"Visualisation" is an often misunderstood part of every cricketer's preparation. At a recent Twenty20 tournament, I discuss the common sense approach to sport psychology.

If you can't see the video above, click here.

If you want to understand how deep passions run for cricket in Mumbai, just go to an Academy and watch young cricketers desperate for a chance to be the next Tendulkar.

But an Academy that has little success rarely lasts long. To succeed, the coaches need to have an even deeper passion than their charges. They need to be mindful and knowledgeable.

The pitch for the 2nd Test between England and India was a raging turner. England's batsmen notoriously weak against spin while India went in with 3 spinners.

So why did India lose?

And how can you make sure your own team doesn't suffer a similar fate?

We have all been there; arriving at a pitch that seems tailor-made for your strengths. It's even better when you look at the opposition and realise they struggle in the key match-ups.

A few weeks ago I was asked to do a session with a top class player who had lost his 'mojo' against spin.

When I asked him to tell me about his plans for our time together he said,

"I don't want to feel shotless when the ball spins, don't want to feel as if I am going to nick it to slip or short leg and I don't want to be stuck in the crease".

Whatever level of cricket you play, you will recognise the pressure faced by cricketers playing in the current Ranji Trophy.

The tournament is typified by many games wedged into a short period, but as a player you are expected to be at your peak the whole time.

PV Coach Aaksash Chopra often talks about his stressful experiences

No wonder elements like gym work and healthy eating get cast aside when you are hit by the firehose of playing, travelling and nets without rest.

This is a guest article from coach and PhD candidate Adam Kelly.

The traditional image is that coaching is about developing the techniques of batting, bowling and fielding.

But another way to define coaching is, 'performance-improvement technique'. So coaches should use any technique that enhances performance.

Using psychological techniques in your coaching will enhance the learning curve of your athletes. Here are several methods you can add to your coaching:

In a bid to improve batting techniques, the BCCI have asked for green pitches in the Ranji Trophy.

But you know - as a fast bowler - it's not all milk and honey in the land of the favourable pitch.

The expectation is that you will slice through the top order in no time.

And that brings a pressure that you don't experience at any other time.

You can tense up.

Or you can relax too much and assume wickets will come no matter how you bowl.

In both cases a long half volley will get put away, even on a minefield.

This is a guest article from coach and PhD candidate Adam Kelly

We all talk to ourselves.

Being aware allows you to control your self-talk; once we control our self-talk it has a positive effect on performance.

I have researched self-talk as a cricket skill during my dissertation, where I analysed the self-talk of international and county fast bowlers.

The results show the power of talking to yourself in cricket.

Self-talk enhances:

This is a guest article from Darren Talbot: professional coach, Managing Director of Darren Talbot Cricket Coaching and founder committee member of the Surrey ECB Coaches Association.

The Australian great Glenn McGrath built an amazing career on consistency.

How do you make your debut for India at age 27?

If we look at the stories of every player who has made it to the India side in the last 5 years, there is one element that is common.

This element is the same from the spin of Ashwin to the batting of Kohi. It never changes regardless of fielding skill, personality or potential.

So if you want to be the next Sharma, Rahane or anyone else you need to know this element.

It's the only way to pull on the shirt.

What is it?

To understand it, let's go back to the first time Sachin picked up a bat.