If you have ever watched yourself play cricket on video you know how powerful it is. Usually you feel intense horror at your errors or smug satisfaction at your skills.

These are natural, but are also dangerous. You can end up stressing out about your flaws.

So, golden rule:

Stop using video analysis to point out errors

You will want to break this rule, especially if you are looking to achieve the perfect technique. You want a method that makes you bat or bowl like your hero so you can emulate their success. You want your friends and coaches to say "wow, he has a great technique".

You know what's better than a great technique?

Runs.

Wickets.

Catches.

Wins.

None of these things require "perfect" technique. They require effective technique, often effective under great pressure. But that's a different thing.

Video takes away this context.

So, when you look at your videos and worry about your technique, put the context back. Look at the intention of the skill: hitting to a certain place, bowling in a certain area, catching instead of dropping. Compare how often you got it right with how often it went wrong. If you are getting it right more than 40% of the time, chances are you don't need to change technique, you need more practice with your current technique.

Naturally, there will be times where a technical change will help. But making these changes is a long and difficult road. So, looking at your videos then stressing about your technique without taking weeks of work is simply going to wreck your confidence.

So next time you watch your videos, don't do it through over-critical eyes. Instead, think about how effective you are. Then you can decide if a technical change is really needed, or if you can handle your unique approach to cricket.