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