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

In this episode, we dive deep into the five key areas that can transform your batting performance. Whether you’re a seasoned cricketer or just picking up a bat (like Josh, not knowing if he’s left or right-handed), we share valuable insights to take your game to the next level.

You'll Learn:

• How factors like fitness, breathing capacity, and overall well-being directly impact your technique and performance on the pitch.
• How restricted neck and shoulder mobility can hinder your stance, alignment, and ultimately your batting technique.
• Why strength, power, and cardio endurance are crucial to maintaining technique even when fatigue sets in.
• How mental resilience, decision-making, and focus are influenced by physical preparedness.

Key Takeaways:

• Health is the foundation of batting technique. Without it, even the best technique can fall apart under pressure.
• Proper movement mechanics prevent bad habits from forming and improve shot alignment and execution.
• Building athleticism isn’t just about power—it’s about translating strength into effective batting technique.
• A strong mindset can only thrive when physical fitness and efficient movement are in place.
• When technique breaks down, it’s often due to fatigue, highlighting the importance of holistic preparation.

Quotes:

“Technique is the outcome, not the starting point.”

“Movement restrictions lead to technical limitations.”

“Mindset breaks down when the body does.”

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 introduce the Complete Cricketer Performance System, a game-changing framework designed to help cricketers maximize their potential. Instead of focusing solely on technique, we break down five key pillars that influence performance, starting with the fundamentals that most players overlook.

You'll Learn:

• Why Technique Isn’t Everything – Many cricketers believe technique is the primary factor in performance, but other overlooked elements play a crucial role. We discuss why improving health, movement, and athleticism should come first.
• The Five Pillars of Performance – We introduce the five essential areas that impact cricketing ability, beginning with health and movement as foundational elements. Without these, technical improvements are limited.
• The Role of Movement in Cricket – Poor mobility acts as a "handbrake" on performance, restricting a player's ability to rotate, squat, or generate power efficiently. We highlight key mobility tests every cricketer should assess.
• Why Athleticism Matters – Strength, power, agility, and speed are vital for performance. We explain the athleticism pyramid and how hitting certain baseline markers can drastically improve batting, bowling, and fielding.

Key Takeaways:

• Health is the First Priority – Without proper health—good breathing, body composition, and a low resting heart rate—performance suffers. Many amateur cricketers overlook this and struggle as a result.
• Movement Restrictions Limit Performance – If a player can’t rotate, squat, or extend fully, their technique will always be compromised. Fixing movement first allows for greater technical execution under pressure.
• Athleticism is More Than Just Strength – Cricketers need strength, power, agility, speed, and endurance to excel. Without these, executing high-level skills consistently is impossible.
• Pain Impacts Technique – Movement screens help identify pain or mobility issues. Playing through pain affects technique, and addressing it should always be the first step.
• Baseline Assessments Are Key – Evaluating health, movement, and athleticism provides an objective starting point for improvement. Skipping these steps leads to inconsistent and limited progress.

Quotes:

"Every cricketer jumps straight to technique, but there are other crucial factors that influence performance."

"If you can't breathe properly, you can't rotate. And if you can't rotate, how are you going to play the pull shot?"

"Movement restrictions act as a handbrake to performance. You need to move efficiently before you can perform at high speed."

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

Welcome to the Cricket Matters podcast! Today, we're diving deep into the world of cricket bats—specifically, how bat weight and shape impact your technique. If you've ever wondered whether your bat is helping or hurting your game, this episode will give you the insights you need.

You'll Learn:

• The Role of Bat Weight in Your Technique – A bat that's too heavy can force you to rely too much on your bottom hand, while a bat that's too light might make you swing too fast, leading to mistimed shots. Finding the right balance is key to optimal performance.
• How Bat Shape Affects Your Play – The profile of your bat (low, mid, or high) should match the conditions you play in. Different shapes influence how the bat picks up and swings through, impacting control and power.
• The Science Behind Power and Timing – The equation for power isn’t just strength times speed—it’s also influenced by time and lag in your bat swing. Understanding this can help you choose a bat that maximizes your shot-making ability.
• How to Find the Right Bat for You – There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Testing different weights and profiles through trial and error is crucial to discovering what works best for your playing style.

Key Takeaways:

• Balance is Everything – A bat needs to feel right in your hands. The way it picks up and moves through your swing is more important than just its raw weight.
• Heavier Bats Aren’t Always Better – If you can’t generate enough speed with a heavy bat, it might actually reduce your power. Strength alone isn’t enough—you need speed and control.
• Your Playing Conditions Matter – If you play on slow, low-bouncing pitches, a low-profile bat works better. On faster, bouncier pitches, a higher-profile bat helps with backfoot play.
• Grip Strength Influences Control – If your bat is too heavy and your grip strength isn’t up to par, your bottom hand will take over, leading to technical issues.
• The Best Test? Top-Hand Only Drills – A simple way to check if your bat suits you is to hit shots using only your top hand. If you struggle, your bat might be too heavy or not the right shape for you.

Quotes:

“Most bats are too heavy for players, and that forces bad technique—especially an overactive bottom hand.”

“Trial and error is the only way to find your perfect bat. What works for one player won’t necessarily work for another.”

“If you can’t control the bat with just your top hand, you’re either not strong enough, or the bat isn’t right for you.”

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 the ongoing debate about whether skill and discipline or fitness levels are to blame for England's recent defeat in Australia.

We explore the nuances of athletic performance, discussing how discipline, fitness, and skill intersect to create elite athletes.

You'll Learn:

• How fitness influences skill development, agility, and decision-making under pressure. We discuss real-world examples of elite athletes and how their fitness levels contribute to their longevity and success.
• How cultural factors and training systems play a role in the athletic performance gap between nations. We explore why some teams produce more athletic and disciplined players than others.
• Insight into the rapid development of women's sports, the challenges of depth in competition, and how fitness expectations are shifting. We discuss how social media scrutiny and professionalism impact the current generation of female athletes.

Key Takeaways:

• Discipline is the foundation of high performance.
  Elite athletes are meticulous about their training, nutrition, and recovery, and this discipline translates to better performance on the field.
• Fitness is a key factor in skill execution.
  In high-performance environments, being physically prepared is non-negotiable.
• The best players combine skill with relentless work ethic.
  While talent is important, hard work ultimately separates the greats from the good.
• Women's sports are growing but face unique challenges.
  With fewer athletes in the talent pool, top players often rise quickly without the same competitive pressure as in men's sports. This creates gaps in fitness and training standards that need to be addressed.
• Body composition and posture impact athletic ability.
  Proper training and awareness are essential to maintaining peak physical form.

Quotes:

"Discipline isn’t just about showing up—it’s about doing the little things right, day in and day out."

"Skill will get you far, but hard work and discipline will define how long you stay at the top."

"The best athletes don’t just train their bodies; they train their minds to handle pressure and make split-second decisions."

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 share our experience working with the German women's cricket team, where we assessed athleticism and identified key areas for improvement. From last-minute passport scares to game-changing fitness insights, we take you behind the scenes of our journey to Germany and how we revamped our assessment methods for female cricketers.

You’ll Learn:

• Our streamlined approach to evaluating movement, power, and endurance without taking up too much valuable playing time.
• Why movement isn’t usually an issue for female athletes, but strength and power generation often require focused development.
• How combining objective testing with coach observations leads to better player development and selection decisions.
• Why personalized fitness plans are crucial for teams like Germany’s, where regional coaching is a challenge.

Key Takeaways:

• Fitness drives performance. Athleticism directly impacts cricket skills like batting, bowling, and fielding, making fitness training essential for high-level play.
• Female athletes excel in movement but need strength work. Unlike men, most female cricketers have good mobility but benefit from targeted strength and power training.
• Efficient testing is crucial. Long, exhaustive assessments don’t work in trial settings; quick, effective evaluations provide the best insights.
• Data enhances coaching decisions. Combining test results with coach observations allows for more objective and constructive feedback.
• Self-training matters. With geographic limitations in team training, players must take ownership of their fitness to stay competitive.

Quotes:

"Athleticism isn’t just about fitness—it directly impacts technique, and technique impacts performance."

"We don’t need to spend hours testing; we need quick insights that help coaches make the best decisions."

"Regional coaching is tough, so athletes must train smart on their own to stay ahead."

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