The definition of a big total in 1-day cricket has changed hugely over the years. 5 an over used to be considered impossible when I started playing the game. Now 8 an over in the last 10 is a walk in the park with some teams and, in particular, some batters.

Here are some tips to chasing down huge totals.

This series is part of the Cricket Fitness Workouts series. For the full list, click here.

Making a cricket ball swing is a skill that doesn't require extreme fitness. You need skill, you need technique and you need tactical nous.

But you still need to be fit, even if your skill lies in swing more than pace. This is because you firstly need to be injury-free and secondly you want to have the stamina to bowl and field without losing focus.

One of the more frequently asked questions by readers here at PitchVision Academy is "how do I become a professional cricketer?"

It's a simple question, asked by many from 11 year old youngsters just starting their journey to hardened guys in their late 20s still looking for a chance to shine in cricket.

It's a question most common in India and Pakistan, but we also hear it from every country with a professional setup (and some even without one).

The answer is never simple though.

This week's winner of the Cricket Show podcast question competition is Kam. He wins a free coaching course from PitchVision Academy.

The winning question was:

"I have played cricket for university in India during my college days, been to academy since I was 16 but then could not continue. Work took me to the UK, I started playing club cricket 1st and 2nd teams and was quite consistent as a left hand opening batsmen. Currently I am in South Africa for work and am 29 (quite fit) looking for another stint to perform. Any advice on what I can do to get the best from my game for the next few years?"

Listen to the panels answer to his question here.

To enter your own question for the chance to win your choice of online coaching course send your questions in here.

Today we have a bit of fun, because we all love to laugh. So, in preview of the forthcoming Swing Bowling Masterclass from Nathan Bracken, here's a couple of things that didn't quite go to plan. That's the trouble with getting everything on camera...

Series 4 for the best cricket coaching podcast continues apace with Burners joining Mark Garaway and David Hinchliffe.

The team tackle issues from big to small; from Tendulkar's big 40th birthday to the tiny sized but massively useful noteboard. We also follow up on Chris Gayle hitting through the line.

We also look at coming back into cricket, and the use of heavy cricket balls to help with bowling speed.

Click play in your browser or download the show to listen now.

You know that I always am looking to get better myself so I can help players. Recently I have spent time with Muhammad Haroon who now acts as one of my consultants at Millfield School.

Haroon has helped our spinners to spin the ball hard, deceive the batters regularly and has given them unrivalled confidence.

In the 2012 IPL, something quiet happened that may be the start of a revolution in cricket: A revolution that will see many aspiring youngsters become cricketers via a completely different route to the old ways.

S Thiyagarajan is not a household name. A second division club cricketer in Chennai who never played first-class cricket.

He also won an IPL contract for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2012 via trials.

If you want a controversial subject look no further than Leg Before Wicket.

Every batsman at every level feels he has been triggered. Every bowler at every level has had times when the umpire "must be blind".

But as polarising as it is, it's not easy to don the umpires coat and decide on LBW. As a recent video on the PVA Interactive page showed.

The video - of a batter at Lord's indoor school - has over 170 replies on facebook with people giving their opinion.

This week's winner of the Cricket Show podcast question competition is AB. He wins a free coaching course from PitchVision Academy.

The winning question was:

"What is the optimum structure for an amateur cricket club: 1 saturday team? 2? 3? 4? A Sunday team? A midweek team? Separate squads for each or the same group of players? A junior section? How old and how many different age groups?"

 Listen to the panels answer to his question here.

To enter your own question for the chance to win your choice of online coaching course send your questions in here.