Thought, Not Technique Behind South Africa’s Success?

That may be the truth, if Jeremy Snape is to be believed.
For few that may remember, Jeremy Snape featured in a handful of one day internationals for England. But his biggest success from the cricket arena seems to come from his role as a sports psychologist and performance coach for the IPL’s Rajathan Royals team and in his similar role for South Africa.
It is quite possible that Snape earned his credentials with South African skipper Graeme Smith during the inaugural IPL season. He has now found himself as a key ingredient to South Africa’ success story in Australia.
Interestingly if England thought to utilize their own skills within, perhaps their performances would not have been as erratic and sporadic as they have been, even with Kevin Pietersen to lead them.
If Snape’s technique for each player is something to go by, apparently Snape is of the belief that it is not just the technique or array of shot selections that determine a team’s successful chase or of a bowler’s rich haul of wickets. Rather he appears to firmly believe in the fact that cricket is as much a mental sport as it is physically demanding. Therefore, in order to win a match, Snape emphasizes that observing and keeping the thoughts on a positive level is more important that simply thinking about where to play the next shot or what delivery to bowl. His concern is with the seconds between facing or bowling the first ball and the next.
If that was the key to South Africa successfully chasing down 414 at Perth or getting out of a mortifying situation like 198 for seven in the first innings at Melbourne, he certainly seems to have had an effect.
Is Snape eyeing a job with England keeping the Ashes in mind not far away?