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