Seventeen years ago, I interviewed Kadija Richards, a mental coach hired by the Jamaica Cricket Association after the team’s dismal performance in the season before. This Sports Psychologist, like many others, believes that mental issues are probably one of the biggest issues with athletes here as well as anywhere else in the world.
Richards said back then, “it’s fundamental. The biggest cliche? is ‘sport is 10% physical and 90% mental.’ It’s huge. A lot of the time you have had so much technical training, that part is automatic. What lets you down in a match situation is your mental side. What lets you down is your mind.”
After today’s loss to South Africa inside 3 days, West Indies cricket captain Kraigg Brathwaite also alluded to this. In looking ahead to what needs to be done before the second Test match, he said it was mental rather than technical. Having not watched all of the Test match, I’m told that perhaps only the ball which got Shai Hope out, could have been described as a “good ball,” so this backs up the captain’s statement.
Brathwaite was later asked to expand on his statement. During the post match press conference, he said “all the guys here could bat, so for me, it is history, what is gone, so it is important not to stress on the past. And looking ahead, it is having that clear mindset and trusting in your plans.”
Head Coach Phil Simmons speaking with the media after today’s loss, said the team’s mental state had been very good going into the Test match. Donald La Guerre is the Windies men’s team Mental Skills Coach. Asked what work the Coach would hope La Guerre would do between now and the second Test march, Simmons said “I think his job is about getting…..I don’t want to say into the players’ head but getting players to get that confidence and make sure that confidence required going into the Test match, doesn’t fade away.