Paddy Upton

Patrick Anthony Howard Upton, known as Paddy Upton (b. November 5, 1968 -) is a South African cricket coach and former cricketer. He has worked as the physical fitness trainer for the South Africa cricket team and the rugby team of Western Cape Province. [http://www.speakersofnote.co.za/list/paddy_upton.html Paddy Upton] ] He is the current mental conditioning coach of the Indian national cricket team. He is also the mental conditioning coach at Gary Kirsten's cricket academy at Cape Town and his business partner. [http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Kirsten_keen_on_mental_skills_coach/articleshow/2576465.cms Kirsten keen on mental skills coach] ]

Biography

Patrick Anthony Howard Upton was born on November 5, 1968 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa. Between 1990-91 and 1993-94 he played cricket for the Western Province cricket team. He is a close personal friend of former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten - working as the mental conditioning coach in his cricket academy in Cape Town and as his business partner in "Performance Zone" - a venture on sports performance improvement. [http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Kirsten_keen_on_mental_skills_coach/articleshow/2576465.cms Kirsten keen on mental skills coach] ] He holds two Masters Degrees, one in Sport Science and another in Executive Coaching. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/140082.html Clear mind, clear focus] ] [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/340783.html Paddy Upton interview] ] Upton has been deeply influenced by Indian philosophy and culture, describing that his spiritual journey began in India. Upton married his wife in a traditional Vedic marriage ceremony in an ashram in India. [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/340783.html Paddy Upton interview] ]

Coaching career

After his playing career, Upton began coaching at the provincial and national cricket levels. From 1994 to 1998, Upton served as the physical fitness trainer for the South African cricket team. [http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Kirsten_keen_on_mental_skills_coach/articleshow/2576465.cms Kirsten keen on mental skills coach] ] He was also involved as a key strategist with the team coach Bob Woolmer and then-captain Hansie Cronje. [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/340783.html Paddy Upton interview] ] In 1999, Upton switched from working on physical fitness to mental conditioning in sports, taking an executive coaching program on leadership in business and sporting environments. Upton worked closely with Gary Kirsten, providing him support and guidance that Kirsten described as invaluable, [http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Kirsten_keen_on_mental_skills_coach/articleshow/2576465.cms Kirsten keen on mental skills coach] ] and also helped Jacques Kallis overcome personal issues related to the death of his father to improve his playing performance. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/140082.html Clear mind, clear focus] ] Upton described his work as helping individual players understand and overcome specific fears and emotions that affect specific aspects of their performance. [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/340783.html Paddy Upton interview] ]

tint with India

Having been appointed the head coach of the Indian national cricket team, Gary Kirsten strongly recommended the appointment of Paddy Upton as the mental conditioning coach and his assistant coach. Upton gave personal attention to the performance of Virender Sehwag, keeping him hydrated and focused during his long innings of 319 against South Africa in the 2008 Chennai Test. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvrsa/content/story/344334.html Being dropped motivated me - Sehwag] ] .

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