The Sports Psychology Blog

Today's Sports Psychology blog examines the classic psychology of sport dilemma of how to turn talent into team-spirit. It looks at one of sports great underachievers, Lancahsire County Cricket Club.

Cricket: Talent Or Team-Spirit?

Lancashire's Dominic Cork is discussing with Sky's Charles Colville 20/20 cricket strategy. Colville remarks that Leicester have been successful at this form of the game because they are excellent at being able to hone in on opposition weakness. Colville asks Cork if this is something Lancashire do? Cork responds by saying 'No - if we all play to our strengths then we will win'.

When you have Hodge, Law, Loye, Jayasuriya etc in the team then this strategy is understandable. However, judging by the lack of recent silverware in the Old Trafford trophy room you would have to say that it's a flawed approach.

Having an abundance of talent is one thing - but unifying that talent into a coherent whole is another. It's what many sports psychologists provide their goods and services for.

In the 2006 C&G Trophy Final against Sussex, Lancashire drafted in Murali Kartik the Indian spinner to replace the reliable and long-serving Gary Keedy. Lancashire lost, chasing a low score, beaten by Sussex's superior will and team-spirit. Team-spirit is something built over a long period of time. It is forged on trust, comaraderie and belief in each other.

The Sports Psychology Summary...

Lancashire's decision to draft in Jayasuriya for a month to play in some of the 20/20 will provide some entertaining moments, but I doubt will do a great deal for the building of team-spirit. They have the talent in abundance, but until they discover the secret of building a collective cause, then Lancashire will remain the great underachievers of English cricket