Virtual Reality and visualisation

I was first introduced to visualisation in 1984 whilst on the playing staff at Somerset CCC. I was one of the younger players and it seemed a bit 'out there' at the time. The powers that be had little interest and so we heard no more.

In 1991 a couple of years after I was released, my confidence was low, so I looked into visualisation again. I genuinely found it fascinating. It could be used in so many ways. Relaxation. Positive reinforcement. And for my batting. You simply couldn't fail and how rare is that? Whatever I envisaged I achieved. I scored more centuries over that period of time than at any other time in my life. Malcolm Marshall simply couldn't get me out whatever he tried... Hmmmm?

When I was coaching at Somerset during the late 1990s I introduced it to some of the junior age group players. It was simply a case of offering a new and different way of looking at things. Some tried it and liked it. Some tried and didn't. Some had the same approach as the decision makers at Somerset CCC in 1984. They weren't going to like it and that was that.

I had a season as a 52 year old several years ago and adopted a form of active visualisation at home. Wearing gloves and holding a bat I would imagine all styles of bowler bowling at me. I never failed again. How refreshing... Of course I failed in games. It isn't magic, but I scored enough to reinforce visualisations value again.

How close is virtual reality to a form of active visualisation? Its a very focused environment. Rehearsals are instant. The three key senses are acutely activated. Feeling of movement, the ground under your feet, the bat handle in your hand (Kinaesthetic). The sound of bat on ball (Auditory). The view of the environment. The sight of the ball after it is struck (visual).

How different my cricket career might have been had I been braver and looked into visualisation myself? It taught me something though. If you don't look you won't find. Trying and failing isn't an issue. Not trying? Well that's something different altogether.

I'm still looking now... what next?