About Us
OUR MISSION
Here at the Online Cricket Academy, our mission is to help cricketers from all over the world, play the best cricket they ever have.
We believe that with our help, you can take your game to a level you never thought possible.
We will coach the fundamentals of the game, whilst working with you to maximise your potential on and off the field.
Our aim is to deliver simple, yet powerful instruction & advice, which allows you to take control of your game, and create your own path to improvement.
Directors
Dave Smith
Hi, my name is Dave Smith. I grew up in Kent in England, and played football and cricket to a high level growing up. I started playing cricket aged 7 and loved it instantly. I made the county U11 squad as a seam bowler, who could bat, but by ...
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Dave Smith (Director )
Hi, my name is Dave Smith. I grew up in Kent in England, and played football and cricket to a high level growing up. I started playing cricket aged 7 and loved it instantly. I made the county U11 squad as a seam bowler, who could bat, but by U13 reinvented myself as a wrist spinner. This pushed my game to the next level as I was involved in the ECB Elite Wrist Spin Programme and made the South of England squad at the Bunbury Festival (Newquay) in 2005.
At 16 I grew a lot which badly affected my consistency and made me focus on improving my batting. This was a frustrating time in my junior career as no coaches or amount of practice I did got any consistency back in my bowling. In the end the main issues were psychological which weren’t talked about much at the time and I want to now help others through similar situations.
After the last year of county age group cricket it was time for university. I studied Sports Coaching and Physical Education at Oxford Brookes University. The main reason for attending was to get into the Oxford MCCU and luckily I snuck in the squad in my first year. My proudest moment on a cricket field is making my first class debut against Glamorgan as a 19 year old. I went on to play two more games against Hampshire and Lancashire whilst part of the MCCU squad.
Whilst at university I also started playing for Oxfordshire CCC in the Minor Counties leagues. This was an enjoyable time in my career and another proud moment was scoring a century against Cornwall in a 3 day game in 2009.
Post university I enjoyed two winters in Melbourne, Australia, which was a great challenge and life experience. Back in the UK I coached full time in schools and clubs whilst playing club cricket in the Kent League.
I set up Invicta Cricket Coaching in 2015 and worked hard to establish a company that now provides high quality cricket programmes & services to players of all abilities in the two areas of Kent we run representative squads for. I also became cricket professional at Sevenoaks School in 2016 and have since progressed to Master in Charge of Cricket. Whilst working at the school I met my wife. We got married in 2017 and now have a daughter who is two years old.
I still play in the Tunbridge Wells CC 1st XI as a seam bowling all rounder and have enjoyed many seasons with a great group of players and friends.
I have had some amazing life experiences through cricket and have been fortunate enough to be coached by some of the best coaches in the world. I am now passionate about helping cricketers develop their games and be the best they can be.
Mike Waller
Hi, my name is Michael Waller, one of the Directors & lead coaches here at the Online Cricket Academy. My cricketing journey began as soon as I could walk, as I followed my Dad around to all his games, eventually getting my first taste of cr ...
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Mike Waller (Director )
Hi, my name is Michael Waller, one of the Directors & lead coaches here at the Online Cricket Academy. My cricketing journey began as soon as I could walk, as I followed my Dad around to all his games, eventually getting my first taste of cricket at the age of 8.
Ever since then I have had a passion for the game, which has led to my career in coaching.
Throughout my school years, I played many team sports, but it was always football and cricket that I enjoyed the most. I am a very competitive person, which has always given me a drive to succeed and improve with everything I do, and this is no different with coaching.
My cricket career started to take shape when I first entered the county age group system at 11. From there I managed to get onto the Kent Academy at the age of 13 and was on it for 4 years. In this time I represented the London & East region at the Bunbury Festival in 2012, where I played with and against a number of international cricketers. I also then played a number of games for the Kent 2nd XI a few years later, which was a great experience getting a taste of a professional environment. During this time, I have worked with coaches such as Jimmy Adams and Paul Farbrace, and played alongside players such as Zak Crawley and Sam Billings. From these experiences, I learnt a lot about my own game but also began to think about the coaching side of the game.
My coaching career then began when I spent a year working at Yardley Court prep school, alongside cricket coaching. I then spent the next two winters in Melbourne in a player/coach role for Mentone CC. This was an experience I have learnt the most from, not only as a coach but also as a person. From there, I came back to continue my cricket coaching alongside working at another prep school, Holmewood House. Working at these two schools has given me an understanding of how to cater for all levels and abilities. As well as that, I had to lead and plan multiple sessions across a variety of sports. From all these different coaching roles it has helped me create the content for the Online Cricket Academy.
I have worked with Dave and Barbs for the past 5 years, playing alongside Dave for the last 7. In all of our years coaching and playing together we have developed a fantastic relationship as well as a shared goal of improving all the players we work with. From this shared goal the Online Cricket Academy has been created, and we are very excited to impart our knowledge that we have picked up over the years with you. From a personal point of view, I am very excited to be joining you on your journey to your best cricket yet
Mike Barber
Hi, my name is Mike Barber and I was born and raised in Sevenoaks, Kent. I’ve played multiple team sports to a high level including youth football for Charlton Athletic F.C, hockey for Sevenoaks Hockey Club in the England Premier League, a ...
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Mike Barber (Director )
Hi, my name is Mike Barber and I was born and raised in Sevenoaks, Kent. I’ve played multiple team sports to a high level including youth football for Charlton Athletic F.C, hockey for Sevenoaks Hockey Club in the England Premier League, and cricket for Kent County Cricket Club throughout the age group pathway.
I’ve always enjoyed team sports but cricket was always my first passion. After years of training I really enjoyed experimenting with the technical side of batting and wicket keeping whilst on the Kent Academy, and was encouraged by then Academy Director Paul Farbrace to take my ECB Level ll coaching qualification at aged 16. This was the start of my coaching journey.
I was fortunate growing up that I’ve been able to work with great players such as Steve Smith, when he was overseas player at Sevenoaks Vine CC & multiple coaches such as Bruce French, former England Wicket Keeping Coach & Paul Fabrace, former England Assistant Coach, and have seen first hand the affects that a coach can have on someone’s life and development, as a player and as an individual. This was then emphasised at university when I played for Cardiff MCCU and was luckily enough to train with England wicket keeping legend, Jack Russell. It was after graduating university that I realised that coaching could be the next best thing to playing when my dream of play professionally didn’t work out.
In 2015 Dave Smith and I set up Invicta Cricket Coaching that provides high quality cricket programmes and services to players, clubs and schools of all abilities throughout the Kent area. I became a Kent county age group coach working with the Kent U16s, the Elite Player Program & the Kent Academy.
This then encouraged me to complete my ECB Level lll coaching qualification in 2019.
Through my coaching journey Ive realised that coaching isn’t just about good technique, it’s about coaching to the individuals needs and requirements. Every cricketer will do things slightly differently meaning there is more than one way to bowl or bat. My job is to create well rounded independent thinking cricketers. This drives me to discover as many different way to make cricketers better as possible. I intend to use my experience playing & coaching with some of the worlds best cricketers like Sam Billings, Zak Crawley, Jack Leach & Rory Burns to influence the next generation of cricketers through our platform and share the game I love with as many people as possible
Mentors
Min Patel Spin Bowling
Min had an 18 year playing career with Kent CCC as a left arm spinner. He took 630 first class wickets and earned 2 England test call ups in 1996 in a test series with India.
When he retired in 2008 his natural progression was into coac ...
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Min Patel (Spin Bowling)
Min had an 18 year playing career with Kent CCC as a left arm spinner. He took 630 first class wickets and earned 2 England test call ups in 1996 in a test series with India.
When he retired in 2008 his natural progression was into coaching.
He has been back at Kent as 2nd XI coach and is now High Performance Director as well as being a spin bowling consultant for the England Young Lions.
We are delighted he has joined us to deliver our spin bowling content
Simon Guy Wicket Keeping
Simon played for Yorkshire CCC for 9 years between 2000 - 2009. In 37 first class matches he amassed 98 catches and 12 stumpings.
After his professional career finished he turned to coaching and is now an ECB Level 4 coach. He is also H ...
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Simon Guy (Wicket Keeping )
Simon played for Yorkshire CCC for 9 years between 2000 - 2009. In 37 first class matches he amassed 98 catches and 12 stumpings.
After his professional career finished he turned to coaching and is now an ECB Level 4 coach. He is also Head of Cricket at Denstone College, Derbyshire, and works with the keepers on the England Performance Programme.
He has bundles of energy and passion for improving young keepers of all levels and has put together some excellent content for us.
Toby Radford Batting
Toby was a top order batter, who after representing England U19’s went on to play 13 first class matches in spells with Middlesex and Sussex.
Throughout his playing days he always had a passion for coaching. He progressed from Middles ...
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Toby Radford (Batting)
Toby was a top order batter, who after representing England U19’s went on to play 13 first class matches in spells with Middlesex and Sussex.
Throughout his playing days he always had a passion for coaching. He progressed from Middlesex Academy Director to 1st XI Head Coach and achieved success in the T20 Blast in 2008. He has had two long spells as Batting Consultant for West Indies Cricket with a spell as Glamorgan Head Coach breaking up his time in the Caribbean. He is now High Performance Director for Bangladesh Cricket and works for the ECB as a mentor and batting consultant on their coach education programme.
He has a phenomenal understanding of the technical elements of the game and the content he has created with us is a must watch.
Stuart Barnes Seam Bowling
Stuart played for Gloucestershire CCC as a fast bowler in his playing days. After his playing career he started working as a coach at grass roots level. Over time he made his way up the Gloucestershire coaching ranks to Assistant Coach. He made ...
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Stuart Barnes (Seam Bowling)
Stuart played for Gloucestershire CCC as a fast bowler in his playing days. After his playing career he started working as a coach at grass roots level. Over time he made his way up the Gloucestershire coaching ranks to Assistant Coach. He made the move over to Surrey and progressed from Bowling Coach to Assistant Coach. After a brief spell away from coaching he joined Somerset CCC as Bowling Coach and built up a great rapport with the bowling unit. He is now Assistant Coach and Bowling Lead for Cricket Ireland.
His knowledge of the game is extensive and it’s been brilliant to have him deliver our seam bowling content.
Joel Tratt Strength & Conditioning
Joel is Strength & Conditioning Coach at Somerset CCC, which he started in 2017, and has built up an impressive reputation.
Having joined from Oakham School, where he was in charge of their strength and conditioning programme, he has ex ...
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Joel Tratt (Strength & Conditioning )
Joel is Strength & Conditioning Coach at Somerset CCC, which he started in 2017, and has built up an impressive reputation.
Having joined from Oakham School, where he was in charge of their strength and conditioning programme, he has experience working with athletes of all ages and abilities.
We have put together some excellent content covering all sorts of topics that are sure to benefit lots of young aspiring cricketers
Chris Taylor Fielding
Chris had a 12 year career playing with Gloucestershire CCC. He scored over 14000 first class runs as a top order batter and was also renowned for his fielding skills.
Once he finished his playing career he turned to coaching and took o ...
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Chris Taylor (Fielding)
Chris had a 12 year career playing with Gloucestershire CCC. He scored over 14000 first class runs as a top order batter and was also renowned for his fielding skills.
Once he finished his playing career he turned to coaching and took on a fielding coaching role with Gloucestershire CCC, before moving on to a role with Somerset CCC, and is currently with Surrey CCC. He also worked as a fielding coach for England throughout this period.
We are lucky enough to have him on board to provide us with our fielding content. We are also collaborating with his company, 'Pro Fielder', to bring you lots of drills to practice at home, or with your club, or school teams
Dr Jamie Barker Psychology
Jamie is a Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University, a chartered sports & exercise psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council. ...
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Dr Jamie Barker (Psychology)
Jamie is a Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University, a chartered sports & exercise psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Jamie has an international research profile with research interests in stress, resilience, wellbeing and mental health. He has authored over 75 scholarly publications and five books, including 'The Psychology of Cricket, Tipping the Balance'.
As an applied sports psychologist he has over 20 years of experience working within sport and business, most notably with the ECB, Nottinghamshire CCC and Great Britain Rowing.
Roy White Psychology
Roy is a Performance Psychologist, currently working towards his chartered status with the Health and Care Professions Trust through the British Psychological Society. He has an MSc in Sports Psychology where he wrote his thesis on challenge and ...
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Roy White (Psychology)
Roy is a Performance Psychologist, currently working towards his chartered status with the Health and Care Professions Trust through the British Psychological Society. He has an MSc in Sports Psychology where he wrote his thesis on challenge and threat states in elite and non elite cricketers.
Roy has played club cricket for over 40 years. In recent years he has focused on supporting young players transition from colts to adult cricket. He also works with a range of global businesses in the area of leadership, strategy development and implementation, team performance and is an executive coach.
Tom Banister-Fletcher Psychology
Tom is a Sport & Exercise Psychologist, currently working towards his chartered status with the Heath and Care Professions Trust through the British Psychological Society. He holds an MSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Loughborough University ...
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Tom Banister-Fletcher (Psychology)
Tom is a Sport & Exercise Psychologist, currently working towards his chartered status with the Heath and Care Professions Trust through the British Psychological Society. He holds an MSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Loughborough University and a PGDip in Psychology.
Tom has worked in a wide range of sports, including cricket and hockey, and with clients ranging from students to international athletes. He is currently working with the Loughborough Lightning squads as their Sports Psychologist
Ed TorryVideographer
Ed is graphic designer, photographer, as well as a videographer, and he has a keen interest in aerial photography.
He has loved all sports from a young age and so working with the Online Cricket Academy on this project has been great fun.
He has helped us create a consistent style and quality to our video content and has been very thorough and detailed in his approach. Our thanks go to him for all the work he has put into the project so far
