Sleep is more than rest - it’s the foundation of recovery, resilience, and performance.
For our athletes, quality sleep can mean the difference between a sharp performance and sluggish fatigue. Yet it’s often the most overlooked training tool.
Stuart Broad knows that sound sleep helped to fuel his longevity in Test cricket.
"I always made sleep a priority, especially during long tours," he said.
"You can’t bowl 25 overs in a day and then expect to turn up fresh without it.
"Good sleep is when the body rebuilds; it’s where recovery really happens."
It's the same for Jason Roy, who connects sleep to a strong mental reset.
"After tough games, if I sleep well, it clears my head," he said.
"If I don’t, the stress just lingers into the next day.
"Sleep isn’t just physical recovery for me. It’s the best mental reset there is."
THE SLEEP DOCTORS
“Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day," says Dr. Matthew Walker, the author of 'Why We Sleep'.
"It improves learning, mood, immune function, and recovery from physical exertion."
Dr. Sophie Bostock, the UK sleep scientist, agrees.
"For athletes, it’s not just about quantity but consistency," she said.
"Going to bed and waking up at the same time supports performance more than occasional long sleeps."
THE DOS AND DON’TS OF SLEEP
DO: Keep a regular sleep schedule
DO: Create a cool, dark environment
DO: Switch off devices an hour before bed
DON’T: Use caffeine late in the day
DON’T: Rely on alcohol - it disrupts deep sleep
SLEEP AND PERFORMANCE
Sleep fuels reaction times, focus, decision-making, and injury prevention.
A study from Stanford showed that basketball players improved shooting accuracy by nearly 10 per cent after extending their sleep to 10 hours per night.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Sleep isn’t a luxury - it’s the hidden performance hack.
For athletes like Stuart and Jason, it’s a non-negotiable. For everyone else, it might just be the missing piece.
.png)
