The Sports Scholars at Marlborough College had the opportunity to listen and learn from one of the country's top sports psychologists, Jeremy Snape who delivered the annual ‘Dunford Lecture'.
One of his greatest passions is helping teams to find their identity as a group (he was instrumental in helping the South Africa cricket team become the top team in the World), and this quote from his twitter feed echoes his belief in the power of the team:
“Difference is the easiest thing to find in teams but the power comes from finding a shared purpose”
After captaining England Under-18s in Canada in 1991, and touring with England U-19s in Pakistan the following winter, Jeremy began his county career with Northamptonshire, where he played from 1992-98. He joined Gloucestershire for the 1999 season and became a key element in the team's comprehensive one-day success. Jeremy played in each of Gloucestershire's winning sides in four Lord's finals in 1999 and 2000, and was a key member of the team that won the unique one-day treble, adding the National League to the trophy cabinet in 2000.
Jeremy 's success in Zimbabwe was followed by appearances in the first four ODIs in the six-match series in India.
Jeremy parted company with Gloucestershire at the end of the 2002 season. His move to Leicestershire brought a new dimension to his cricket as he became a expert at Twenty20. His loopy bowling and smart batting made him a key part of the team that won the 2004 and 2006 titles. He captained them the second time around, but began to stand aside in Championship cricket to allow youngsters a chance.
He was to earn an England call-up of a different kind in the winter of 2006-07 - as a sports psychologist. Already in the Caribbean to help the Associates with their World Cup preparations, England drafted in Jeremy, who has a masters in Sports Psychology, to assist with their campaign. His next tour found him back on the playing side, representing England in the ICC World Twenty20, and he announced his retirement the following season.
