| This summer (2005) huge crowds in England and | | | | there is not a likelihood of them getting hurt. They're not |
| Australia have been following the 5 test match series | | | | too brave."On Saturday, the third day of the test, the |
| between England and Australia. The sides are evenly | | | | Australian tail enders were batting. Gillespie, one of the |
| matched and have played some of the most exciting | | | | tailenders, was hit in the stomach near the belly button. |
| cricket seen for many years. Whether you play cricket | | | | He grimaced in pain. A few balls later he was hit in the |
| or not, you will find some great success lessons in this | | | | groin by a ball from Harmison and doubled over in |
| series of matches.The first success lesson is that you | | | | agony. The ball was travelling at about 90 miles an |
| and I must not dwell on our mistakes however | | | | hour. The crowd roared with laughter. Harmison had |
| humiliating they are. We have to be tough minded and | | | | been aiming for the throat and the toes and the crown |
| just focus on the next ball to be bowled or the next | | | | jewelsIt can take a good over (6 balls from the same |
| project in our lives.Cricket is a team game but there | | | | bowler) or two to get focused after being hurt. But |
| are only 11 players fielding (bowling and catching the | | | | Gillespie is a gutsy player and practises hard at his |
| ball) and they are spread out on a large field. Any | | | | batting. He realizes it is important for a tailender to |
| mistakes you make are seen at once by your team | | | | score runs or at least stay in. He batted on |
| mates and the audience. The mistakes of the batting | | | | bravely.The gutsy performance of the Australian |
| side are also clearly visible as only two people bat at a | | | | tailenders had much to do with the Australian success |
| time.Kevin Pietersen, the promising England batsman, | | | | in the first test match of the Ashes series. They had |
| dropped two catches in the first test when he was | | | | learned how to overcome sharp physical pain and |
| fielding but then went on to a play a good batsman's | | | | recover their focus quickly.We all need to learn to |
| innings. A commentator remarked that he must have a | | | | accept the fact that we will suffer mental and physical |
| strong mind to get over the disappointment of dropping | | | | pain at some point in achieving our goals. The secret is |
| the catches enough to allow him to bat wellGeraint | | | | to forget the pain as quickly as possible and just |
| Jones, the wicket keeper, had also dropped two | | | | concentrate on doing what we have to do.Further |
| catches and again a commentator remarked that you | | | | success lessons came from the third test match. One |
| can try to put your mistakes at the back of your mind | | | | of them is that sometimes it is better not to listen to |
| but it is not that easy. The memory keeps recurring. | | | | the critics whether they are outside or inside your own |
| However, Jones batted well in spite of the memory | | | | head.Australia had won the first test match and then |
| that must have haunted him. Later in the series, he also | | | | England won the second test on the 7th Aug 2005 a |
| took some magnificent catches to make up for the | | | | date that will go down in history as the date of one of |
| ones he had dropped.Both captains, Michael Vaughan | | | | the greatest cricket matches ever played.England won |
| and Ricky Ponting, batted poorly in the first two tests | | | | the match by 2 runs only - an amazingly close margin. |
| and were heavily criticized in the papers. However, in | | | | Much of the success was due to the England captain, |
| the third test match both captains batted | | | | Michael Vaughan, but Vaughan had not scored enough |
| extraordinarily well. They both showed the fighting spirit | | | | runs himself in this test or the first one. He could |
| to get over the depression they must have felt after | | | | guarantee that the papers would be having a go at |
| the first and second matches and the criticism they | | | | him in a big way. His solution was simple. He did not |
| were receiving daily.A second key success lesson is | | | | read the papers.On Thursday, England went in to bat. |
| that you must not get distracted from your goal of | | | | Michael Vaughan was in third and was under great |
| scoring runs or anything else by mental or physical pain. | | | | pressure to perform. This is where his policy of not |
| In ordinary life, many painful things can happen which | | | | reading the papers paid off. He scored his first century |
| can demoralise you unless you are determined enough | | | | of the series. The audience were up and out of their |
| to keep going in spite of the pain. Keep focused on | | | | seats applauding as he succeeded. He had scored 13 |
| your goals and dreams whatever happens.Those who | | | | fours (hits to the boundary).A captain who scores runs |
| have not played cricket may not realise how hard a | | | | can lead by example. It is important that he is in form |
| cricket ball is. It is especially hard and bouncy when it is | | | | as actions speak much louder than words. In the end |
| new. Fast bowlers are usually given the new ball so | | | | he made a large total of 166 runs with about 20 four's |
| that they can bounce it high to hit the batsmen in the | | | | and at least one six (a hit over the boundary).He told |
| head, throat, ribs or hands.Once the batsmen get | | | | an interviewer that before batting he had talked to the |
| distracted by the pain in their head or hands, they will | | | | young boy who was the England mascot for the day. |
| be vulnerable to the next ball and will do something silly | | | | The lad had already had three heart by pass |
| like knocking up a catch or failing to protect their | | | | operations. This made Vaughan feel less tension as he |
| wicket (the three stumps or sticks protruding from the | | | | realised that, at the age of thirty, he had so much to be |
| ground) from getting hit by the ball.Brett Lee, the | | | | thankful for and that scoring or not scoring runs was |
| Australian fast bowler, was run out when he hesitated | | | | not that important in the whole scheme of things.He |
| before running. He wanted to flap his hand to get rid of | | | | also decided to bat on intuition and not to think too |
| the pain. His index finger and then his thumb had been | | | | much. He had already done his thinking and his practice. |
| hit by fast balls. Later, however, in another match, he | | | | Once he was facing some of the best bowlers in the |
| redeemed himself by batting well even though he had | | | | world, he would not have time to think. His plan worked |
| been hit hard on the head and the arm!On the second | | | | and he smashed the ball all over the place.However, in |
| day of the first test England were bowling at the | | | | the end Australia held out for a draw. They were |
| Australians who were having their second innings | | | | saved mainly by the rain which meant that England |
| (chance to bat).However, the England bowlers were | | | | had less time to get them out than was necessary.So |
| not harassing the batsmen enough. Boycott, the | | | | then: keep going even if you make embarrassing |
| former great England batsman, commented that the | | | | mistakes in full public view. Regain your focus on your |
| ball should be whistling about the batsmen's ears and | | | | goals even if you have been hit by physical or mental |
| hitting their gloves:"The ball is new and hard. Now is the | | | | pain. Even the great Jim Rohn lost a million dollars after |
| time to hit the batsmen before the ball gets too soft. | | | | he had signed a form without realising the liabilities |
| Once the batsmen get too comfortable, they will start | | | | involved. He soon regained his focus and the lost |
| thinking: 'I fancy scoring a hundred.'"Even the tailenders | | | | money. Refuse to fill your mind with the views of your |
| or weaker batsmen who bat last have to suffer. The | | | | critics and keep your life in perspective by thinking of |
| bowlers cannot allow them to stay in too long. Boycott | | | | those millions of people who are so much worse off |
| continues:"Bowlers should hit the tailenders in the ribs or | | | | than you. Finally,once your thinking has been done, take |
| on the hand before they get too comfortable. That's | | | | action wholeheartedly without worrying about the |
| what you have to do as a fast bowler. You have to | | | | results. |
| hurt the opposition tailenders. Tailenders are alright if | | | | |