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