Proteas focus on mental side

Performance Director thinks team have a great mixture of experience and youth

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 8th July 2008

Jeremy Snape 2007

Snape: Preparing Porteas

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South Africa are putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the opening Test with England at Lord's on Thursday.

Jeremy Snape, South Africa Performance Director, is working with the team to make sure they are mentally prepared for the challenge ahead.

The former England all-rounder has a Masters in Sports Psychology and has worked with a variety of national cricket teams.

He is putting that experience to good use with the Proteas.

Big privilege

"It's a big privilege for me having recently retired from playing to be working with such a world-class unit," Snape told Sky Sports, adding: "My performance coaching role is a mixture of psychology, tactics and supporting the management and team players one-on-one really, so obviously it's a huge challenge.

"People have a lot of doubts and ask questions of themselves and get a little bit nervous but really the guys have put all the practise in place, the techniques are in place and it is just about handling whatever opportunities we get to train.

"It might only be for an hour here and there, but really focus when you're in your practises doing the physical stuff but I guess the biggest switch that they will need is the mental switch to the big occasion on Thursday morning."

He added: "I think at this level the guys' bodies are all well primed for the occasion, it is just adapting to the conditions, looking at the specific game plans.. there will be a lot of strategy meetings and analysis.

"The game is moving forward very quickly in that sense and actually allowing the players time to absorb that information and turn it into their own game plans, they can actually role out with their bodies - not just their minds working but their bodies delivering those skills on Thursday."

Expectation

Asked to sum up the morale and confidence in the side, Snape added: "I think there is a lot of expectation on the boys but that is a good thing because that means they have got talent.

"One thing I have seen is the great mixture of experience and youth in this side and it gels really well together.

"The unit is close together and looking forward to performing together.

"It will be a test for any players so it will be interesting to see how England handle it."