The cricket season seems a long way off, with the weather being so cold and most cricket pitches now covered in a thick layer of grass and snow! However, this winter period is the best time to start getting prepared for the 2023 season. It offers a time to reflect on what went well this year, what you want to work on for next year and how you will achieve the goals you set in place for yourself.
If you are preparing for the cricket season, here are a few steps you can take to get ready:
1. Practice your skills: It's important to spend time practising your batting, bowling, and fielding skills. You can do this by hitting balls at the nets, bowling to a teammate or coach, and working on your fielding drills. Head over to our Girls Cricket Club Instagram for some top tips from ex-England player Lydia Greenway!
2. Get in shape: Cricket requires a combination of endurance and strength, so it's important to start getting in shape well before the season begins. This could involve running, sprinting, and strength training exercises.
3. Sort out your cricket bag! It can be very easy to put your cricket bag away and unzip it when the new season starts, only to find the lunch you didn’t eat left in there from last year! Take this winter period as a time to not only make sure you’re cricket bag doesn’t have any unnecessary mouldy snacks in it, but also check through your kit! Make sure nothing is broken or damaged, so you are 100% ready to face the season when it comes around!
4. Maybe you haven’t played cricket before, but that’s okay! This winter period is the perfect time to find a club that suits you! This could be a school team or a local league. Most teams begin training in the new year in an indoor sports centre, getting involved early will allow you to build strong relationships with your teammates, and help you build a solid foundation of cricket skills which you can develop in outside training when the weather gets warmer!
5. Stay motivated: It's important to stay motivated and focused on your goals as the season approaches. This could involve setting small goals for yourself, such as improving your batting average or increasing your bowling speed.
6. Get involved in Cricket Force! Each year NatWest Cricket Force sees cricket clubs across the country giving their clubhouses a spring clean before the season starts! This is a great way to catch up with members of your club, as well as ensure that last year’s mess is cleaned away!
By following these steps and putting in the work, you can be well-prepared for the cricket season. Good luck