In cricket there is a reliance on individual performances to win games. But in the long run team strength will prosper over a couple of star players.

Below is an overview of the importance of team culture and how - by focusing as a collective - the team can give them the best chance of success.

The spirit of the team will be the foundation of your team.

During difficult times and during pressure, a team’s spirit can crumble.

But by sticking together you will soon see this negativity disappear.

During a losing streak, it’s easy for the side to lose focus on how to win games, and just try not to lose, (trying to win and trying not to lose are very different things).

How to keep spirit in difficult times

Try briefing and debriefing before and after games together to understand the things that you did right and wrong as a collective.  As a team it is important everybody understands what things need to be worked on and what things can be continued.

Also encourage players taking personal responsibility to train.  You will have a struggled start, but eventually it will become infectious.

This was evident in the 2011 Twenty20 Leicestershire team who, during the pre-season, saw their training budget slashed by the county committee, leaving them with no option but to undergo their own training regime and support each other in this responsibility.

Under this self-responsibility, the level and effectiveness of their training increased as it enabled them to work on personal areas of development.

Yes it takes individual and team respect but get it right and the irradiation of negativity will be found naturally.