Cricket: The Crowe recipe for preparation

Last week, the Herald on Sunday analysed the requirements for a new national batting coach. It prompted former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe to voice his thoughts to Andrew Alderson.

HoS: Do New Zealand Cricket and fans place too much emphasis on coaching roles where the successful candidate is expected to solve all ills?

MC: The key thing for the new batting coach is to set up a challenging preparation environment simulating match situations. I've seen coaches underarm throwdowns to players which is the lowest intensity preparation you can provide.

What players must demand - and if they're young, they won't necessarily know this - is to put themselves out of their comfort zone preparing for big matches. Opening batsmen need to face a new ball that's moving and hitting the top of off stump at pace. They need to be challenged so they move their body and feet.

I think there's too much emphasis on hitting the ball rather than moving into line. That's why it's important not to get hooked on video analysis. By watching, you get a feel for your alignment but the main emphasis should be on physical preparation facing the best bowlers.

HoS: As an international player, what did you find most beneficial?

MC: Two days before a test, I couldn't wait to get into the nets to face [Sir Richard] Hadlee because I knew he'd challenge me to the highest possible level. Yes, he might knock me over and make me look a fool but it was the best preparation I could get.

A batting coach has to provide those conditions for players, then it's up to the players to cope. The nuts-and-bolts coaching needs to be done away from the team. Everyone should work with a mentor prior to the West Indies tour. Then, when players go into the tour environment, they're up for the challenge.

The difficulty comes when players are spread around the world playing all forms. It's vital Mike Hesson and the temporary batting coach quickly set up simulated practice in the West Indies that doesn't dumb down to easy hitting.

An example was countering the bounce in the West Indies [in 1985]. We simulated practice so the ball was bouncing around our shoulders, throat and chest to a point where we got hurt at times. Likewise if you're going to India, find a pitch which turns square, or in England, practise with movement off the pitch and in the air. That's what a batting coach's job is: help players rise to the challenge before the game.

Throwdowns are fine to warm-up for five minutes but while middling full tosses and half volleys might make batsmen feel in form, they dumb down the preparation for taking on the world's best bowlers.

HoS: The World T20 represented another tournament where New Zealand faltered in an elimination game against Sri Lanka by collapsing for 60 chasing 120 to win. How do they overcome what looks like mental fragility in pressure games, given the same happened in 2012?

MC: There's got to be a cool, calm, collected feel to get through those elimination games. In Bangladesh, we made typical mistakes - we were a little rushed and it's something that needs to be talked through, otherwise the problem never goes away.

I faced moments in my career where I choked and it was only when I faced the truth that I progressed. For instance, I blew the 1987 World Cup campaign against Australia in Indore where we needed seven runs off six balls. I saw a big gap at mid-off and extra cover and premeditated I could hit a four off Steve Waugh through the gap to win, rather than play instinctively. I swung too early, got caught at deep cover and realised I'd choked because I'd got focused on one thing.

I had one or two other episodes in the next few years - like the 299 - so before the 1992 World Cup, I chatted with a sports psychologist about my inability to cope when pressure was at its greatest. The advice helped me and the team stay grounded during the tournament. Each World Cup has pressure moments in clutch games.

HoS: What specific things did you do?

MC: Breathe and make sure you take your time to do things. This team needs to talk those things through. Don't rule that [Sri Lanka] match out as a one-off. The greatest pain is where your greatest feedback is. Face that and you'll get some peace to start building again. Never be afraid to express those fears. Get it in the open and share it. The worst thing is to suppress it or be in denial. Everyone can choke.