In this episode, we’re diving into an important question: Are you broken, breaking, or balanced? We'll explore how movement screening helps prevent injuries, optimize performance, and keep athletes in top shape.

You'll Learn:

• The difference between being broken, breaking, and balanced, and why identifying which category you fall into is crucial for performance and longevity.
• How FMS assessments can predict injury risks and improve movement efficiency, making athletes more resilient.
• How pain impacts technique and why addressing it first is the key to effective training.
• What balance really means in an athletic context and why reducing asymmetries can lead to better agility, power, and injury prevention.

Key Takeaways:

• Pain Dictates Performance – If you're in pain, your technique and efficiency suffer. Fixing pain should always come first.
• Breaking is Just as Concerning as Broken – Many athletes don’t realize they’re on the verge of an injury. Movement screening helps catch issues before they escalate.
• Balance Isn’t About Perfection – The goal isn’t to be perfect but to minimize asymmetries that can lead to inefficiencies or injuries.
• Screening is a Must for Injury Prevention – The FMS system has been adopted by elite sports teams to predict and reduce injury risks.
• Cricketers Need to Move in Both Directions – Unlike some sports, cricketers must rotate both ways, making balance even more essential.

Quotes:

"Don't load dysfunction - fix movement before adding strength."

"Pain dictates how well you perform; it impacts everything."

"Most athletes are breaking, not broken, but they don’t even know it."

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

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Zone 2 training for cricketers - a beginner’s guide to understanding its importance. We’ll break down why Zone 2 training is crucial for endurance, fat oxidation, and overall performance, helping you train smarter, not harder.

You’ll Learn:

• What Zone 2 is, how to measure it, and why it’s an essential part of cardiovascular fitness for cricketers.
• How training in Zone 2 helps your body use fat as a primary fuel source, leading to better endurance and fewer energy crashes.
• How improving your aerobic threshold can enhance your stamina and allow you to maintain performance over longer periods.
• Why Zone 2 training boosts mitochondrial function, leading to better energy production, faster recovery, and sustained performance on the field.

Key Takeaways:

• Zone 2 is about training smarter, not harder. It involves working at 60-70% of your max heart rate to build cardiovascular endurance without overexertion.
• Fat oxidation is key for sustained energy. By training in Zone 2, your body learns to efficiently use fat as fuel, preventing the quick depletion of glycogen stores.
• A higher aerobic threshold leads to better stamina. The goal is to push your aerobic threshold closer to your anaerobic threshold, improving endurance over time.
• Mitochondrial efficiency drives performance. More efficient mitochondria mean better energy production, which translates to longer batting, better bowling, and faster recovery.
• Most people train too hard without realizing it. Many cricketers unknowingly train above Zone 2, missing out on its long-term endurance benefits.

Quotes:

"You can’t train Zone 2 through strength training—it has to be cardiovascular."

"Training in Zone 2 helps your body use fat for fuel, meaning you won’t burn out as quickly."

"Zone 2 is all about efficiency—better heart function, improved energy production, and faster recovery."

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

In this episode, we dive into WWS - three non-negotiable habits for cricketing success: Walk, Water, Sleep. These might sound simple, but trust us, most people don’t track them properly. We break down why these habits are essential for performance, how they impact recovery, and how small changes can lead to big results.

You'll Learn:

• The Importance of Walking – Discover why walking is crucial for both recovery and endurance in cricket. We break down how increasing your daily walking reserve can improve efficiency on the field.
• Hydration and Athletic Performance – Learn how chronic dehydration affects performance and why tracking your water intake can transform your game. James shares his personal wake-up call when he realized he wasn’t drinking enough.
• The Role of Sleep in Recovery – Understand how proper sleep enhances focus, endurance, and overall well-being. We discuss the common mistakes athletes make when it comes to rest.
• Tracking Habits for Success – Find out how simple habit tracking can expose blind spots in your routine. James shares how a journaling exercise helped him reset his hydration habits.

Key Takeaways:

• Walking is a Performance Multiplier – Walking is not just for fitness; it builds endurance and movement efficiency essential for cricket. Many players underestimate how much they walk during a match.
• Hydration is Often Overlooked – Most people think they drink enough water, but tracking reveals otherwise. Making hydration a priority leads to better focus, energy, and recovery.
• Sleep Fuels Performance – Lack of proper sleep can lead to fatigue, poor decision-making, and increased injury risk. Cricket players need to prioritize sleep just like training.
• Tracking Creates Awareness – What gets measured gets managed. Writing down daily habits makes it easier to spot areas for improvement.
• Your Body Adapts Over Time – When you start drinking more water, your body takes time to adjust. After four to six weeks, hydration becomes second nature, and your performance improves.

Quotes:

"Most people think they’re hydrated until they actually track their water intake."

"If you don’t track your habits, you’re guessing and guessing won’t make you better."

"Your body craves what you give it consistently so why not make it crave water and movement?"

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