Being a Cricketer – A philosophy of life

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.