Right now that my preseason is well and truly upon me I'm going to to start a log on this great website to both keep a record and to inspire me to have an effective preseason this year. This log is intended as a keeping of records of my own training and will help me to address and cut out the bull**** in my own training. Please feel free to comment or ask me questions. I'm sure that having others read my log will help motivate me and make me accountable to more than just myself. I intend to log primarily at first regarding my strength and conditioning work and later to incorporate technical stuff as it progresses.

A little about myself to start, and to take an honest look and where I am at the beginning of this preseason. I'm 24 years old. Played cricket on and off for roughly 5 years. I am a terrible batsman by any estimation, average fielder and a pretty good bowler for my level( which isnt saying much). That being said I opened the bowling last year for Caddington CC second XI taking 12 wickets in 6 games at a strike rate of under 30, an economy of 3.5ish and an average of 15.5ish. A decent season to a degree but somewhat miles away of where i want to be.

Im a medium pace, mostly bowling outswing. At the beginning of last season i attended an Ian Pont bowling workshop and was clocked in at 64 mph.

So what are my targets for the preseason. Well as this website is a proponent of having measurable targets to improve ones game I shall set a few. Target one (and main intention for all of this) is to bowl quicker. Making a conservative (perhaps?) aim I'd like to gain 3-4mph for next season. Now Ill need to find myself a speed gun next year but I'm sure that's a possibility. Second target will be to break into and keep a place in the first team. I'm there on thereabouts but i want to be THERE.

How will i achieve these targets. During preseason will be to attend the gym three times a week focusing on strength training. I will be following the Jim Wendler 531 protocol www.jimwendler.com or www.t-nation.com will cover questions for you. I will be using this to raise my basic strength levels to above what they are now. Currently I know I can press 60 kg, front squat 80 kg, floor press 77.5 kg for 4 reps and powerclean 80kg. I intend my press to reach 70kg, deadlift 160 kg perfect form, floor press 100kg and powerclean 90kg by next season.

I also intend to do mobility warms ups every gym session and between one and 3 extra sessions a week. I have wrong'uns for hips so this is a must.

I intend to do 2-3 sessions of hill sprinting or some other intense cardio each week (thisll be the hardest im a cardio hater)

Finally i will do 3 10-15 minute sessions of bowling technique work a week working on the dropstep primarily

I also believe in the power of learning so will endeavour to read all articles from pitchvision.com and eric cresey the renowned baseball condition expert over the winter to see what I can add from them.

Sorry there's a lot here nothign else i post should be so long. Also nothing here will be groundbreaing i will just be stealin ideas from others but liek i said this is mainly as a record keeping exercise.

I'm hoping to test a few thins this week too like weight levels, waist levels and perhaps a few small fitness tests to see where I am at.

Right got to go to work now. Going to do some manual stretching and foamrolling for 15 mins first

After talkign about myself for ages, everyone have a cracing preseason