Cricket Matters - Expert Cricket Coaching, Mindset & Performance Tips

• We’ve Been Keeping a Secret from You…

  We’ve got some exciting news to share with you in this episode of the Cricket Matters podcast. After weeks of planning and behind-the-scenes work, we can finally reveal the secret we’ve been keeping. This is a big step for us, and we can’t wait to tell you what it means for cricketers now and in the future.Find James on: Instagram: @jamesbreese Twitter: @_jamesbreese To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

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• How the Best Cricketers Train During the Off-Season

  In this episode of the Cricket Matters Podcast, we dive into how the best cricketers train during the off season. We break down the fundamentals—assessment, strength, endurance, and pain management—to help you come back stronger when the season starts.You’ll Learn:Why assessment comes before training: We explain why knowing your baseline through performance analysis is essential before chasing strength or technique improvements.How to manage pain and prevent injury: Learn why pain isn’t weakness leaving the body, but a sign that your body is compensating—and how to address it early.The role of strength and power in cricket: Understand why baseline strength is the foundation, and how explosive power must be layered on top.Designing an off-season training focus: Discover the balance between aerobic endurance, compound lifts, and interval work to prepare you for peak performance.Key Takeaways:Assessment first, always: If you don’t measure where you’re starting from, you’re only guessing, and that leads to wasted effort.Pain is priority one: Training through pain causes compensations that hurt both technique and long-term health.Strength before power: Building a strong foundation ensures you can actually apply and maintain power throughout the season.Endurance has its place: The off season is the best time to build aerobic fitness, since it’s often neglected in-season.Two simple questions matter most: Ask yourself: Am I in pain? Am I overweight? Fixing those answers drastically improves performance.Quotes:“What gets done must first get measured—if we don’t assess, we’re just guessing.”“Pain is not weakness leaving the body, it’s stupidity.”“You can’t build power on rocky foundations—strength has to come first.”Find James on: Instagram: @jamesbreese Twitter: @_jamesbreese To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

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• Top Mistakes Club Cricketers Repeated This Year

  In this episode of Cricket Matters, we dive into the classic mistakes that club cricketers keep making year after year. From mindset to fitness to on-field decisions, we’ve seen the same patterns repeat themselves—and we want to break them down so you don’t fall into the same traps. This is a mix of tough truths and lighthearted laughs, all with the aim of helping you improve your game.You’ll Learn:Mindset and preparation mistakes: Why comparing yourself to teammates holds you back and how reflection after games can change your results.Fitness and physical prep errors: How late nights, poor warm-ups, and bad nutrition habits silently sabotage performance.Common bowling and batting pitfalls: The dangers of overcomplicating tactics, ignoring conditions, and losing emotional control in the middle.Training habits that limit growth: Why aimless nets, skipped fitness work, and relying on new gear don’t deliver the improvement you expect.Key Takeaways:Comparing yourself to teammates breeds frustration; compete with yourself instead.One dismissal shouldn’t snowball into a slump—reflection and recovery are critical.Consistent warm-ups, hydration, and proper nutrition are underrated game-changers.Simplicity in bowling and batting—adapting to conditions and staying calm—wins more games than flashy skills.Purposeful training with intent and ownership matters far more than buying new kit.Quotes:“Stop focusing on what others are doing—focus on yourself and how you can improve.”“Keep it simple, stupid—consistency beats overcomplication at club level.”“Sometimes we forget—cricket is supposed to be fun.”Find James on: Instagram: @jamesbreese Twitter: @_jamesbreese To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

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• Why Most Cricketers Don’t Improve Year to Year

  We all know the frustration of finishing one cricket season only to start the next in the same place—or sometimes worse. In this episode, we break down why most cricketers fail to improve year after year and what separates the ones who do. We’ll share how to use the off-season to your advantage, both physically and mentally, so you can come back stronger than ever.You’ll Learn:Why relying on “hope” instead of a plan keeps players stuck in the same cycle. We’ll explain how experience alone isn’t enough to make progress.The role of off-season training in building physical resilience and reducing injuries. Learn why October, not March, is where improvement begins.How reflection and assessment provide the foundation for growth. Without knowing your starting point, you’re just guessing.The importance of structure, accountability, and support networks. Even the best players need systems and people around them to succeed.Key Takeaways:Most cricketers don’t improve year to year because they rely on talent or luck instead of planning. Progress requires deliberate action.The off-season is where the biggest gains are made—physically, technically, and mentally. Waiting until March is already too late.Taking a mental and physical break after the season is essential, but it doesn’t mean doing nothing. Stay active in different ways to recharge.Reflection and assessment are non-negotiable for growth. Self-awareness helps create effective training plans.Hard work consistently beats raw talent. Players who prepare with discipline and structure always reap the rewards.Quotes:“The best players make a plan. They don’t hope for the best—they plan for the worst and hope for the best.”“If you don’t assess, you’re just guessing.”“Hard work pays off—it’s not just about talent, it’s about preparation.”Find James on: Instagram: @jamesbreese Twitter: @_jamesbreese To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

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• What Did You Learn This Season? (And How to Apply It)

  In this episode of Cricket Matters, we reflect on the season just gone - what went well, what could’ve been better, and, most importantly, what we learned. We share honest reflections, practical advice, and actionable strategies that you can take into your own cricketing journey.You’ll Learn:How to evaluate your season with clarity – Learn why reflection is the first step to genuine improvement and how to assess both successes and shortcomings without bias.The four quadrants of cricket performance – Discover how physical, technical, tactical, and mental factors all contribute to performance, and why you need to review each one.Turning technical changes into performance – Hear James’ experience of adapting his batting technique and the lessons he learned about balancing technical focus with tactical execution.Planning your off-season the right way – Understand why fitness, technique, and tactical growth should all play a role in your off-season training plan.Key Takeaways:Reflection drives improvement – Don’t just say you’ll “do better next year”; take the time to analyze what actually worked and what didn’t.Stats reveal patterns – Runs, wickets, and modes of dismissal provide valuable insights into strengths and weaknesses you may otherwise overlook.Technical growth takes patience – Implementing big changes can reduce short-term output, but the long-term benefits are worth it when done thoughtfully.Physical readiness underpins performance – Weight management, fitness, and injury prevention are essential foundations for next season’s success.Pros think differently – Club cricketers can elevate their game by adopting the tactical and mental approaches used by professionals.Quotes:“Reflection is the first key to improvement.”“Failure leaves clues, success leaves clues.”“The best players start working on technical stuff before everybody else.”Find James on: Instagram: @jamesbreese Twitter: @_jamesbreese To learn more about Cricket Matters and download your FREE copy of The High-Performance Handbook, please visit www.cricketmatters.com

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