My Zoom meeting experience with Robin Uthappa was one of a kind. I kept thinking how lucky we are as young cricketers to be able to connect with players such as Robin, who have played the different formats of cricket at levels that we all aspire to reach, writes Licia Woods.

Over the past year or so, Eastern Province Cricket has set up Zoom meetings with different cricket personalities. The main objective is to bridge the gap between club, provincial and international cricket players and coaches alike.

Eastern Province cricketers, including myself, were invited to sit in on these meetings while we tried to gain insight from players/ coaches who have played at different levels and in different conditions. Ultimately, the aim is to implement what we learn into our own personal game.

One of the highlights was the zoom meeting with Robin Uthappa.

The advice/tips that I took from the meeting was:

• Mental prep before the game – a day before the game; Don’t think too much about your performance. Spend minimal time analyzing the bowlers that you’ll face and their strengths and also your strengths but don’t overthink. Once you’re done, let it go.
• Be relaxed
• Dealing with challenges within the game is something we all face. Politics within sport remains a moot point but we shouldn’t allow it to control us. Control the controllables – pitching up to practice, having a clear goal for practice, keep your fitness up and don’t allow team selection or any other factors to control how you feel, think or go about your game. Just always do your best.
• Create a specific routine for yourself, use it as an on and off switch. Practice for a certain amount of time with a coach giving throwdowns or have a bowler bowl to you. Whatever it is, make sure it works for you.
• Be honest with yourself and your coach about your game.
• Have someone who you trust completely that will keep you grounded.
• Practice mental strength and have a strong belief system.

With regards to playing spin

• Always come forward to the first ball and second etc. this forces bowlers to pitch it up to you and have them thinking that it’ll get you out but in actuality, you’re getting a bowler to bowl to your strengths. This builds patience because you’ll know to wait for that particular ball that you can score from.
• When the bowler comes in to bowl, recognize the type of action, say it to yourself and use it as a switch so your mind can know which type of shot to play.
• Play with your wrist so you can manoeuvre the ball anywhere from square leg to mid-off. Get over the ball.
• When going long-distance over long-off/on, practice that shot so that in a game situation you can meet the ball cleanly and hit it further.
• Break down your runs. Stay in the present. Take it in heaps of 5 runs.

With regards to mental strength

• Practice deep breathing
• Understand your body and your game so you can know how far to push yourself.
• Train yourself in a worldly perspective of the game, know your different conditions in other parts of the world.

All in all, I learnt that you need to understand your game and your strengths. This will help you get bowlers to bowl to these strengths and help you have strong convictions. Believe in yourself and trust your gut.

Photo by: Saikat Das/Sportzpics for BCCI