Reading Cricket Cub

The use of technology in sports has been the subject of intense debate. The governing bodies of rugby and cricket have acquiesced to the use of technology for purposes of officiating. However, cricket includes technology in a limited way.

Television replays are used for stumping decisions, run outs and boundary calls. Cricket’s reality is that several umpiring errors are highlighted by comprehensive television coverage with cameras at all angles. Therefore, it is no surprise that some quarters are clamouring for the use of technology to assist umpires. On the other side of the continuum, there are those who insist that the status quo should be maintained.

There is the view that increased technology use would make the game of cricket fairer by reducing umpiring errors. To evaluate this, the International Cricket Council experimented with a decision referral system whereby umpires could refer dubious decisions like disputed catches or leg-before-wicket decisions. The results of this have shown that in critical cases, the footage used to examine decisions sometimes provides inconclusive evidence.

Cricket purists advanced the notion that increased technology use would make the game of cricket more protracted. This seems to be a moot point, since minutes are wasted replaying a boundary call that would be a matter of a couple runs. The technology advocates suggests that it is better to spend this time determining if a batsman is out or not out. If purists are thinking about the game-length, then they’ll address the problem with over-rates.

Purists argue that the human element is and should remain an integral aspect of the game. They opine that everyone makes mistakes and that cricket is a microcosm of life. Therefore, unfair decisions give teams the chance to demonstrate character.

The counter-argument is that viewers and supporters don’t want to see a microcosm of life. They want to see a match-up of skills, not umpiring decisions that adversely affect a team’s fortunes. For the less-passionate fans, it seems a pyrrhic victory if obtained by a glaring umpiring error.

The series that the West Indies won against Pakistan in the year 2000 is a good example. The West Indians were nine wickets down and about to lose the series. Then not one, but two umpiring errors ensured that they won the series based on one undeserved win. As a West Indian supporter and the victory certainly felt hollow to me.

Undeniably, the role of the umpire will be affected by the increase of technology. The nature of that change will be subject to debate. There is the view that the umpire’s role and authority will be undermined by increased use of technology. However, this is yet another moot point, since umpires are made to look foolish (via replays) each time they make an error. This is exacerbated when the cameras focus on them for a few seconds after the commentators denounce the decision as “atrocious” or “a shocker”.

The entire technology debate is useless. What the ICC should forbid is the constant replays that place too much emphasis on umpiring errors. The fact is that umpires make few errors, but TV coverage and the way the human mind works makes them appear as buffoons who can’t see very well.

The television viewers are privy to the analysis provided by “Hawkeye” or “Hot Spot” and the benefit of several replays. The ICC must decide to either continue to allow the over-examination of umpiring decisions or discontinue it. If decisions are going to be scrutinized, then those making it should have the same tools. If this is not the case, the decision should not be scrutinized. After all, many viewers or supporters wait until they see a replay before their emotions go one way or the other.

The law of cricket states that if the umpire is unsure whether a batsman is out, he should give the batsman the benefit of the doubt. The modern umpire is not too interested in giving the benefit of the doubt, because there is a lot of pressure to get the decision correct each time. The ICC needs to make a decision to give umpires some more toys, or take them away from the television and stadium coverage. The game of cricket will be better off for it either way.

Darrell Victor is a freelance writer and cricket enthusiast from the West Indies. For articles on West Indies cricket, read:

Reasons for the decline of West Indies cricket: http://www.helium.com/items/1264594-west-indies-cricket

A West Indian Perspective on Test cricket: http://www.helium.com/items/1258936-test-cricket

Being a cricket umpire is a tough job, but that does not excuse under-performance. Some cricket umpires are better than others are. The role of the umpire is to enforce the rules and laws of cricket and to ensure that players maintain the spirit of the game. Judging the best umpire goes beyond this; it must include the respect of peers and recognition by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Some of the most prominent umpires in recent cricket history include Harold “Dickie” Bird, David Shepherd, Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel. What set these umpires apart were their decision-making ability and the respect that they earned from captains and players.

The best cricket umpire must be one who officiated in recent times, where technology was available to scrutinize their decisions. The top umpires mentioned have officiated in high-profile games and after 1995- where TV broadcasters used technology to enhance television coverage and assist the third umpire.

In the old days, assessing an umpire was difficult as there were no replays or even television coverage. In the modern era, there are replays and even decision aids like ‘Hawkeye’ and ‘Snickometer’ that commentators use to assess umpiring decisions. The best umpire would be one whose decisions were generally spot-on, even under the intense scrutiny of modern technology.

Simon Taufel of Australia is the best umpire in modern cricket. He is young, prudent and has the respect and admiration of players and management teams. Taufel began umpiring at international level in Boxing Day Test against in Australia- at the age of 29. When the ICC implemented the elite panel of umpires, Simon was a certain selection. He won the ICC’s Umpire of the Year award for every year between 2002 and 2009.

Even though cricket authorities, commentators and players regard Taufel as the best umpire almost unanimously, he is capable of the odd error. However, he is less likely to make howlers like Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva. Taufel’s mistakes are palpable and usually defensible. Taufel does not court controversy as his compatriot and fellow umpire, Darrell Hair, was inclined to do.

Taufel’s level of fitness is an important attribute that enables him to concentrate for long periods. Born in 1971, Taufel was the youngest elite umpire- making his exponential rise to the top of the umpiring ladder even more remarkable. He may even have officiated in the 2003 and 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup finals if Australia did not earn a berth on those two occasions.

Other umpires like Steve Bucknor and David Shepherd were good, but they made several howlers towards the end of their career- tainting their reputations a bit. Harold Bird last umpired an international match in 1996- when the technology used to scrutinize umpires’ decisions was not as advanced. Simon Taufel officiated in many international matches and still maintained over 97% accuracy with his decisions. He is the best modern umpire by some distance. Given the significant pressure on modern cricket umpires, Simon Taufel may be the best cricket umpire of all time.

Darrell Victor is a freelance writer and cricket enthusiast from the West Indies. For articles on West Indies cricket, read:

Reasons for the decline of West Indies cricket: http://www.helium.com/items/1264594-west-indies-cricket

A West Indian Perspective on Test cricket

http://www.helium.com/items/1258936-test-cricket

When discussing great commentators, Richie Benaud automatically comes to mind. Naturally, there would have been many more great commentators before Richie Benaud, but those were way before my time. Richie Benaud was popular, knowledgeable and pleasant to listen to, but he was not my favourite commentator.

Cricket commentary- whether on radio or television- is an art. A good commentator needs to have certain prerequisites, including good voice, command of language, knowledge of cricket, awareness of history and current events surrounding cricket. The cricket commentators that get my attention have all the basic requirements. What sets them apart is the perspective that they have. My favourite commentators have insightful comments and candour.

To select a favourite, I would reduce my selection pool to four renowned commentators. Tony Greig, Tony Cozier, Geoff Boycott and Michael Holding are the names that pop to my mind immediately. All of these commentators are experienced and have something unique to offer in their commentary. They are not mundane as some of the recently retired players, like Nasser Hussain and Ian Bishop. Some commentators are so parochial and limited in scope that I cannot even consider them good commentators.

Tony Greig

The South African born Englishman is quite an effervescent personality. Even in his playing days, he courted controversy with outlandish remarks. Before a 1976 series against the West Indies, Greig- as captain of England- infamously remarked that he would make the West Indies grovel. He is not as outlandish as a commentator but very straightforward. He is opinionated and knowledgeable in the game of cricket and the politics of the game.

Tony Cozier

Cozier has provided cricket commentary for nearly five decades and is referred to as the voice of Caribbean cricket. Although he did not play the game at the highest level, Cozier has been around the game long enough to have an appreciation of its history and issues as well. He provides lucid commentary that is always interesting for the cricket enthusiast. You can usually learn something just by listening to Cozier.

Michael Holding

Tony Cozier is the voice of Caribbean cricket, but Michael Holding must be his deputy. The former West Indies fast-bowler gives no quarter with his commentary. Although he is West Indian, he is capable of giving objective commentary even when the West Indies are playing. He speaks with a soothing Jamaican accent that belies the sharp comments that he makes from time to time.

Geoff Boycott

‘Me grandma can bowl better that that!” or ‘That is lollipop bowling’ were signature comments of Boycott’s. Apart from his cheeky comments, Boycott is regarded as one of the best openers in cricket history. As such, his opinions have considerable authority. Geoff Boycott’s batting was as stodgy as his commentary is abrasive. However, no one can argue that he knows his stuff and can support his abrasive comments and interesting insights. Boycott ’s comment are often lively and engaging- even when the cricket is not.

My favourite commentator is Geoff Boycott because he is the kind of commentator that you love or love to hate. Just as his batting had a character to it, so does his commentary. Whether he is writing or speaking about the game of cricket, Boycott’s dry humour appeals to me. In addition, Boycott’s grandma can give better commentary than several contemporary cricket commentators can!

Darrell Victor

A key attribute of being an already is being able to consistently and significantly contribute with both the bat and ball. For a batsman, scoring over 100 runs in a match is considered well beyond average. For bowlers, taking more than 10 wickets in a match is exceptional. Fancy a player who scores over 100 runs and takes over 10 wickets in the same match. That must be some feat! Such a feat is it, that (at the time of writing) only three players have done this in Test cricket’s history – Australia’s Alan Davidson, England’s Ian Botham and Pakistan’s Imran Khan.

1. Alan Davidson – 124 runs and 11 wickets in December 1960

Against the West Indies in Brisbane, the left-arm fast bowler from New South Wales scored 44 and 80 runs in the first and second innings respectively. The second innings half-century was also the allrounder’s highest score in Tests. Davidson scalped two five-wicket hauls – 5/135 and 6/87 – to leave the Aussies 233 runs to win. Although the NSW left-handed batsman did his best to help Australia win, the match ended in a thrilling tie – the first-ever tie in Test history.

2. Ian Botham – 114 runs and 13 wickets in February 1980

Ian Botham was England’s greatest allrounder in his era and perhaps of all time. In the one-off Test against India at Bombay (now Mumbai), the England allrounder scored a test century and took two five-wicket hauls (6/58 and 7/48) to help England to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over the Indians. What was amazing was that Botham’s 114 came in an innings total of 296, where no other batsman passed 43. His bowling effort also dominated the wickets column, with John Lever being the next best bowler with only four wickets in the match.

3. Imran Khan – 117 runs and 11 wickets in January 1983

India – Pakistan Test matches were usually hotly contested. Pakistan legend, Imran Khan, saved his best all-round performance for his sub-continental neighbours at Faisalabad in 1983. He opened the bowling, to take 6/98 as India was bowled out for 372 runs in the first innings. Although that seemed to be a competitive score, India were forced to toil in the field as four Pakistan batsmen scored centuries – including Imran’s aggressive 117 off 121 balls.

When India batted again, the greatest Pakistani allrounder reverted to the role of innings destroyer, as he took 5/82 to leave Pakistan a straightforward target of 7 runs to win the match. Pakistan won by 10 wickets, due to the amazing all-round performance of the Imran Khan – the inspirational captain and world-beater.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners and fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen:

The best spin bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1516046-best-spin-bowlers-in-cricket

The top 5 fast bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1518569-top-fast-bowlers-in-cricket-history

When discussing great commentators, Richie Benaud automatically comes to mind. Naturally, there would have been many more great commentators before Richie Benaud, but those were way before my time. Richie Benaud was popular, knowledgeable and pleasant to listen to, but he was not my favourite commentator.

Cricket commentary- whether on radio or television- is an art. A good commentator needs to have certain prerequisites, including good voice, command of language, knowledge of cricket, awareness of history and current events surrounding cricket. The cricket commentators that get my attention have all the basic requirements. What sets them apart is the perspective that they have. My favourite commentators have insightful comments and candour.

To select a favourite, I would reduce my selection pool to four renowned commentators. Tony Greig, Tony Cozier, Geoff Boycott and Michael Holding are the names that pop to my mind immediately. All of these commentators are experienced and have something unique to offer in their commentary. They are not mundane as some of the recently retired players, like Nasser Hussain and Ian Bishop. Some commentators are so parochial and limited in scope that I cannot even consider them good commentators.

Tony Greig

The South African born Englishman is quite an effervescent personality. Even in his playing days, he courted controversy with outlandish remarks. Before a 1976 series against the West Indies, Greig- as captain of England- infamously remarked that he would make the West Indies grovel. He is not as outlandish as a commentator but very straightforward. He is opinionated and knowledgeable in the game of cricket and the politics of the game.

Tony Cozier

Cozier has provided cricket commentary for nearly five decades and is referred to as the voice of Caribbean cricket. Although he did not play the game at the highest level, Cozier has been around the game long enough to have an appreciation of its history and issues as well. He provides lucid commentary that is always interesting for the cricket enthusiast. You can usually learn something just by listening to Cozier.

Michael Holding

Tony Cozier is the voice of Caribbean cricket, but Michael Holding must be his deputy. The former West Indies fast-bowler gives no quarter with his commentary. Although he is West Indian, he is capable of giving objective commentary even when the West Indies are playing. He speaks with a soothing Jamaican accent that belies the sharp comments that he makes from time to time.

Geoff Boycott

‘Me grandma can bowl better that that!” or ‘That is lollipop bowling’ were signature comments of Boycott’s. Apart from his cheeky comments, Boycott is regarded as one of the best openers in cricket history. As such, his opinions have considerable authority. Geoff Boycott’s batting was as stodgy as his commentary is abrasive. However, no one can argue that he knows his stuff and can support his abrasive comments and interesting insights. Boycott ’s comment are often lively and engaging- even when the cricket is not.

My favourite commentator is Geoff Boycott because he is the kind of commentator that you love or love to hate. Just as his batting had a character to it, so does his commentary. Whether he is writing or speaking about the game of cricket, Boycott’s dry humour appeals to me. In addition, Boycott’s grandma can give better commentary than several contemporary cricket commentators can!

Darrell Victor

A key attribute of being an already is being able to consistently and significantly contribute with both the bat and ball. For a batsman, scoring over 100 runs in a match is considered well beyond average. For bowlers, taking more than 10 wickets in a match is exceptional. Fancy a player who scores over 100 runs and takes over 10 wickets in the same match. That must be some feat! Such a feat is it, that (at the time of writing) only three players have done this in Test cricket’s history – Australia’s Alan Davidson, England’s Ian Botham and Pakistan’s Imran Khan.

1. Alan Davidson – 124 runs and 11 wickets in December 1960

Against the West Indies in Brisbane, the left-arm fast bowler from New South Wales scored 44 and 80 runs in the first and second innings respectively. The second innings half-century was also the allrounder’s highest score in Tests. Davidson scalped two five-wicket hauls – 5/135 and 6/87 – to leave the Aussies 233 runs to win. Although the NSW left-handed batsman did his best to help Australia win, the match ended in a thrilling tie – the first-ever tie in Test history.

2. Ian Botham – 114 runs and 13 wickets in February 1980

Ian Botham was England’s greatest allrounder in his era and perhaps of all time. In the one-off Test against India at Bombay (now Mumbai), the England allrounder scored a test century and took two five-wicket hauls (6/58 and 7/48) to help England to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over the Indians. What was amazing was that Botham’s 114 came in an innings total of 296, where no other batsman passed 43. His bowling effort also dominated the wickets column, with John Lever being the next best bowler with only four wickets in the match.

3. Imran Khan – 117 runs and 11 wickets in January 1983

India – Pakistan Test matches were usually hotly contested. Pakistan legend, Imran Khan, saved his best all-round performance for his sub-continental neighbours at Faisalabad in 1983. He opened the bowling, to take 6/98 as India was bowled out for 372 runs in the first innings. Although that seemed to be a competitive score, India were forced to toil in the field as four Pakistan batsmen scored centuries – including Imran’s aggressive 117 off 121 balls.

When India batted again, the greatest Pakistani allrounder reverted to the role of innings destroyer, as he took 5/82 to leave Pakistan a straightforward target of 7 runs to win the match. Pakistan won by 10 wickets, due to the amazing all-round performance of the Imran Khan – the inspirational captain and world-beater.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners and fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen:

The best spin bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1516046-best-spin-bowlers-in-cricket

The top 5 fast bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1518569-top-fast-bowlers-in-cricket-history

T20 World Cup would be the international competitors of Twenty20 cricket. Occasion is organized by sport’s governing body, International Cricket Council (ICC). The tournament includes twelve all-male teams likewise as is challenged by every one of the Test-playing nations and the qualifiers.

Entire cricket world wait to make the T20 World Cup and use a perfect fun viewing it with buddies and good friends. You will find lots of ideal cricket teams actively playing in country with their admirers distribute all over too since it undoubtedly is difficult for your freakouts to keep a trail of their very much loved cricketers. The cricket is played all around the year likewise as Cricket lovers delay for any T20 World Cup desperately.

When a game is planning live, then scores of that specific match use a higher value. Evidently, why would anybody go to make the recorded matches likewise as then enjoy them afterward. In addition when its about the Planet Cup, then nobody would desire to see something that is previous information. It can be typically stated how the enjoyment and crisp of the meals is sustained till you eat fresh. Immediately after getting long-standing, the taste does not continue to be exact same. Same stands out as the situation with universe pot dwell score. In case you watch the ongoing tournament for T20 World Cup stay score, then you undoubtedly will realize the genuine exhilaration.

Exhilaration of cricket fanatics has reached to its best placement. Every single other admirer’s thoughts looks to get packed with many questions, like who would take the prize in addition as which player will shine from the society pot. Immediately after all, country pot will be the biggest tournaments within the record of cricket. All players participating in this game have an eye on it as well as desire to display their top performance, in order that their lovers shall be fulfilled.

In the fans, one of the most substantial thing would be to discover society pot are living scores from whichever sources people are obtainable to them with easiness. For anyone who is a housewife or even the individual who stays only at house, then sports and news channels shall be suitable for you personally to know the planet pot are living score. Similarly, should you be a professional, then cricket web internet sites are very best for you. It actually becomes important for that addicts to know probably the most up-to-date happenings.

Summary: T20 World Cup is highlight of every one of the cricket lovers in the universe. It is not just towards the youth, but for every single generation.

The way twenty-twenty cricket is gaining popularity among the cricket lovers is amazing. There was a time when there was only test cricket and one-day international matches took a long time to establish themselves and people were not ready to accept that a game like cricket should be shortened and rules modified so that it fits in just one day. But then years later, one-day matches gained popularity across the world and every team started playing them.

Twenty-twenty format of cricket was recently born and surprisingly it sprang to popularity very soon unlike other formats of the game.

There are several reasons supporting this new format of the game -

1) Time saving – this match gets over in a span of about three hours flat. In this fast-paced world, no one has time to watch cricket matches all day long; it’s easier for the teams playing as well as for the fans who want to watch the matches. Taking a day off from their busy work schedule is difficult but managing to take off to flock the stadiums for 3-4 hours, is much easier.

2) More people turn up at the stadiums – Just for the reason mentioned above, more people are buying the tickets for the twenty-twenty matches than the one-days or the test matches these days. They need less time, and they get the thrill of watching a match from the stands.

3) More money involved – as people walk into stadiums to watch these matches or follow them on TV, everyone is making more money this way, be it the administrators of the grounds, sponsors on the TV or the show hosts or the players.

4) Rules are new – there are a few new rules introduced in this format of the game and as is human nature people always prefer something new, something different than what they have been having over the past so many years.

5) More action – as the game has reduced over’s, players are forced to play dangerous shots, take chances and make runs in a hurry, which ensures non-stop action for the viewers. There are many more sixes and fours being hit in T20 matches than any other form of cricket. The wickets fall much quicker, there is better fielding and some tremendous scope to watch run-outs and magnificent catches as each team tries to put in more than 100% to ensure they don’t miss out on any chance that may cost them dearly later. The emotions and adrenaline run higher in these matches and that is definitely something cricket lovers love to watch all around the world.

Many old timers may not like this format of the game but as long as the youngsters enjoy it, twenty-twenty cricket is here to stay!

Article Source: http://EzineArticle

The first success lesson is that you and I must not dwell on our mistakes however humiliating they are. We have to be tough minded and just focus on the next ball to be bowled or the next project in our lives.

Cricket is a team game but there are only 11 players fielding (bowling and catching the ball) and they are spread out on a large field. Any mistakes you make are seen at once by your team mates and the audience. The mistakes of the batting side are also clearly visible as only two people bat at a time.

Kevin Pietersen, the promising England batsman, dropped two catches in the first test when he was fielding but then went on to a play a good batsman’s innings. A commentator remarked that he must have a strong mind to get over the disappointment of dropping the catches enough to allow him to bat well

Geraint Jones, the wicket keeper, had also dropped two catches and again a commentator remarked that you can try to put your mistakes at the back of your mind but it is not that easy. The memory keeps recurring. However, Jones batted well in spite of the memory that must have haunted him. Later in the series, he also took some magnificent catches to make up for the ones he had dropped.

Both captains, Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting, batted poorly in the first two tests and were heavily criticized in the papers. However, in the third test match both captains batted extraordinarily well. They both showed the fighting spirit to get over the depression they must have felt after the first and second matches and the criticism they were receiving daily.

A second key success lesson is that you must not get distracted from your goal of scoring runs or anything else by mental or physical pain. In ordinary life, many painful things can happen which can demoralise you unless you are determined enough to keep going in spite of the pain. Keep focused on your goals and dreams whatever happens.

Those who have not played cricket may not realise how hard a cricket ball is. It is especially hard and bouncy when it is new. Fast bowlers are usually given the new ball so that they can bounce it high to hit the batsmen in the head, throat, ribs or hands.

Once the batsmen get distracted by the pain in their head or hands, they will be vulnerable to the next ball and will do something silly like knocking up a catch or failing to protect their wicket (the three stumps or sticks protruding from the ground) from getting hit by the ball.

Brett Lee, the Australian fast bowler, was run out when he hesitated before running. He wanted to flap his hand to get rid of the pain. His index finger and then his thumb had been hit by fast balls. Later, however, in another match, he redeemed himself by batting well even though he had been hit hard on the head and the arm!

On the second day of the first test England were bowling at the Australians who were having their second innings (chance to bat).

However, the England bowlers were not harassing the batsmen enough. Boycott, the former great England batsman, commented that the ball should be whistling about the batsmen’s ears and hitting their gloves:

“The ball is new and hard. Now is the time to hit the batsmen before the ball gets too soft. Once the batsmen get too comfortable, they will start thinking: ‘I fancy scoring a hundred.’”

Even the tailenders or weaker batsmen who bat last have to suffer. The bowlers cannot allow them to stay in too long. Boycott continues:

“Bowlers should hit the tailenders in the ribs or on the hand before they get too comfortable. That’s what you have to do as a fast bowler. You have to hurt the opposition tailenders. Tailenders are alright if there is not a likelihood of them getting hurt. They’re not too brave.”

On Saturday, the third day of the test, the Australian tail enders were batting. Gillespie, one of the tailenders, was hit in the stomach near the belly button. He grimaced in pain. A few balls later he was hit in the groin by a ball from Harmison and doubled over in agony. The ball was travelling at about 90 miles an hour. The crowd roared with laughter. Harmison had been aiming for the throat and the toes and the crown jewels

It can take a good over (6 balls from the same bowler) or two to get focused after being hurt. But Gillespie is a gutsy player and practises hard at his batting. He realizes it is important for a tailender to score runs or at least stay in. He batted on bravely.

The gutsy performance of the Australian tailenders had much to do with the Australian success in the first test match of the Ashes series. They had learned how to overcome sharp physical pain and recover their focus quickly.

We all need to learn to accept the fact that we will suffer mental and physical pain at some point in achieving our goals. The secret is to forget the pain as quickly as possible and just concentrate on doing what we have to do.

Further success lessons came from the third test match. One of them is that sometimes it is better not to listen to the critics whether they are outside or inside your own head.

Australia had won the first test match and then England won the second test on the 7th Aug 2005 a date that will go down in history as the date of one of the greatest cricket matches ever played.

England won the match by 2 runs only – an amazingly close margin. Much of the success was due to the England captain, Michael Vaughan, but Vaughan had not scored enough runs himself in this test or the first one. He could guarantee that the papers would be having a go at him in a big way. His solution was simple. He did not read the papers.

On Thursday, England went in to bat. Michael Vaughan was in third and was under great pressure to perform. This is where his policy of not reading the papers paid off. He scored his first century of the series. The audience were up and out of their seats applauding as he succeeded. He had scored 13 fours (hits to the boundary).

A captain who scores runs can lead by example. It is important that he is in form as actions speak much louder than words. In the end he made a large total of 166 runs with about 20 four’s and at least one six (a hit over the boundary).

He told an interviewer that before batting he had talked to the young boy who was the England mascot for the day. The lad had already had three heart by pass operations. This made Vaughan feel less tension as he realised that, at the age of thirty, he had so much to be thankful for and that scoring or not scoring runs was not that important in the whole scheme of things.

He also decided to bat on intuition and not to think too much. He had already done his thinking and his practice. Once he was facing some of the best bowlers in the world, he would not have time to think. His plan worked and he smashed the ball all over the place.

However, in the end Australia held out for a draw. They were saved mainly by the rain which meant that England had less time to get them out than was necessary.

So then: keep going even if you make embarrassing mistakes in full public view. Regain your focus on your goals even if you have been hit by physical or mental pain. Even the great Jim Rohn lost a million pounds after he had signed a form without realising the liabilities involved. He soon regained his focus and the lost money. Refuse to fill your mind with the views of your critics and keep your life in perspective by thinking of those millions of people who are so much worse off than you. Finally,once your thinking has been done, take action wholeheartedly without worrying about the results.

There are many advantages to using an online sporting goods store. What other place can you buy an array of items such as cricket bat accessories, rugby boots and tennis equipment for example? Online stores often specialize in one or more sports and therefore have a much greater range of goods for a particular sport than local sports shops can hold.

If you are in search of cricket bat accessories such as a nice traditional style diamond pattern bat grip or if you are looking for a more durable type of cover for your bat an online specialist might be the best place to look. They will sell a variety of accessories such as a fibre anti-scuff sheet which will fit nicely on any style of bat. It is self adhesive and gives added protection to the face and edges of the bat and removes the need for oiling.

You may also be looking for a particular bat grip such as a Puma cricket Bat grip, which has a unique hexagon grip pattern which provides added cushioning for the bottom hand. A specialist retailer is more likely to stock these for all the different Puma bat models than a local sports shop.

Other essential cricket bat accessories include a cricket bat mallet. This is a vital piece of equipment for knocking-in your new bat. New cricket bats should never be used before they have been prepared and fully knocked in. Knocking in is a process which involves hours of gentle tapping of the cricket bat face to help compress the soft wood and make it better able to withstand the contact from a cricket ball. Each bat is different and even pre-prepared bats should have additional time taken to ensure that they do not get damaged. A cricket bat mallet is either a cricket ball on a stick or a specially designed wooden mallet. Specialist retailers will give full advice on how to prepare your bat for use and prevent damage.

If you are looking for these accessories some linseed oil is vital to prepare and care for your cricket bat if it has a natural finish. This oil is used to condition the wood to help stop moisture getting into the toe which can cause swelling and then splitting. It also prevents the wood from drying out when kept indoors or during hot weather. The oil is applied lightly to the face, edges and toe. This coating lasts quite a while, as a little goes a long way.

Did you want more of a specialized treatment that is made specifically with the sport of cricket in mind? Owzat bat conditioning oil is designed specifically for these bats. This oil is unique and using this product will help keep your bat in great condition.

Having the right gear for your sporting needs can have a positive effect on the way you play. Therefore, adding a few pieces here and there gives you plenty of flexibility, while enabling you to have the essentials you need to maximize your game strategy.

By shopping online you can find all of your cricket bat accessories for all your needs, whether it is edging tape, grip applicators or a bat cover you are looking for. You can purchase all your products in one location for your convenience.

Established in 1973, Morrant Group Ltd is a family run business with over 35 years experience in mail order team sports equipment. Father, Daughter, Son and staff are working hard every day to ensure that our company achieves its aim. We sell a range of sports gear, including cricket bat accessories and other goods. Please visit our website at http://www.morrant.com.