Strong preparation is key to a successful season in the Big Bash League. For Sydney Thunder bowler Chris Green, getting ready to compete in Australia’s premier Twenty20 cricket competition means finding a balance between informed training and listening to what his body needs.
Speaking to The Roar about preparing for a season in the Big Bash, Green spoke about how a healthy diet, data-driven training regimes, and a good dose of friendly rivalry all combine to help him reach peak performance for the season.
“At the Thunder we’ve started using GPS trackers, which we’ve been wearing both on training days and game days,” Green says.
“It monitors how far we run, as well as our speeds, so the coaches are able to track not only how much I’m working but how hard.”
It’s access to this data that allows players like Green, who are put to work in the outfield during a game, to have a better understanding of what their body goes through on game day, which then affects how they train and prepare for a season.
“Having the knowledge that I’m running 8 to 9 kilometres in a T20 game is really valuable,” Green notes. “I look to increase loads sometimes and do a longer run one day, for instance, do a nine-kilometer slow run where I’m running at a steady pace.”
“Like football, when you do those nine kilometers in a game, you’re not always sprinting – you’re jogging four and maybe walking the rest. So having that sort of data on hand and being able to know what sort of running and fitness training to do is really important.”
For Green, having the knowledge that he’s preparing his body as well as physically possible also brings the positive flow on of mental confidence.
“I think knowing what you do on game-day also helps because it means you’re better able to have that mental fitness to cope with the game if you’re doing a similar thing in training.”
Chris Green of the Sydney Thunder celebrates the dismissal of Brad Hodge of the Adelaide Strikers. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
As informed and structured as Green’s training has become, it’s still the simple things, like the pleasure of out-performing a teammate on the track that drives him to reach his limits.
“As athletes, you always want to do your best. Even if it’s just a social thing with your mates you always want to do better than them,” says Green.
“It’s not necessarily about having the bragging rights out in the open, but at least, you know deep down that you’re doing better than your mate next to you, or you’re pushing him.
“In the end, it works better for everyone if you’re both always pushing each other in that competitive way.”
Away from training, there’s still plenty of hard work for Green to do, especially when it comes to not overindulging in one of his biggest weaknesses, sweets.
“Diet is a huge part of my preparation. Cricket NSW has a nutritionist who helps us formulate our diets,” Green says.
“For me I tend to have a big breakfast and then a lighter lunch in the middle of the day – usually a small bowl of pasta.
“I do treat myself, though, I’ll have chocolate or ice cream a couple of times a week, which is always a nice treat after dinner.
“I know when I’ve worked hard during the day, it’s okay to have a little something sweet.”
But for Green, his approach to maintaining a balance in training, diet and gameday preparations has been shaped in a more holistic way through the guidance of the coaching staff at the Thunder, who told him: ‘You understand what your body needs and what you need to best prepare yourself, so make sure you get your point across to whoever it is.’
“Whether it’s the strength and conditioning guy in the gym, or the coach, or the physio, you need to know you won’t be crucified for saying ‘this is my body, this is what I need today, or this is what I don’t need today’,” says Green.
“If it does mean you need a day off today or your bodies hurting, or mentally you’re fatigued – then make sure you get that time off to get yourself fresh and ready. That’s easily the best piece of advice I’ve ever received regarding training.”
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