Watson at Unicorns: Massaging Mindsets and Building Legacies

Shane Watson, the head coach of the San Francisco Unicorns, sat down for a candid chat to discuss the team's ethos, the secret sauce behind their fearless cricket, and his philosophies on building a high-performing team environment.

Fielding Intensity: A True Barometer of Team Environment

Watson believes that the real barometer of a good team environment is gauged from the level of intensity in their fielding. He sets incredibly high standards for the players in the field, and it's a choice that the players have every ball to be fully engaged.

Onboarding Cricketers: Mental Conditioning and Engagement

Watson's approach to onboarding cricketers involves selecting players who are fully engaged and willing to put it all on the line. He conducts mental skills workshops to help players understand the mental side of performance and sets high standards for engagement and performance.

Creating a Legacy: Why Watson Took Up the Job

Watson wanted to be a head coach to create a team environment where players can be at their best. He was selective about the franchise he wanted to work with and chose the Unicorns because of their owners' willingness to let cricket experts make decisions.

Training the Cricketer's Mindset

Watson believes that the next cricketing evolution will come from training the cricketer's mindset, not from technical innovations. He has worked with players who have taken their cricket to a new level by implementing mental skills and troubleshooting their way through pressure situations.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi: A Champion of Mental Toughness

Watson recognized Sanjay Krishnamurthi's explosive promise with the bat and helped him evolve by using mental cues and the ACT model. Krishnamurthi has continued to evolve by being present in the moment and not letting outside influences affect his mindset.

Evolving as a Coach

Watson's coaching techniques have evolved over the years, and he continues to learn from his experiences. He believes that his understanding of the mental side of performance remains powerful and timeless.