The art of wicketkeeping is one often misunderstood by those who have never taken up position behind the stumps.
The relentless, repetitive training grind creates an effortless looking outcome, but the toil behind the scenes is seldom so serene.
This case is true for Dane Schadendorf, who has grafted through the off-season to groove his game with the gloves and find rhythm with the bat.
The keeping focus has been on his mental approach as much as his physical, albeit he believes the intricacies of the profession are underestimated.
“Generally, most people think keeping is just catching, but there are lots of little techniques you have to learn, and then translate so that they become subconscious,” he says, “a lot of it is repetition, especially when you find something that you like.
“I found keeping tough at the beginning of last year. It's not like I dropped many. I think I dropped two in the first two games. It was more just the confidence that I didn't really have.
“I had changed a lot of things with my setup and how I was catching. Once I had that run in the Royal London side, the coaches said they were happy. That was what I needed. When you’re not feeling positive, that is when it is tough.
“I’ve come a long way. I used to beat myself up, but you have just got to realise that there is not much you can do if you make a mistake. If you drop it, you drop it, getting angry is just going to make it worse.”
Schadendorf’s maturation follows a breakthrough year, during which he featured in all of the Green and Golds’ Royal London Cup games, and earned a First-Class debut in surreal circumstances.
With Tom Moores sidelined with Covid for Nottinghamshire’s County Championship fixture against Derbyshire, and stand-in wicketkeeper Ben Duckett called up for international duty mid-innings, Schadendorf was drafted into the side and sent straight in to bat.
“I was already on my way down to the second team game, and Mick [Newell] messaged me and said 'call me right now' and I thought 'oh no, I'm in deep trouble, what have I done?'” he laughs.
“It was probably a good thing that it happened so quickly because I couldn’t really think about it. I got here, saw all the lads and, in a weird way, because I've been around the guys a lot, it wasn't really any different.
“I have twelfth manned, and I get on with everyone really well, so it was kind of like normal…until I started walking down the steps to bat. I remember I looked at Ducky's scorecard, he was on 75 from 85 balls and I thought ‘I'm not sure that I'm that good yet!’."
Alas, the Academy graduate looked at home on the Trent Bridge turf, amassing a measured 24 from 58 deliveries, before claiming four catches in the second innings as the hosts took victory by an innings.
Nearly eight months on, Schadendorf is refining his skills, a particular process with painstaking attention to detail required.
The arduous days are, however, made easier by the company kept by the teenager.
Former Head of Science and Medicine - and ex-wicketkeeper - James Pipe comes in for particular praise, as do Tom and Peter Moores for the expertise they provide.
“I loved sessions with Pipey because no matter what happened in the day, he'd come past you an hour before the training saying ‘oh Dane, I'm so excited about this session!' It lifted you no matter where you were," he says.
“With Tommy, we both want each other to do well, so it isn’t really a competition. We have sessions together where we share what we are doing well, and little things that can help. He is so experienced, and I can benefit from that.
“And it was great being around Pete during the Royal London stuff last year because of his keeping background. If you are feeling under pressure, he can calm me down."
As preparations sharpen with the new season looming, Schadendorf is clear on his approach for the final few weeks in the winter nets.
The experimenting is done, and new additions have been implemented.
The marquee facility, which provides an opportunity for players to train on grass at Lady Bay, allows him to turn his attention to individual battles and embed the changes within his game.
“I think I'm a lot happier than I was this time last year, when I changed some things and was 50/50 on whether they would work,” the former Zimbabwe U19 international says.
“The stuff I have done in the last few months has made a massive difference. You hope the work that you’ve done allows the movements to happen naturally.
“With batting, I’m not changing anything now; just making sure my trigger is correct and my balance is good.”
The goal is for those changes to manifest in results during the forthcoming season.
When he takes to the field donning the gloves, a positive outlook is the aim, whilst when wielding the willow, the target is more empirical.
“Last year I wanted a hundred, and I didn't get one, so that is definitely on the agenda this year," he says.
“With the keeping, I’m after consistency. I am looking forward to seeing the difference the work I’ve done standing up to the stumps will make, but the main thing is avoiding getting unhappy with myself if I make mistakes.”
Striking the balance of reflecting on performance without being unduly critical is, of course, the challenge posed to any young player.
But with increasing experience to draw on, and the myriad of support at his disposal, the young gun is well prepared and determined to hit his straps in 2022.
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