There are numerous qualities that I have learned from this game.
But one lesson which has stood out for me is the role of patience in life.
Time and again, this game has showed me that the attribute of “patience”
combined with “hard work” can do wonders.
Take the example of Ajinkya Rahane in the Indian Test Team. For
2 years, he spent the time on the bench while being part of the Indian team.
The man with a 60+ average in first class cricket had to wait that long to
break into the team while he saw other people making the cut. It must not have
been easy for him. But, he continued working on his game and doing what was in
his hands. It would have been the easy thing to get frustrated and lose focus
on your game and then not being able to perform at your best when given the opportunity.
But to boast of a resume that says centuries in each of Australia, England, New
Zealand, Sri Lanka and 90s in South Africa & Bangladesh speaks volume of
the patience in this man and how he managed to cement his place in the team
when given the opportunity.
Another case is that of Chris Rogers from Australia. An opening
batsman career that coincided with that of Australian greats like Hayden and
Langer must have been a tough one. I remember his first test, when he was
brought as a replacement in the 3rd test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy in
2006-07 at Perth. He fared poorly and Australia lost the match and with this he
was never heard again in International cricket till 2013. With the Aussie
selectors clear on their preference for youth in the team, all doors seem shut
on Rogers. The easy thing for him would
have been to stop dreaming about the baggy green. But he didn’t. He continued
piling runs in the domestic circuit of Australia (Sheffield Shield) as well as
used his time to play County Cricket to hone his skills in different playing
conditions. So, in 2013, before the Ashes, with Australian Cricket in
rebuilding phase, and no younger alternatives making their mark available for
selectors and Rogers making a case for him with pile of runs, he got a crack
again at International Cricket. And he responded brilliantly. With his
performances, he remained an integral part of the team for the next 2 years
having played a pivotal role in Australia’s re-emergence in Test Cricket. Having
played 15 Ashes test and ending his career with an average of 43 is a great
achievement and we all can be proud of his achievements. The left-handed
Australian is only the 5th batsman and first opener in Test history to register
50 plus scores in 7 Test innings in a row.
Let’s
take the example of how a batsman builds his innings in Test Cricket in a conventional
way. At the start of his innings, the first advice is always to leave the ball
well. Be patient to understand the nature of the pitch and bowling attack and
not to go for the deliveries away from your body. The bowlers try to lure the
batsman early on in his innings, but if he has the patience to not commit the
mistakes, then later on when he is set, he can dispatch the same deliveries for
boundary and end up with the honors on the scoreboard.
Similar
is the case in life. There are chances of mistakes happening in life. But if I
am patient enough to ward off any distractions and focus on my game, then great
things await in life.
These
learning have made a huge mark in my life. So, when I am not doing well and not
getting my desired results, I try to emulate them. I try to be patient and
continue doing the necessary things, so when the opportunity presents itself, I
am there to fulfill my potential and grab it with both hands.
I
will end my answer with a story shared by Rahul Dravid, who is patience
personified.
He said, “My wife and I have built a new home with a lovely garden which houses lovely bamboo trees. I got reading on the Chinese bamboo and learned that the tree takes 5 years, 3 months to grow to its whole height of 80 feet. Yet, for the first 5 years, you only see a tiny green shoot, but in the next 90 days, it grows into a full-fledged tree. But in those first 60 months, it is growing its strong network of roots underground, to support the tree. In an era of instant gratification, we settle for shorter trees, but remember patience has its reward. These are your years of growing that strong network of roots but be sure when you finally achieve your success, people will call it “overnight success”. If only they knew of the Chinese bamboo!”
