It all started when my mom taught me how to watch it and what are the rules of it. I've been watching and following for so many years. I'm talking about Cricket. I had a dream of becoming a cricketer in my childhood days. I first wanted to become a cricket commentator. I used to watch a hell a lot of matches and used to listen to cricket commentary for hours which made me pretty sound technically(became a reason for showing poor performances in tests). I used to make good technical analysis when I was 17 to 18 years old. Then, when mom was afraid of the big sphere(the kookaburra ball), she didn't allow me to play the game. I wanted to play it, wanted to go for coaching and stuff like that. But I do not regret coz cricket has already given a lot. I still have the passion at this stage. I watch tremendous amount of cricket. I can watch a whole test match ball by ball. It is because I like it. I watched the whole of the Test series(3 matches) b/w India and Srilanka recently and also Australia vs Pakistan (2 matches)and now that of Pakistan vs England(3 matches out of 5). I've become a maniac of cricket. But then there is a lot of difference. The way I was seeing it 5 years ago and the way I'm seeing now has entirely changed. I've now got better understanding of the game and that of the strategies.
After having seen so many matches, it feels like I've lived with the players for some time now. I've tried to know what kind of hardships they ought to undergo. What people see is only the money they get and criticize them. But there is something else in their lives. It is very difficult for each and every one of them out there. It is not at all easy to go out there and perform. It takes years of practice and humongous amount of stamina to go and perform. Bowlers, especially seamers have got more problems than anyone. Seamers undergo sprain in their gastrocnemius muscle after they bowl in different conditions in different pitches. Each time they hit the deck hard they undergo severe muscle work and impact loads onto their leg bones and their thigh muscles. Spinners' fingers need to be the strongest for giving the maximum amount of revs onto the ball. Each time they give the revs on to the ball their fingers undergo a lot of stress. Fingers undergo wear as they bowl a lot of overs. Apart form these the mantra of the bowlers "Line, length, pace and the variations they show using these" takes the maximum out of a bowler. I thought batting was easy but it needs tremendous focus and reflexes. It has got things like footwork, power, hand-eye coordination, concentration, reflexes, and above all technique. They also need the ability to adjust to the odd delivery that bounces or turns. I know that it takes years of practice to have a perfect follow through. What about fielding? For cupping a straight forward shot it takes the stretching of most of your muscles. That too is not easy. It requires sharp eyes, good reflexes and alertness. Wicket keeping requires swift movement of the legs, good judgement and awesome reflexes for sure.
All these doesn't come overnight, but takes years of practice and dedication to get what you want at the right moment. In a pressure situation. Cricket has given me everything. I started to improve my english only because of that.(Thanks to the good work of Harsha Bhogle and Geoffrey Boycott). I got to know about a lot of players. I became an anorak.
I always have found people criticising about India having the no.1 test spot. But it has taken a lot, for them to achieve it. I know it cause I've been watching it. India ought to be at no.1 especially for the greats of cricket namely Sachin, Rahul, Laxman, Sehwag and the underrated Zaheer Khan, if not for anybody else. The patience and perseverance these people have shown has been tremendous. I've always admired the patience of Rahul and Laxman. They do not care even when they are sidelined because of Sachin. But they have really done their job well as cricketers. Nobody can play as that of the Wall, and that of Laxman. They play it with soft hands. Its exceptionally good to watch them play.
Cricket demands energy. Shoaib Akhtar can bowl nearly 50 overs a day and that too with the longest runup(from the boundary ropes). Murali can spin it the whole day.with supple fingers. The point is I learned a lot from a lot of players. They are really good at what they do and that is what makes them special. There are so many cricketers that I know that this post would not hold that much.
This doesn't end with the technical part. There is something that has to be done behind the scenes. Homework. A cricketer has to follow a good diet, hours of workout, hours of practice, have to report periodically for the dope test, and should be out of their family(the amount of cricket being played nowadays!!).
Sachin used to practice by throwing from both the arms to the wicket by being out of the boundary line for hours with Kapil Dev. It shows even now when he throws it to the keeper. Kapil used to rub the ball on the back of his thighs and make it shine. It is actually a technique to make his thigh muscles stronger. Ricky Ponting used to practice a shot, million times and he says it should be done in order to get it right in a pressure situation. Cricket has become a game of hardwork, technique and mindset of the players rather than a game of chance (except for the pitches and conditions). Keywords are thinking and practice. It has given me patience, it has taught me about being a man, it has taught me about what is temperament, and most of all it has given me an opportunity to know about players. The professionals. I may play cricket bad, but nobody else would have tried this far without a coach. I've tried so many stuff myself with the hard ball. It has taken me years analyse each game properly. I wonder what would have taken those players on the field to get to that level. I owe a lot to this game. I show the gratitude by watching it and being passionate about it. I love the game. I'll continue to do so until I've passion for it.
-SATZ
After having seen so many matches, it feels like I've lived with the players for some time now. I've tried to know what kind of hardships they ought to undergo. What people see is only the money they get and criticize them. But there is something else in their lives. It is very difficult for each and every one of them out there. It is not at all easy to go out there and perform. It takes years of practice and humongous amount of stamina to go and perform. Bowlers, especially seamers have got more problems than anyone. Seamers undergo sprain in their gastrocnemius muscle after they bowl in different conditions in different pitches. Each time they hit the deck hard they undergo severe muscle work and impact loads onto their leg bones and their thigh muscles. Spinners' fingers need to be the strongest for giving the maximum amount of revs onto the ball. Each time they give the revs on to the ball their fingers undergo a lot of stress. Fingers undergo wear as they bowl a lot of overs. Apart form these the mantra of the bowlers "Line, length, pace and the variations they show using these" takes the maximum out of a bowler. I thought batting was easy but it needs tremendous focus and reflexes. It has got things like footwork, power, hand-eye coordination, concentration, reflexes, and above all technique. They also need the ability to adjust to the odd delivery that bounces or turns. I know that it takes years of practice to have a perfect follow through. What about fielding? For cupping a straight forward shot it takes the stretching of most of your muscles. That too is not easy. It requires sharp eyes, good reflexes and alertness. Wicket keeping requires swift movement of the legs, good judgement and awesome reflexes for sure.
All these doesn't come overnight, but takes years of practice and dedication to get what you want at the right moment. In a pressure situation. Cricket has given me everything. I started to improve my english only because of that.(Thanks to the good work of Harsha Bhogle and Geoffrey Boycott). I got to know about a lot of players. I became an anorak.
I always have found people criticising about India having the no.1 test spot. But it has taken a lot, for them to achieve it. I know it cause I've been watching it. India ought to be at no.1 especially for the greats of cricket namely Sachin, Rahul, Laxman, Sehwag and the underrated Zaheer Khan, if not for anybody else. The patience and perseverance these people have shown has been tremendous. I've always admired the patience of Rahul and Laxman. They do not care even when they are sidelined because of Sachin. But they have really done their job well as cricketers. Nobody can play as that of the Wall, and that of Laxman. They play it with soft hands. Its exceptionally good to watch them play.
Cricket demands energy. Shoaib Akhtar can bowl nearly 50 overs a day and that too with the longest runup(from the boundary ropes). Murali can spin it the whole day.with supple fingers. The point is I learned a lot from a lot of players. They are really good at what they do and that is what makes them special. There are so many cricketers that I know that this post would not hold that much.
This doesn't end with the technical part. There is something that has to be done behind the scenes. Homework. A cricketer has to follow a good diet, hours of workout, hours of practice, have to report periodically for the dope test, and should be out of their family(the amount of cricket being played nowadays!!).
Sachin used to practice by throwing from both the arms to the wicket by being out of the boundary line for hours with Kapil Dev. It shows even now when he throws it to the keeper. Kapil used to rub the ball on the back of his thighs and make it shine. It is actually a technique to make his thigh muscles stronger. Ricky Ponting used to practice a shot, million times and he says it should be done in order to get it right in a pressure situation. Cricket has become a game of hardwork, technique and mindset of the players rather than a game of chance (except for the pitches and conditions). Keywords are thinking and practice. It has given me patience, it has taught me about being a man, it has taught me about what is temperament, and most of all it has given me an opportunity to know about players. The professionals. I may play cricket bad, but nobody else would have tried this far without a coach. I've tried so many stuff myself with the hard ball. It has taken me years analyse each game properly. I wonder what would have taken those players on the field to get to that level. I owe a lot to this game. I show the gratitude by watching it and being passionate about it. I love the game. I'll continue to do so until I've passion for it.
-SATZ
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