A cricketer should ideally include the following 7 food products for holistic nutrition: Cottage Cheese (great source of protein), Mixed Nuts (good source of healthy fat), Spinach (strengthens immune system), Tuna (rich in protein and good omega3 fats), Broccoli (rich in antioxidants), Bananas (instant source of energy and potassium on match day) and Green Tea (boosts metabolism).
One who’s constantly aiming at improving one’s batting skills should keep his guard for the following tens glitches in batting technique:
- Closing off in the stance (makes the batsman play around the front pad increasing chances of missing straight balls)
- Picking the bat up over middle stump (suggests that the batsman has a tendency to play around the front pad)
- Tucked in back elbow (suggests too dominant a bottom hand making it more likely to hit the ball in the air)
- Head behind the front foot (encourages the batsman to lean back and hit the ball in the air)
- Back foot heel down (disturbs the balance during the shot)
- Leaning with the shoulder (suggests that the batsman has a tendency to play around the front pad)
- Back foot too sideways (ends to finish up too turned in after the shot which causes the player to square up and the bat swings across the line)
- Too big a stride (opens the batsman up too much, playing across the ball aiming it too square on the leg side)
- Dropping the leading elbow (Dropping the leading elbow to early after striking the ball will close face of the bat on contact)
- Swinging too hard (timing is lost)
It is always advisable to consume proteins obtained from appropriate natural food sources consumed in your diet. Supplements should only be used if you are not getting enough proteins from your diet. Most experts recommend 1 g protein/kg body weight to meet general needs of an active person. The current protein recommendation for optimal muscle building in a strength athlete is 1.6 - 1.7 gm protein per kg of body weight. Soya bean is an excellent vegetarian source of protein besides black gram, red gram, nuts and other pulses. Consuming more protein than the body requires and can use is not appropriate and should be avoided.
Eat a larger meal 2-4 hours prior to when you are likely to play, to allow time for your stomach to empty. Top up on small, high carbohydrate snacks and fluids between sessions and whilst waiting to play. Eat enough food to feel comfortable - not overfull Keep fat intake low - fat slows food emptying from the stomach Make meals & snacks high in carbohydrate Include nutritious carbohydrate rich foods - some players may find it useful to include low glycaemic index foods for prolonged energy levels (e.g. baked beans, multigrain bread, pasta, porridge, oranges) Include plenty of fluids. (Water, sports drinks, juice)
One should watch one's head while standing in the stance, making sure that it's not falling over as it is the primary reason for the front leg going across increasing the chances of a fast bowler catching the batsman in front of the wicket
The trick is to learn to use the pace of the ball. The ideal way is to watch the ball right till the end and then working it around using the bowler's pace be it a fast bowler or a spinner
A simple trick and a lot of practice is the key to this. Putting half a rubber grip on the top half of the bat handle makes sure that the top hand grip is tighter and the bottom hand just plays the role of supporting the bat, ensuring there is a better bat control and lesser chances of airing the ball
Breaking the process of batting into smaller pieces helps the process of concentrating better. Every ball is to be taken as it comes, starting concentrating only when the bowler starts his run-up and then focusing on the ball at the time of the delivery
There is nothing called the 'Ideal Guard' for batsmen as it changes from the preference of the batsmen to batsmen. If the batsman has a strong off-side playing then he is always looking for more room on the off-side and hence it is advisable for him to take a leg stump guard. However, in this case, one has to be really sure of his off-stump
The ideal way of doing this is to break up the innings in smaller sets. Scoring in sets of 10 rather helps a lot. Keep moving from 10 to 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50 and so on. Also postponing one's thoughts of hitting a big shot by 10-15 minutes helps preserving his wicket.
The best way is to get a fitness testing done and drawing up a schedule with one's fitness trainer for increasing one's stamina. The problem of low stamina can be dealt with through proper fitness program and yoga. Aerobic fitness programs will help one develop one's stamina and yoga helps one in breathing technique.
Being a metropolitan and renowned for the ‘Cricket Fanaticism’, Kolkata houses ample number of Cricket Coaching Centers across the length and breadth of the city. You have many renowned cricketer’s academies like Sourav Ganguly’s Cricket Coaching Camp, Salt Lake and Arun Lal’s Cricket Academy. Apart from these academies, you have well known coaches such as Mr. Manabendra Ghosh, Manoj Tiwary being one of his illustrious pupil. He’s presently coaching at a make shift arrangement at Shyam Bazar, Kolkata and would be shifting at a permanent location shortly. You can get in touch with him on +91 9830052727
