt oexi s t ence. Vi gnes h,f ort heuncondi t i onals uppor tandhel p i npr oof r eadi ngandpus hi ngmet omakes ur et hi s pr oj ectmetahi ghs t andar d. MrBar r ow ( Rus s el lPr es t on) ,f ort hel ongt er m s uppor tofPaceJour nalandi nhel pi ngmemake s ur et hi spr oj ectwasr eadyt opubl i s h. Nheem Ami n,f orbei ngt her ef ormeevers i nceI wasayoungt eenager ;pr ovi di ngcons t ants uppor t andgui dancewheneverIhaveneededi t .A t r ue uns ungher o. Jahngi r Zaman, f or hel pi ng me whenever I needed i t dur i ng my comeback and t r ans f or mat i oni n201 7.I twasonehel lofar i de.

202

Acknowl edgement s

Al loft he coaches who have pl ayed a par ti n hel pi ng me under s t and t he game and whati t t akest obowlf as t :I anPont ,Zahi dSaeed,Nheem Ami n, Chr i s Lewi s , Ter s eus Li ebenber g, Jef f Gor s ki ,Pet erMar cas ci ano,RubenTabar es ,Jock Campbel l , Davi d Capel , Davi d Ri pl ey, Roddy Sl at er . Mybes tf r i ends ,Ant honyandFar hanf oral ways bel i evi ngi nmeandencour agi ngmet opus ht he boundar i esofwhatIt hi nki spos s i bl e. Tomyi ncr edi bl et eam whos t i ckbyme( ors houl d Is ayputupwi t hme) ,s uppor tmeandcont i nuet o hel p us bui l d a br and whi ch i s havi ng s uch a pos i t i vei mpacton t hewor l d ofcr i cketand f as t bowl i ng. To ever ys i ngl e per s on who has ever l i ked, comment ed or s har ed any of our cont ent .I bel i evet hatourcommuni t yi soneoft hemaj or t hi ngst hats epar at eusf r om mos tmedi ar el at ed cr i cketcompani es . Wi t houtyou,noneoft hi swoul dbepos s i bl e.

203

Acknowl edgement s

To my f ami l y, f or t hei r uncondi t i onal l ove, pat i enceands uppor t .Mymot her ,f orherpr ayer s and s uppor t . My br ot her ,f or bei ng s uch a pos i t i ver ol emodeland al wayshavi ngmyback. Mys i s t er ,f orherunwaver i ngs uppor t ,bel i efand cons t ant . . . And l ast l y,my f at her,f or st i cki ng by me when at t i mes,I di dn’ t even deserve i t . Thank you f or showi ng me what i tt rul y means t o be a l eader, f at her and rol e model . #WeAr eOne

204

Wor dsbyShahbazChoudhr y

@pacej ournal www. t hepacej ournal . com

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