What has Test Cricket taught me?

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 3^rd 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!”