This article is part of a two part series. To go to part one click here.

In part 1 we learned how batsman and bowlers are able to learn how to pick up on the tell tale signs of what their foe is thinking. The next step is being able to manipulate their plans to get them thinking what you want instead.

Despite being a team game, the business end of a cricket match is one on one. This solo battle of wills is one of the greatest challenges of cricket. Think Donald against Atherton and you get the idea.

It's getting increasingly difficult for us cricketers to develop the all round athletic skills we need to succeed.

Playing lots of cricket is the best way to get better at cricket, but doing that alone will not make players faster, more powerful or less prone to injury. To do that you need a well planned progressive training plan.

We are approaching the mid-season break for Christmas so I thought I'd write a few words about reflecting on your performance so far this summer.

At a very basic level, everyone will assess their season so far in terms of statistics. That is fair enough, cricket is a game of numbers and players should realise that it is their numbers that will progress them in the game (or keep them back).

Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain once said that Duncan Fletcher taught him cricket was all about angles.

Don't worry; you can put down your protractor. Both men are right but you don't need to be a maths whizz to be able to use angles to your advantage whether you are batting, bowling or captaining.

So what do I mean when I talk about different angles?

Training logs are a great way to keep yourself accountable to your cricketing goals. Kevin and I both started one this week and we discuss how you can start one and interact with the site in other ways including:

• Training logs
• Forum
• Twitter
• Facebook

We also answer your coaching and fitness questions:

This article is part of "The complete guide to cricket field settings" series.

Limited over cricket (especially Twenty20) is all about restricting the runs and this field is designed to help the opening bowler. When the ball is new and the bowlers are fresh, it's possible to be a little more attacking to get early wickets and restrict the run rate with the field up.

I got an email the other day from a reader telling me the miCricketCoach pages have too many tips, drills and information. As a result they are going to stop reading.

They didn't say they were going to get outside and play cricket instead, but if they did I would probably applaud their action. As Merlin Mann said:

To me that shows how important fitness is to the art of fast bowling. Successful bowlers are strong, athletic and supple. Talent alone is no longer enough.

As you know, I'm looking for someone to be the Case Study for 2009. With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to get some more informal views of how everyone is playing and preparing at the moment.

So how is your season (or off season if you are in the winter like me) going?