In my first few years as a coach I used to go along to coaching presentations and hear about the benefit of reflection and review.

Having been bought up in a “beer and chat” environment as a player, all this was a bit lost on me: A bit of utopian and conceptual thinking rather than real coaching practice that I could use with teams and cricketers.

Then I met Ricky Ponting!

The world’s best batter at the time played at Somerset in 2004. I had the opportunity to throw balls to him and talk with him every day for months. During that time, Ricky showed me his reflections diary, which was filled in every day: A way of capturing his cricketing thoughts, feelings, performances, learnings and observations.

He spoke to me about how his reflections would influence his future practice goals, his focus in games, develop strategies against opposing bowlers and ultimately to up his performance levels.

It was the first time that I had seen someone actually do this and wow what and impact it had on me as a coach.

After that Ponting lightning bolt I have encouraged players to reflect, either by committing to writing or by creating some thinking time for themselves after sessions and games.

It would be safe to say that not everyone sticks to this method for a sustained period of time.

The ones that do invest in reflection and review benefit from it significantly.

This is the same for teams as well.

The Stop-Start-Continue reflection and review process is one that I have used with teams for the past 10 years and it has helped to lock in learning and fast track team development.

Spontaneous shared reflections from India

Millfield have recently returned from touring India, we got back on the 21st December. There I am tucking into my mince pies on Christmas Eve and an email from the tours youngest member, 13-year-old Jamie, landed in my inbox.

In a totally spontaneous self-driven venture, Keeper Jamie has reviewed his experience game by game, with a conclusion at the end.

Without sharing all of Jamie’s reflections, I have picked out to highlights to show the benefit of this process.

Game 1 (Bombay gymkhana)

BATTING

• Came in at 7, slow start getting used to conditions and a bit nervous playing in a team with older players.
• Didn’t use my feet enough against the spin that would also create better areas to score.

KEEPING

• Although the pitch was very bouncy and I hadn’t kept to the seam bowlers previously I still stood too far back.
• Because of how much the ball was spinning I think I could have stayed lower.
• The standing back catch was good because it showed that what I had been working on by turning my body when the ball is high and it also showed I had improved on it.

Game 2 (CCI/Brabourne stadium)

BATTING

• Out trying to hit the ball over the top of mid-off, misjudged slower ball.
• Even in T20 need to focus and bat positively but also with some sort of sensibility.

KEEPING

• I was still getting used to where to stand, mainly with Kasey (who bowled quickly) but also with the other seamers.
• I could have stayed down for longer when standing up as the ball was staying low.

Game 4 (Maiden oval)

KEEPING

• Judged well where to stand on a very unpredictable pitch. Much improved.
• Taking into account how much it was turning and bouncing I thought I kept well up to the stumps by staying down and keeping a good posture.
• I also thought I kept a good positive attitude through the match and kept the team going when we were struggling in the match. We nearly turned it around to get an unlikely win.

Game 5 (Hindu Gymkhana)

BATTING

• Came in at four and then after a slow start I thought I showed good intent to score and rotated the strike well.
• I thought I had good intent to use my feet against the spin to create more scoring options all around the wicket.
• Overall though I thought I adapted well to the situation and felt really good.

KEEPING

• I think I judged well where to stand this time on more of a predictable wicket.
• Standing up I thought I stayed low well and also kept good positions to catch the ball.
• Also like game 4 I thought I was lively during and between overs which lifted the team especially at the end of the innings with all the wickets falling. We won!

CONCLUSION

• Really felt the work we have been doing this winter is improving my game.
• Great experience in very different conditions, learnt a lot about needing to hydrate and recovery which I will take forward to Sri Lanka tour over Easter.
• Batting, I felt I played well in hard conditions but need to keep thinking about shot selection, footwork and building on good starts.
• Keeping, went really well especially as I got used to the spin friendly conditions and the quicker paced bowlers than in my age group. Our work on posture, and strong catching positions really helped on the surfaces in India.
• Attitude I felt I contributed well to the team and expressed myself more as the games went on.

Now it’s the end of the tour I have more specific targets both batting and keeping.

1. Footwork vs spin

2. Scoring shots – nail down my banker scoring zones

3. Consolidate Trigger vs pace

4. Hands going back for a fuller backswing

5. Good posture – check consistency

6. Good hand presentation - check consistency under distraction/fatigue

7. Continue leg side standing up - Hands first

8. Turning my body when the ball bounces (up and back)

How about that!

Not only has he honestly reviewed and reflected each game in India he has also outlined to the coaches the areas of his game that he would like to focus on for the coming 3 months!

Its lovely to see how reflection and review can:

• Develop responsibility: Work with the coaches instead of waiting for the coaches to tell you what areas need improving
• Development in self-awareness - look how the reflection on his footwork vs spin and his depth vs fast bowlers when keeping adapted over the course of the 5 games.
• Improve performance

Now, Im not saying that Jamie will end up being as good a cricketer as Ricky Ponting (would be good though), but he has a key process in place that helped Punter to become the best in the world.

Jamie is giving himself every chance of being “the best cricketer he can be” by using reflection and review in this way.

It’s going to be very interesting to watch him develop over the coming years.