Dr. Richard Bailey has written from a coaches view on helping players learn more quickly. Whether you coach or not, there are insights for becoming a better cricketer.

"According to some books for teachers, skill learning should take up to 3/4 of lesson time. As far as I can see, the only outcome of this approach is that learners switch off, and end up simply going through the motions. Effective practice activities should be relatively short, intense, and highly focused. They should also be immediately followed by an application in a meaningful game."

This article is refreshing is a land of dry theory because it gives several practical steps. It also opens up some ideas for discussion.

One of the points is to use the warm up as a specific part of the session rather than as a general pulse raiser. This is sound advice in general, but I would add a cautionary note. The warm up also plays a key role in injury prevention, even for young players. Cricket is an imbalanced game, the warm up helps bring some balance and save shoulders, hamstrings and backs.

I still support the idea of using the warm up to learn, I would add using it for that alone is a missed opportunity to prevent injury and boost general athletic performance.

I also love the 5th point:

"Learning is problem solving. So, mistakes are the motor of learning as they generate new problems."

Too often as players and coaches we fear problems. We assume that they show we are not good enough. In fact, everyone has problems. The ability to recognise and fix those problems is the art and skill of players and coaches.

Whether you play or coach, or both, these are six great lessons that open up discussion about breaking the status quo. Take a look.