Here is a drill that provides huge gains in distance, power, placement and tactical awareness for all of your batters.

The inspiration comes from the golf driving range. It got me thinking about how we could apply a similar concept to the practice of batting skills.

Here is the range driving drill.

The lateral lunge works similar muscle groups as the anterior lunge in last weeks’ article.

Last week we discussed the power of the lunge pattern in improving cricket performance. This week we look at the technique for good lunging.

The forward lunge simulates movements that we make in cricket when we bat, bowl, field and keep wicket as well as being the starting point for the development of speed and stability: two vital components within any athletic performance.

I was asked an interesting question the other day;

“What is the one best physical exercise for cricket?”

Now, fitness is more than one exercise.

A programme would incorporate numerous drills, exercises, aerobic training, anaerobic training, strength, power, core, weights and many other elements to boot.

The word that sprung to mind watching South Africa’s 2012 win at the Oval against England was 'clinical'.

The one thing that was evident to me was the the South African batters adaption their individual games in order to counteract England’s spin talisman, Graeme Swann. Here are the tactics they used so well, and what the off-spinner could have done to prevent their success.

The most respected coaches are the ones who live and breath what they do.

They have a philosophy which encourages consistency. Player/Coach relationships thrive and grow as a result of the coaches energy, expertise and character.

Most high performance coaches have a simple philosophy that guides them and their coaching to produce results in player development and within competition.

This is part of a series. To go to part 1, click here.

Players get shoulder soreness and injuries as a result of only using their throwing shoulder rather than the whole body to produce the pace and power needed to deliver a strong and accurate throw.

Here are 3 more tips to improve your throw with that in mind:

I employed a baseball coach called Will Lintern to teach the Ireland Cricket Team to hit stumps on a more regular basis in the lead up to the 2011 World Cup. The aim was to become the best ground fielding team in the world.

Our indicators were number of clean pick ups, run outs and direct hits.

Will coached a number of principles yet the ones that are easiest to remember are the 3 Keys to Accuracy:

When your cricket team is batting, the role of the changing room and balcony is to ensure that the next batter goes into the wicket feeling focused, relaxed and positive.

This is irrespective of the challenge that he is walking into.

It is our job as coaches to protect that environment; to educate the players in appropriate winning language and behaviours because they facilitate excellent performances from your players in the toughest of circumstances.

It's very rare for coaches to be educated in how to run a team review meeting, yet we are all expected to review a game with our team at the end of a day’s play.

Often players switch off and think "this doesn't relate to me".

To help prevent that fate at your meetings, here are a few tips that have worked for me.