'My routines built over time, and it meant I was fully prepared, whether I was bowling for my league side or in front of 99,000 people at the MCG.'
How do elite athletes stay focused when they are preparing for perform at the highest level?
Ask 1,000 sportsmen and women and you'll probably get a different answer from each person. But many will have routines - or even superstitions - that they follow as the pressure builds on them to deliver.
For Stuart Broad, three was the magic number. As the England legend and 4CAST founder explains, he used to go through a series of actions before he ran in to bowl.
"I certainly had routines that I went through to make me feel like I'm in the same place all the time," he said.
"They're a bit strange, but I felt comfortable for some reason with doing things in threes on a match day.
"I always put my kit on the same way, but then I sprayed three times the same aftershave.
"When I walked onto the field, I had to run over the rope without fail, because that's me entering the 'battle' of the playing field.
"I did three sides steps one way, three side steps the next. And then, say, if Stokesy gives me the nod, right I'm bowling... and three balls out from the over I'm going to bowl, I bowl three practice balls, physically.
"Next ball, three practice bowls, next ball, three practice balls.
"Then I'd get to the crease line, scratch the mark three times and then bowl three balls in my mind to the wicketkeeper before I go. And so I felt 'I'm ready'.
He added: "A psychologist once said to me to remember that, as a bowler, the game can't start until you're ready. It literally can't start, nothing will happen unless you run in and bowl. So never feel rushed in that moment.
"So these routines just built over time. And it meant I was fully prepared, whether I was bowling for my league side on a Saturday or in front of 99,000 people at the MCG.
"It was my way of taking my mind off the fact that millions of people might be watching you on telly, or 35,000 people in the crowd, or I’m bowling at, you know, Steve Smith or something.
"It very much brought me back to: I've done the same thing, whether I'm in front of four fans [or thousands]. And then I can go and deliver it."
Watch the video to see Broady in conversation with Ben Stokes and Josh Denzel.
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