Being a Cricketer – A philosophy of life
Cricket
– the Game of India, most popular and the most loved game/sport. It has 3
aspects Batting, Bowling and Fielding. Though the game is a Team Game and gives
us an absolute idea of “United we win, divided we lose”, but at an individual
level it each aspect it has several lessons to teach for lifetime. A thorough
insight in the game gives us some analysis of our life, which is a never ending
Match of Cricket.
I
being a Batsman, starting my learning lessons as a Batsman.
Being a batsman
First thing
we do is prepare ourselves with almost all possible guards like Helmet, Abdo
guard, Thigh pad, Pads, gloves etc etc. Which gives us a lesson of being
prepared for everything in life – Good as well as bad and only a well prepared
person can fight through. Once we enter the field we first go and evaluate the
pitch and understand what it has to offer (batting pitch – dried up bit hard
surface with even bounce or a wet grassy pitch which has less of bounce more of
skidding and low line ball) has a learning that a thorough evaluation of a
given situation in life at the entry point itself is very crucial to reach its
solution of better impact.
Third thing
we do is go in the crease, and take the guard (as per our batting style), which
gives us a suggestion to be now prepared in for any situation in life.
Following it we have a look at a field set, to decide the strategy of our shots
(lofted or grounded) which gives a learning of thorough evaluation of a
situation, which we have to face now.
Fifth thing
we evaluate is the bowler (pacer or spinner), current run rate, required run
rate (if chasing) and our following batting line up, which has a learning curve
of how to tackle the situation, by being aggressive or being defensive. Then at
sixth step we actually end up facing balls i.e. situations. A well prepared
(mentally as well as physically) batsman (man) can rarely make a mistake, as he
has his evaluated balanced mind to face the situation.
Now
as each ball comes, each situation comes, we have three choices, go over front
foot or remain at the same position or go to back foot. Which makes us learn
that, whether to go front foot that is to take a step forward, think about the
future and to act or to go to back foot i.e. take a step back, give a thorough
insight and then reciprocate or to remain at the same position i.e. just to
evaluate absolute at present scenario and react to it.
Once
decision of front foot, same position or back foot is taken, it’s time to
decide whether to aggressively hit or defensively block the ball or duck leave.
This has a lesson of making aggressive decisions or to take a protective or
defensive decision or just to hold on, not to decide anything and duck leave
the situation.
Now
after deciding all this, comes the reward in the form of runs i.e. success or
wicket fall i.e. failure. A smaller success comes in the form of a single or
double or a huge reward in the form of boundaries. Each reward is equally
important, as positive reward is runs where as negative reward is a wicket
fall. And this absolutely gives us an insight of our understanding of the
situation as well as judgement of the entire scenario. A well evaluated and
judged situation gives us rewards of runs where as a poorly judged scenario
ends up in a wicket fall.
The
way in cricket while batting we are favored or somebody else’s misjudge gives
us an extra life, in life our luck gives us a chance to re-evaluate and fight
back.
The
successful innings is based on several singles, doubles as well as good number
of boundaries; similarly in life success is measured by a collectively smaller,
bigger and larger rewards or success points. The way it takes to build a long
innings, similarly in life it takes a lot of time to become a successful or a positive
person.
Being a bowler
Though
I am not a great bowler but have learnt a good number of things as being a
bowler. First thing being a bowler is quite similar to being batsman,
thoroughly evaluating the situation i.e. ground, pitch and most vital batsman
i.e. aggressiveness of the situation in life.
Next
step is to take the side of bowl i.e. to decide a strategy towards the
situation. Next is to take up the run up steps and then to set up the field,
which has a learning of who else is required to tackle the current situation,
to evaluate their strengths as well as their weaknesses to make them arrange in
your plan to tackle the situation.
Now
is the actual decision of pitching the bowl and amount of speed as well as turn
to offer comes in the picture, quite similar to making a decision in a
situation, whether it has to be quick and straight or slightly changing and
slow to make etc..
In
this scenario, being a bowler the rewards are reversed of that of batsman i.e.
Wicket fall is a positive reward whereas number of runs given is a negative
reward. Understanding and philosophy behind this is respectively absolutely
reversed as that of being a batsman.
Being a fielder
This
is altogether a completely different feeling, where the pure learning is to
remain always alert. The way ball can come anytime, a situation can stand up
any time in our lives, and we should be always prepared for facing it. Reward
of success is in the form of successfully able to stop/restrict the ball or
catch the ball and negative reward is in the form of runs given.
Learning
being a fielder is a very small, but it has a huge impact in life. A successful
fielder is the one who is always ready to face the ball, similarly a successful
person is always ready to face situations and converting it into opportunities
and achieves success. This alertness of mind is an absolute tool for the
lifetime and key of success.
Being a player
Collectively
being a player has yet much more to offer in learning the philosophy of life. A
great player is the one who is self motivated, whose mind is surrounded by lots
of positive thoughts, good thinking capabilities and developing skills, stamina
to think in worn out situations, to play with hope, never to put down one’s
shoulder and to be a true sport-man.
The
collective learning of life is to have positive thoughts, good stamina, good
health for better quality of life as well as thoughts, to be hopeful in any
situation, to fight till the last breath, to convert every difficulty into an
opportunity, to remain poised even though the situation can be out of control,
never to give up, never to lose spirit and even after doing all this we lose,
we should be a sport-man to accept the defeat and to appreciate the fight we
offered to the situation.
And the
last learning is developing a player in us i.e. developing a man in us, who is
much beyond situation, victories and defeats. A sport man who enjoys each and
every moment of the game of life and lives it to his heart as he loves playing
and living his own way.
