Life is like Sport

The (Almost) Perfect Game

2010-06-18T11:50:00.004+10:00

Recently, Detroit Tiger's pitcher Armando Galarraga came within a whisker of a 'perfect game' - a rare baseball occurence where no batter even gets to first base. In hundreds of thousands of games, only 20 pitchers have even achieved this feat - although perhaps it should have been 21.

In the ninth inning with 2 outs, what would have been the last out of the game was called 'safe' at first base, despite replays indicating the opposite. Even the umpire who made the call later apologised - having seen the replay.

The best thoughts i've seen on this matter surprisingly come from Jon Acuff. Normally known for his satire, Jon (who is also quite the sports fan) wrote a piece about this game.

In short he commends Galarraga for showing forgiveness and grace towards the umpire, when it would have been so easy not to; points out that nobody is perfect - even long-standing well-respected experienced umpires; and admires the attitude of the pitcher to put the incident behind him.

Sure, he could have been the first Detroit Tiger in 110 years to pitch a perfect game, but that's in the past now. Armando Galarraga has moved on.

Did Jesus Play Cricket?

2010-03-16T11:51:00.001+10:00

If you've had a read of my profile, you already know that my interests include cricket and Jesus. So you can imagine my surprise when I stumpled across the article Jesus Played Cricket.

Clearly, the game referred to is a pre-cursor to modern day cricket (it is described as a game with club and ball). I doubt they would have had LBW or a video umpire. But it seems that even back then, and in that part of the world, there was a basic hit-the-ball field-the-ball game.

Jamaica and Gold Medals

2010-02-12T21:10:00.004+10:00

With the winter olympics just around the corner, a friend of mine hosted a Cool Runnings movie night.

I'd forgotten what an enjoyable movie it is. But aside from all the humour, my favourite line was from Coach 'Irv' Blitzer, talking with Derice.

Derice, a gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without one, you'll never be enough with one.

It's another of those classic lines that applies equally well to sport and to life.

Tony Dungy is Second

2010-01-17T16:11:00.007+10:00

NFL coach Tony Dungy has recently revealed some of the back-story behind his time at the Buccaneers and at the Colts. Featured on I Am Second, he has some great thoughts such as "How you respond to failure, how you respond to disappointment says a lot more than how you do in successes."

But he also talks about the more spiritual aspect of his life.

My favourite passage in the bible is where Christ says "What would it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul?" And with 31 years in the national football league I have seen that a lot.

It's a quote that Dungy lives out in his life. He sums it up with this philosophy.

Every decision I make in life I am going to make it through the lens of Jesus Christ. I'm going to put him out there first - and my own feelings, my own thoughts, my own desires are going to be second. It's that simple. And if we do that Christ promised that he would come into our lives, he'd be our head coach and he'd guide us to that victory, that ultimate victory.

Link to video

Picking Teams

2010-01-15T12:52:00.002+10:00

This season the cricket commentary on ABC radio has an extra feature - Justin Langer. Having retired only a few seasons ago, his insights on the game (and life) are insightful.

Today Ricky Ponting scored another double century. It was reasonably important after some people have been wondering if he still has what it takes to bat at number 3 for Australia - having made 0 and 11 in the previous match.

Justin Langer's comment probably applies to life as much as it does to cricket.

I'd like to think that when you're picking a cricket team, you pick character over cover drives.... There's plenty of talent out there, but you need strong people - strong characters.

Eye Line of Tim Tebow

2010-01-02T21:50:00.006+10:00

Channel One showed some American college football today, with the Florida University team and their famous Tim Tebow.

Some players in football use 'eye black' to minimise glare from stadium lights, but it's Tebow's habit to write a bible verse on it (eg here and here). Today's was Ephesians 2:8-10

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

I think this might be catching on. A player from the Cincinnati team had "1 Tim 1:15-16" on his arm. So i looked that up as well:

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" — and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

A Save to Savour

2009-09-18T14:53:00.005+10:00

The other day i wrote about players who do extraordinary things. An example is this catch by LA Angels outfielder Torii Hunter. The picture doesn't quite show how far Torii had to jump to catch what would have been a game-changing home run.

There's something about such feats of excellence - those momentary pieces of brilliance that give us a glimpse of magnificence.

Players and Fans

2009-09-13T13:53:00.004+10:00

The other day I was writing on a friend's blog about sports fans. I got on a bit of a roll, and finished up with this comment which summed up my point - and kinda also sums up this blog.

If we are to take inspiration from sport, I suggest we aim to be more like the players than the fans. Players eat, sleep and breathe the game. It is a part of their lives every day of the year. Their life is centred around improving their game, such that they can be more effective. Every now and again they come together to do something so great that thousands are attracted to it.

Ricky Ponting, The Ashes & MJ

2009-08-26T06:44:00.007+10:00

You probably already know that the 2009 Ashes (cricket's traditional contest between England and Australia) has been won by England. One unfortunate record is that Ricky Ponting becomes the first Australian captain to lose 2 series in England since 'Billy' Murdoch in 1890.

In cricket circles, some say Ponting should resign from the captaincy. Others say he should lead Australia for as long as he wants - being the first Australian captain to win in India in 35 years, and the only captain to win 2 World Cups (2003 and 2007) - both undefeated.

Ponting even mentioned the possibility of playing on for the 2013 Ashes (at the age of 38) in order to get some "good memories" of a series in England. It reminded me of that famous quote by Michael Jordan:

I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot ... and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

All-Star Qualities

2009-07-16T21:22:00.007+10:00

I tuned in for the start of US Baseball All-Star game, forgetting there'd be at least half an hour of American-style pomp and ceremony before the game actually started. Howevere, i did enjoy the pre-recorded message from President Obama. He described the qualities that determine greatness - for baseballers and for everyone else..

Hard work, Leadership, Passion and Teamwork.

Tomorrow's Game

2009-07-08T18:32:00.006+10:00

Yesterday i caught some baseball action between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds. The Phillies took it out 22-1 (the largest defeat in the Reds' history). The result was obvious at 16-1 in the 7th inning, when the commentators made the following observation:

The beauty of the game of baseball is that you play tomorrow. If you're a football team and you get shellacked the way the Reds are tonight - you gotta wait a whole week, you gotta study film the next day, you have to have your coaches getting on you for the next 3 or 4 days. (In baseball) tomorrow you come out here, you take batting practice, you warm up, you play the game just like it never happened. So, hopefully that'll be the case for the Reds, and they'll get their momentum back in the way of a win.

It struck me that this is similar to the forgiveness offered by Jesus. From time to time, we put in a poor performance - but the slate can be wiped clean and with forgiveness we can go on to put in better effort the next time around. I've heard the phrase "A God of second chances".

For the record, the Cincinnati Reds did go on to play the following night, and record a 4-3 win.

Better Blokes or Bitter Boys

2009-06-13T11:29:00.002+10:00

OK, so there has been a fair amount of discussion about the first state of origin match. I was talking with some NSW people the other day, who still felt agrieved about a contentious refereeing decision that occured in the opening minutes of the match.

Naturally, i did point out that the final margin was large enough for this decision to be inconsequential to the end result. Or was it? Sometimes when things go badly, heads go down - or in sporting language, the momentum changes. This is when players find out what they're made of, and the NSW coach found that his team "needed to respond better".

At the risk of being parochial, i believe this is why Queensland performs so well in State of Origin. Numerous times, Queensland teams have mounted last-minute comebacks when all seemed lost. Regardless of the score, the time remaining, or the reputation of the opposition, there is a attitude of playing at 100% until the final whistle.

Whether it's in life or in rugby league, adversity will come our way. What matters is how we respond. We can take the Jarryd Hayne option, and whinge and whine about our misfortune. Or we can respond like the Queenslanders (who lost a star player to injury during the first half) and resolve to be even better than before.

Qld v NSW (in Victoria)

2009-06-12T17:08:00.005+10:00

It's State of Origin time again - with game one of the series played in Melbourne. It's a situation that can confuse the occasional sports viewer. Why would a competition between Queensland and New South Wales be held in the state of Victoria?

Whilst Melbourne has a team in the national league, the game still hasn't entirely taken off in south-eastern state. What better way of showcasing rugby league to Victoria, than to show them the pinnacle of the sport?

Similar controversies happened even back in Jesus's day. People asked him similar sorts of questions, as he associated with outsiders - people who weren't considered part of the in-crowd.

This is probably the only time i'll be comparing rugby league administrators with Jesus, but perhaps they have also decided to "go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people".

Number 34

2009-05-24T14:20:00.007+10:00

If you've seen the Los Angeles Angels this season, you may have wondered about the black-and-white "34" patch they are wearing on their team shirts.

It's a tribute to Nick Adenhart, a young Angels pitcher who tragically passed away earlier this season. Hours after pitching, he was in a car when another driver ran a red light and collided with Adenhart's car - ending the lives of Adenhart and his two passengers.

So many emotions come out of this, and two of the biggest are sadness and shock. Who would have thought as he pitched 6 scoreless innings (described by his catcher as the "best I've ever seen him throw") that within hours his life would be over - at just 22 years of age?

And i wonder this... we sometimes hear the phrase "live like each day is your last". If Nick had known this was to be his last day, what would he have done? His family, in their statement to the public said "He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring, and compassionate people. The Angels were his extended family."

I can't help but think that he still would have taken the mound for one last night of pitching in the Major League.

It's a rare thing that someone can find something they're passionate about - and skilled at - and can bring joy to so many. Even though Nick Adenhart was unfortunate to leave so early, he was one of the blessed few that managed to live the dream.

What's that saying? It's not the amount of years in the life, but the amount of life in the years. Well, Nick Adenhart - he had plenty.

[more about Nick Adenhart]

Getting The Point

2009-05-18T18:51:00.003+10:00

One of the joys of digital tv is the sports channel "one", and its variety of sports - including american baseball.

The batter really latched onto one, and sent it into left-field - except it went too far left and into foul territory. Left outfielder, Jason Bay, gets across and (leaning about a metre over the fence) takes the catch.

50 metres away, pitcher Brad Penny (who now has one less batter to get out, thanks to this neat piece of fielding) points to Bay and nods - in a way that says "thanks for helping me out there, buddy".

Of course, the fielder already knows he's done great work, but it never hurts to have that acknowledged by someone else. There's a saying that 'Gratitude not expressed is like a present that is never unwrapped'.

Teaming Up

2009-05-08T21:47:00.009+10:00

Was watching Australia play New Zealand in Rugby league. Game summary is available elsewhere, but i wanna talk about the halftime.

The commentary team were disecting two of the tries scored by Australia. Both plays involved an Australian player beating an opponent one-on-one, then going on to score points. The analysis was made (of New Zealand):

They need to work together as a team.
One-on-one they're going to get beaten.

I think the same is true off-the-field. Teaming up with God and teaming up with others gives a better result than going it alone.

Aaron Baddeley

2009-04-13T16:17:00.004+10:00

When i wrote about Justin Langer, i mentioned the book Bright Lights, Dark Nights. I've just read the chapter on Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley. Even though he really loves playing golf..

In the end it's not going to matter how many tournaments I won and stuff like that ... I want to know that I lived my life seeking his (Jesus') plans and what he wants me to be.

When talking about focus and priorities, he says

Yet if I can keep God as number one, then I'm OK. He has to be number one - if that doesn't happen we are in real trouble.

A Win Against The Odds

2009-04-07T09:53:00.010+10:00

There are great moments in sport. When all seems lost - but through inspiration, hard work, and passion - an amazing result is achieved. It's a big part of why we love sport.

Cricket's next World Cup occurs in 2011, and i am currently following the qualifying tournament - where the likes of Uganda, Bermuda, Scotland and Kenya play-off for the last remaining world cup places.

I have soft spot for Canada and Denmark, having friends from each country. But now I'm adding Afghanistan, after reading the story of Raees Ahmadzai.

Having grown up in a refugee camp in Northern Pakistan, this guy is now representing his country. The same goes for many of his team-mates. Whether or not these guys qualify for the world cup - they've already had a win against the odds.

As Good As It Gets?

2009-03-31T10:08:00.006+10:00

This is what Australian opening batsman Justin Langer asked himself during his century against England in the 2002 Boxing Day Test. Despite the massive adrenaline rush of hitting a six to bring up 3-figures, Langer realised that even though this is the pinnacle of his sport, it really only lasts for a very short time.

In a conversation with a pastor, he said

"Mate, there's something missing ... I've got everything - I've got a beautiful wife, I've got kids, a big house, beautiful car, nice clothes, plenty of money, but something's missing. I've got a big hole inside and I don't know what it is."

The pastor (who gave him a bible) and Matthew Hayden have helped Langer develop a strong Christian faith. Apparently, Hayden and Langer would sometimes even mark their batting crease with a small cross to focus their mind as they batted. Now, Langer says

"I know so many people who are crying out for something. They think if they become a Christian it means they've got to give up everything, but I love the story of Jesus and I read it a lot. It's not a weight at all, in fact it's the opposite."

[info from "Bright Lights, Dark nights"]

Less is More for NFL Players

2009-02-08T14:58:00.004+10:00

We all know the Super-Bowl. In the USA, the best team from each conference (AFC and NFC) play off to determine the champion team.

Less known is the Pro-Bowl. The AFC and NFC each pick their all-star lineup, from the players in their half of the league. The teams compete a week after the Super-Bowl in an end-of-season exhibition match.

Next year the match moves to Florida, leaving its current home in Hawaii. In an article on nfl.com, several players are unhappy about it, and will not participate in the game, even if selected. It's not Florida's a bad place, but it's where these players go "all the time".

Advertising constantly tells us we can have something more, something better or something bigger. But it seems that even free holidays to America's sunshine state can become boring. Not even the opportunity to play in an all-star team can convince them to take up this free trip.

Contrary to the advertising, perhaps it's when we have less, that we actually enjoy it, and appreciate it more.

Hayden's Innings Ends

2009-01-13T23:21:00.006+10:00

As you probably know by now, Matthew Hayden has today announced his retirement from cricket - both for Australia and for Queensland.

Much has already been written about this:
Hayden calls time on stellar career
Matthew Hayden: domestic dominator to global giant
Langer hails 'best ever opener' Hayden
Hayden draws stumps

I watched the media conference on tv, and the standout comment was when he paid tribute to his fellow opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer - and to Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He credits these players with helping him learn about "challenge, strength and companionship".

It also turns out that during his early years (when he was immensely successful for Queensland, but constantly denied a position in the Australian team) Hayden took advice from rugby league coach Wayne Bennett. Simply put - "Don't get bitter, just get better".

This is part of why sport is great. The lessons learnt are not just good for sport - they are also good for life.
----------------
ps. from a replay, i've picked up the exact quote i referred to earlier.

"The partnerships that i've forged have been significant partnerships of life. They've taught me the value of great character, of strength and of companionship. It's been great!"

What Would Hayden Do?

2008-11-06T23:05:00.004+10:00

It's never been a secret that Matthew Hayden is a devout Christian. Tracing the shape of the cross on his chest (to celebrate scoring a hundred) made sure of that.

He recently told Brisbane News that "When I'm in trouble it's always something to think about. I ask myself What would Christ do in this situation?".

Despite his best efforts, Hayden (like all of us) still doesn't match up to that sort of standard. Does that make him bad? I just think it means that he's not God (no matter how many centuries he scores).

Fortunately, God doesn't require us to be completely perfect. Apparently, that's part of the reason for Jesus - and the cross that Matt Hayden so often illustrates. But it's good to wanna be more like Jesus - the same way many cricketers wanna be more like Matt Hayden.

Loyal Lockyer

2008-08-20T17:34:00.003+10:00

There's been a bit of talk recently about rugby league players taking up various offers, either overseas or in rugby union - even if it means breaking a contract. Even if it means deserting the team part way through a season. Why would someone do this? Often the reason is cold hard cash ... and lots if it.

So it's very refreshing to see a player who is not led around like a dog on a lead by the person with the biggest cheque-book. Last week, Darren Lockyer broke the record for the most games played by a Brisbane Bronco player (298, if you were wondering).

Arguably the best player in the world, he was asked if he would ever consider an offer from rugby union.

Rugby league has given me so many great things and this club has as well ... There might be an opportunity out there to make a bit more money but I feel like I owe the club and the game plenty ... I'm not going to go and leave the game to clear a bigger cheque.

For mine, the ability to see life beyond the dollar signs, makes Lockyer a star person as well as a star player.

Olympic Excitement

2008-08-17T11:01:00.003+10:00

Read an article about the mental processes that athletes go through during their training - in the hope of winning gold at the Olympics.

It was an article in Christianity Today (of all places) and it compared the situation to that of a Christian - with one important difference. The Christian's hope is based on God, rather than on our individual strength or speed.

Justin Langer on "Luck"

2008-08-11T13:25:00.001+10:00

This week i was reading Justin Langer's book. In it, he re-tells a fictional story (i guess if it was in the bible it would be called a parable) about a farmer's luck.

I thought it re-emphasised that often things that happen are just things. As the farmer says, "who is to say if it is good luck or bad luck?"

Doing it for Number 1

2008-07-15T20:53:00.007+10:00

I never thought i'd devote a whole piece to Mark Gasnier, but his signing with French rugby club Stade Francais reveals something about the guy.

Columnists like Andy Wilson and Gorden Tallis have written about his hypocrisy, and the effect on rugby league. But i'm more interested in motivation.

Players say a lot of things in interviews. How much they love their club. How proud they are to be selected for their state. How strong the team spirit is. How they are honoured to be part of the history of the game.

Then a foreign club, in a different sport, comes along with a fistful of euros. Suddenly all of that passion, team spirit, honour go out the window. At least they do if the player is as self-centred as Gasnier...

I've had to react to it and I think this is the best reaction for me

My opinion of Gasnier has never been terribly high, but now it's lower. And it seems i'm not alone. A poll on the fox sports website asked what should be done to prevent situations like this. Currently, the most popular repsonse is "Do nothing - the NRL doesn't need these blokes". I guess Gasnier got one thing right:

I'm not going to be missed that much.

Speaking for myself, he's not going to be missed at all.

Brainy Footballers

2008-07-03T00:32:00.008+10:00

Yes, you read right - it's not a typo. A 16-10 game three win has won Queensland the 2009 State of Origin series - that much we knew. Then in the post-game, Billy Slater tells us more.

Apparently, seconds prior to the match-winning move, he and Thurston we ready to run a different play - on the other side of the field. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, Thurston decided to switch to the left side. Slater "just followed him" for the winning 4-pointer.

What impresses me is the speed and clarity of thinking. While us mere spectators are struggling just to deal with the tension and cheer for our team, there's Jonathan Thurston. He's run several kilometres, been in dozens of physical collisions (the word tackle doesn't do it justice) and has millions of people watching his every play. He also knows he will receive the ball within seconds.

In between catching his breath and weighing up his options, he finds a second to analyse the defensive line, and identify a potential weakness. Maybe not the same kind of intelligence that works out the square root of 289, or can distinguish between the music of Chopin and Bach, but in terms of summing up a situation and taking decisive action - it's right up there.

Something to think about, next time i'm taking 15 minutes just to decide what to have for dinner.

Error Count

2008-06-30T12:32:00.003+10:00

So i was chatting with friends about the topic of "sin". Often it's portrayed as the evil and malicious actions, deliberately designed to hurt others for our own advantage. But i've also heard that literally, the word "sin" is just the "falling short of the mark". In other words, to be not perfect.

As you might imagine, this is when my mind switched to sport. In rugby league, one of the half-time stats is the error count of both teams. Clearly, it is good to have a low error count - and many half-time speeches by coaches revolve around just that. However, i have yet to see an error count of zero - because there is no such thing as the perfect game.

Similarly, i think God (in my opinion the ultimate coach) understands that we are only human (after all, that's the way we were made) but still would like to see us reduce our error count - after all, we can achieve so much more if we're not continually dropping the ball.

State of Origin - Part 2

2008-06-12T18:46:00.003+10:00

Last night's 30-0 win by Queensland can be considered one of the most convincing in State of Origin history. What makes it more amazing is that it comes after the team's (self-admitted) sub-standard performance in game one of the series.

So what makes the difference? Sure, Steve Price returned from injury - but in the meantime Justin Hodges had also been suspended. And the other two selection changes don't fully explain the transformation from a side that conceded 18 points, to a side that keeps the opposition scoreless.

Though rugby league is played on a 120m x 60m field, sometimes the most important plays happen in a much smaller space - the heads of the 26 players involved. And this is where life is like sport.

Often the most important things are our attitude, and the support of our "teammates".

When is a Team not a Team?

2008-06-01T08:28:00.004+10:00

Perhaps it's not a surprise, but at parties i often get into conversations about sport. Last night i was asked this philosophical question, while discussing the departures of Ben Hannant (pictured) and Friday night's 4-try hero Denan Kemp, from the Brisbane Broncos at the end of this season.

Technically it was about how many players have to leave before it's no longer the same team? The best i could explain was that it is similar to an extended family, where new people are born (or married) into the clan, while others pass on. Over time, the composition changes but it's still the family.

Baseball

2008-04-23T17:22:00.008+10:00

Today i read a piece "life is like baseball". Writer, Howard Butt, describes baseball batting ...

You hold a rounded stick. From 60 feet 6 inches away, a sphere hurls your way at 90 miles per hour. In less than one-half second you must judge the pitch and give it your best swing. If the pitcher adds spin, curve, or drop, it's that much harder. And if you hit the ball? Nine skilled athletes do all they can to stop your progress.

Put like that, it's no wonder that a player is considered a champion if he succeeds one time in three. Often the situation is difficult. Perfection may be out of reach, but we aim for the best possible result.

Honesty Stroke

2008-04-12T11:32:00.004+10:00

This morning I watched televised golf.

That's not something i'd normally say. For that matter it's not something i'd normally do! But there was an ad break in the cartoons, and even tv golf is better than ads.

Anyway, a guy was lining up a putt when, for no apparent reason, the ball moved. He didn't touch it, hit or kick it - it just moved. Now golf being golf, there's a rule that basically says once you've taken up your stance and the ball moves - it counts as a stroke (doh!).

So this guy goes and tells the course official what has happened. He gets a ruling that it is a penalty stroke, and he has to re-place the ball. So he put the ball back to where it was - a whole 3mm away! That's a rotation of about one dimple on a golf ball. It only just showed up on the replay.

So the player would have been the only person in the world who knew what happened. He could have played on. No-one would have looked at the replay. No-one would have known. But this is clearly a guy who knows about honesty, and only wants to win if it's fair and square.

For me that's real character. He may not collect the trophy, but he has integrity. And there's plenty of people who don't have either.

Super Tyree in SuperBowl

2008-04-03T13:40:00.004+10:00

OK, it's a month or two ago, but Superbowl fans would remember David Tyree's amazing catch from Eli Manning's pass to set up the NY Giants 17-14 win in the 2008 Superbowl.

What we didn't know, and what's even more amazing, is Tyree back-story. As covered by the NY Times, Tyree has turned his life around - with God's help. Bigger than any superbowl comeback, "It’s more than just a feel-good story. It’s about destiny and purpose."

"My life was oviously in disarray". He describes his former self "at the pinnacle of sports. But I had no joy. I had no peace." Apparently it all changed when he picked up the Bible.

Walking - Ponting

2008-01-02T17:15:00.005+10:00

One of the more discussed issues in cricket is "walking". In short, if you are out, but the umpire gives you 'not out', do you leave voluntarily?

Aussie captain Ricky Ponting is one player who appears to be firmly in the 'no' camp. Today, in the first match of the new year, Ponting (on 17) appeared to edge one to the wicketkeeper. Ponting stayed, and the umpire ruled that he didn't hit it.

Then on 55, Ponting inside-edged the ball onto his leg. Ironically, the same umpire again judged that Ponting didn't hit it, and hence gave him out lbw.

And this is the basis of 'non-walker' theory - that when an umpire error goes against you, you have to leave. Therefore (they say) when a decision favours you, you should get to stay.

But the thing that really tips it (for me) is the carry-on of players when they do get given out. There'll be a short stare at the umpire (long enough to make a point - short enough not to be fined for bad sportmanship) a glance towards the bat (in the case of inside edge) all followed up with some grumpy stomping off the field (like a child being sent to their room).

Of course, they'll say that it's all just a natural reaction, and impossible to supress. Yet when they "get away with one", the emotion of guilt seems much easier to hide.

In my view, if batsmen are going to claim "the umpire's the one who decides if i'm out", then it has to be true when it doesn't suit - not just when it does.

True Supporters

2007-04-28T14:40:00.000+10:00

Up until now, i have resisted writing too much about the Cricket World Cup. Partially because of the controversies, and partially because i've just been caught up in Australia's sensational performance. But the other day something caught my eye (or rather my ear) and i just had to comment.

In England's last chance to make the semi-finals, the match with South Africa, they put up a performance which could best be described as woeful. After being bundled out for a mere 154 (from 48 overs, with a tops score of 46 by Strauss) the English bowlers conceded the same amount of runs in less than 20 overs, taking just the one wicket. Clearly this was the end of England's chances in the World Cup, which left their fans disappointed (although you'd think they'd be used to it - after all, they follow England;)

English supporters, being who they are, decided to express their emotions by booing the captain at the on-field post-match presentation/interview. I've never understood the concept of booing one's own team. By definition, that's not the behaviour of a supporter. If you wanna be a supporter - then support. If you wanna boo you're own team - you're not a supporter - you're a critic. Don't call yourself a supporter - you give the rest of us a bad name.

Terminology aside, the underlying issue is that if you decide to be a supporter of a team, it's unconditional. For good, for bad, come what may. Otherwise, you may as well cheer for whichever team is leading on the scoreboard. And that doesn't make sense. Aside from anything else, can you imagine a close match - you might have to switch jumpers up to 20 times ;)

Yes! Wait! No! ... Sorry!

2007-01-28T10:39:00.000+10:00

The mix-up. Batsman hits a shot. One batsman runs, the other doesn't. Both players realise. One player stops, the other goes. Then both stop. Then both go. The stumps are broken ... then just one player goes ... back to the change rooms.

There have been two of these run outs in recent matches. On Australia Day, Gilchrist was looking for a quick single, but his team-mate (Hayden) was not. Gilchrist made it halfway down the pitch (and almost all the way back) before the stumps were broken. It was slightly embarrasing, but not a patch on what had occured 7 days prior.

In the previous Australia-England match, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood were batting, when Bell hit the ball to the left of Cameron White. White dived, knocked the ball down, and went to retreive the ricochet.

What happened next included three of the classic elements of an embarrasing run out. Both batsmen at the one end of the pitch - confusion and panic between batsmen - and both batsmen running towards one end.

It would be stating the obvious to say that this was poor communication between the two players, but something not so obvious showed up in the replays. (Sidenote - for some reason, the more comical the run out, the more tv replays it receives.)

As Bell was changing his mind between 'run' and 'don't run' (i counted about seven changes of mind on the slo-mo replay) there didn't seem to be any glances in the direction of his team-mate - until it was all too late.

Granted, it's important to see what the fielder might do, but in a team game it's about teamwork. It doesn't matter if you think there's an easy run if your partner remains firmly planted at the other end. Team-mates should be on the same page, on the same wavelength, but not at the same end of the pitch.

So it is in life. We are involved in many 'partnerships'. Be it marriage, friendships, a relationship, or at work. Things work best when people communicate, and are clear on what they want to do. As is the case in experienced batting partnerships (eg. Langer and Hayden, Hussey and Clarke) this clarity brings about plenty of success, and very few embarrasing stuff ups.

People who tend to pray often say the same sort of thing. Even if they have nothing 'specific' to pray about, they still have conversations with God. When faced with decisions and wondering "what would God think about this?", it's the experience of talking with God on a regular basis that they say helps in making the tough decisions. (In the same way that it would help Ian Bell if he occasionally looked at his team-mate).

I guess this makes a lot of sense. If God is the ultimate batting partner (to continue the analogy) then it would be quite a smart move to do everything one can to be on the same wavelength.

On the ball

2006-12-23T23:09:00.000+10:00

It's official! Australia has reclaimed cricket's Ashes. And while the final ball will remain in the memory banks for years to come, for me there was another moment that summed up the series.

An attempted sweep by Geraint Jones made no contact. The ball rebounded off his pad and Shane Warne (aided by team-mates) launched into an enthusiastic appeal for LBW. While all this was going on, Ricky Ponting scooped the ball in the direction of the stumps. Jones, seemingly paralysed by the fear that the umpire's decision would extend his series of low scores, had not regained his ground. The result? LBW appeal - not out. Run out appeal - OUT!

It's moments like these that see Australia winning the series quite comprehensively. Whether taking crucial catches rather than dropping them, or reacting to momentary chances, the key to Australia's success is being on-the-ball and taking opportunities. It's not as if England don't know the rules - Australia are just more "keyed in".

Chatting with a friend about Jesus's "Love one another" statements, my friend commented that it's not exactly rocket science. I kind of agreed. With the exception of incredibly selfish individual, most people can grasp the concept of loving one's fellow human beings - after all it's simpler than the rules of cricket ;)

But it's putting it all into action that is the key. Just as in cricket, the challenge is to be alert - see the opportunities - and make a difference.

Out the Window

2006-12-10T14:54:00.000+10:00

A few of the boys were throwing a few different games around in the changing rooms then, but they all go out the window as far as I'm concerned. That's the best test win I've ever been a part of.

This was the reaction of Australian captain Ricky Ponting after his side's amazing victory in the 2nd Ashes Test against England. I can understand his thinking. At the start of the day, a draw looked by far the most likely option, but somehow, Australia managed to bowl England out with enough spare time to score the required 168 runs to win.

However it must be said that England did not do a great deal to help their own cause. 10 runs from 13 overs in the first hour was incredibly slow, and it didn't get much better. By lunch another 20 runs had been cobbled together, and when the tenth wicket fell, the day's effort was a tedious 70 runs from 54 overs.

There are several theories as to what England were doing. Perhaps they were trying to secure a draw, or perhaps the Australian bowling was just to good. But at the end of the day it seemed that they just had no plan, no purpose and no direction. As a result, they went nowhere.

I think the same is true in life. There is a saying that "If you don't know where you're going, any road will lead there." But if we can work out what our goals are - and ways of getting there - we can achieve so much more.

Of course (just as in cricket) not everything is within our control. Things will change, and sometimes this means changing our plans. But it's better to have to adjust tactics than to not have any to start with.

Ashes - Day 1

2006-11-24T11:10:00.000+10:00

It was 14 months ago that the Australian cricket team watched on as England claimed cricket's most prized trophy - for the first time since 1987. Australian players say that day was the first day of the campaign to regain "The Ashes".

62 weeks later, and the first day of the Ashes series went overwhelming in Australia's favour. The excitement was almost tangible as Australia piled on the runs to vigorously take the upper hand at the very start of the series.

Of course, no-one knows what will take place over the remaining four and three-quarter matches of the series. But if the first day is anything to go by - it would seem that the focus, the enthusiasm, the determination and the single-mindedness of the Australian team over the past year and a bit will serve them well during this summer's series.

While the Australian team is an exceptional group of people, I think the same philosophy applies to many people. Having a purpose, and passionately pursuing it, can bring about some extraordinary results - and that doesn't just apply to the cricket field.

Holding Out for a Hero

2006-08-22T16:03:00.000+10:00

It all started with two words. One started with F and the other with C. Delivered by the Newcastle Knights' Andrew Johns at one of the match officials was enough to see him suspended for two matches.

In the aftermath of that decision, there were the usual discussions about what is and isn't acceptable sporting behaviour. People talked about 'heat of the moment', the competitive nature of professional sport, and the adrenalin rushing through players' veins.

There was a lot of talk about respect for officials. There were rhetorical questions about whether the standards are different for local sport compared to national top-level televised sport. This led to the old favourite "What message does this send to young kids".

The theory is that youngsters admire Andrew Johns for his football ability, and spend their Saturdays (as well as countless afternoons and school lunch hours) trying to emulate his feats. So when the guy swears at a touch judge on national television, people are concerned that young players will also copy that behaviour.

Ideally, these kids would be able to separate the good skills from the poor behaviour; adopting one and steering clear of the other. However, this expecting a lot from young minds.

The problem starts when we idolise people who don't deserve it. Don't get me wrong, Johns is a high-quality rugby league player, and deserves respect for that. But when push comes to shove, he's a guy in his 30's, who's barely had a real job, has already been 'through' one marriage, and is looking at number two. For anyone, child or otherwise, to think "This is the guy I want to model myself on", would be questionable.

In my personal opinion, if anyone's looking for ideas on life from a guy in his early 30's, a better place to look might be the life of Jesus. Sure, if you're looking for advice on kicking synthetic rubber around a sports oval, listen to the words of Andrew Johns. But if you're looking for tips on life, it might be better to look in a little book called the Bible, and hear what Jesus has to say.

Pelleton

2006-07-15T10:43:00.000+10:00

I was watching the Tour de France. It was the mountain stage, which I can imagine is the most challenging of the tour. At the time, there was a large group of riders (which i'm told is called the "Peleton") and another four riders (more spread out) about a minute in front of the large group.

As the race continued, one of the riders from the large group decided that time was running out and he should make a move. If he was going to win the stage, he could no longer be content to stick with the large group. He had to break away and pursue what he wanted - first place.

Of course, there are reasons why it's usually a good tactic to stick with the group. It's easier to ride in the 'slipstream' of other riders, and the presence of the other riders is helpful in 'pacing' one's own ride. Being in a group of riders can be a good thing.

But, as in life, there come times when we have to be different from the crowd to achieve some thing worthwhile. Sometimes what the crowd is doing is not the thing we want to be doing, could be doing, or should be doing. These are the times we have to have the courage to break free from that the group and be who we can be.

Queenslander!

2006-06-17T14:19:00.000+10:00

In rugby league, it has been a great week for Queensland. The annual 3-match series with New South Wales is now level, following a 30-6 win by the Queenslanders. This is exciting for a number of reasons. It sets up a 'decider' in a few weeks time. But there's more to it than that.

The game itself was a wonderful experience (particularly for Queensland supporters). Throughout the history of the State of Origin contests, Queensland is perennially the underdog and this match was no different.

Many said that (in game one) Queensland was lucky to go down by just a point (17-16) and that they had been massively outplayed by the "Blues". With the side for game two considered to be even weaker, due to injuries, some experts (particularly those south of the border) were calling this the weakest Queensland team ever.

The other thing that is consistent throughout State of Origin is the 'Queensland spirit'. It's what keeps Queensland in the contest. It doesn't matter if everyone is writing them off. It doesn't matter if the opposition is huge. It doesn't matter if they have more experience.

Queensland, at their best, just go at 100% and do everything they can. They play well as a team, support each other, and never give up. It's truly an inspiration.

ps. The last time a Queensland team was labelled 'the worst ever' was in 1995. Queensland went on to win that series 3-0.

Socceroos - A Comeback Win

2006-06-14T11:51:00.000+10:00

It was with much jubilation that i watched Australia's match with Japan in the World Cup. Of course, most of that jubilation was crammed into the last ten minutes, as Australia scored 3 quick goals to turn a potential 0-1 loss into an inspiring 3-1 win.

A day or two later (the days seem to blur when sleep is just slotted in between soccer matches) i was talking to a friend about the match. We talked about how exciting the match was - and how it was impossible to go to sleep afterwards - even though it was around 1am in Australia. We came to the conclusion that - apart from the great result - it was the circumstances that made it so unbelievably exciting.

If Australia had scored those three goals early in the first half, held a 3-0 lead for the majority of the match, and conceded a consolation goal right at the end, it would still have been 3-1, but somehow not quite as heart stopping. For some reason, winning means so much more when it's preceded by an hour of staring down the barrel at a loss.

Referee!

2006-05-26T15:59:00.000+10:00

Last week i was watching the final of soccer's Champions League. It was quite an exciting match, and after Arsenal had taken an early lead, Barcelona came back to equalise, and then to win the match 2-1.

After the game (ie. immediately after) Arsenal complained about the refereeing, claiming that one of Barcelona's goals should not have been allowed, and that Barcelona were allowed to get away with unfair play.

Whether or not these claims are true - I don't know. I'm not an expert on soccer refereeing, and don't claim to be. I am interested more in what wasn't said than what was said.

Earlier in the match, Barcelona managed to get the ball in the net, but were denied a goal. Also a questionable decision - but in Arsenal's favour. In their assessment of the referee, this incident seems to have gone unnoticed.

I find it interesting that as human beings we tend to pay much more attention to the times when we don't get what (we think) we deserve - and not so much attention when we get what we don't deserve.

In life (as in soccer) some things go for us, some against us. We can get upset over the things that go against us - and become angry and bitter (no offence, Arsenal). Or we can appreciate that there are just as many 'fors' as 'againsts', that these things generally do balance out - and get on with the game. Personally, I reckon "Play On!"

Up to the Challenge

2006-04-06T17:15:00.000+10:00

In recent cricket matches there have been some exceptionally high scores by some teams. It started off with Australia breaking - in fact smashing - the world record for the highest team total in a one-day match. Their total was 434. Until that day no-one had even made 400.

Of course, that record lasted just 4 hours, as South Africa replied with 438 to win one of the more amazing - and perhaps bizarre - games of cricket in recent memory. [scorecard]

And then in the final of Australia's national cricket competition, Queensland declared their innings closed at 900, to defeat Victoria by an innings an 354 runs. A greater margin would be hard to imagine.

So what's the reason behind this sudden run of high scores? What takes Australia from being bowled out for 93, to breaking the world record? How did South Africa manage to surpass such an amazing score? How does Queensland make the highest score ever made in an Australian cricket final?

We could put it down to small cricket grounds or poor bowling, but there's always been a plenty of each of those. I reckon the answer lies in motivation. Australia had trailed 2-0 in that 5 match series. Determined to win the series, and having clawed themselves back to a 2-2 scoreline, it was vital to make a big total - lest all their efforts be in vain.

For South Africa, who had led the series 2-0, it would be heart-breaking to let it slip. The challenge had been set. They knew that to win the match they would have to perform at a level far above that which had ever been required before. And they did!

Queensland, with players away in that Australian side, also had to perform well above their average if they were to win the final. Parts of the state had also been savaged by Cyclone Larry - and the players dedicated their performance to the victims of that disaster. The result was a massive innings in which four players exceeded 150 - the only time this has ever happened in national or international cricket.

So it would seem that phenomenal feats are possible when we put our minds to it. So why doesn't this happen more often. Is it that we (as human beings) are generally slackers? Or is it that under exceptional circumstances we can summon up the strength, focus and determination to do things that would otherwise be impossible? I don't know the answer. I'm not sure i ever will. But i'll tell you this - it certainly makes for entertaining cricket!

Frame of Mind

2006-03-20T18:48:00.000+10:00

Saturday night i was watching my favourite footy team play. Now it's been a little while since they have had a win - especially against quality opposition - and it showed.

Despite having the ability to do great things, they just didn't have the confidence to try things out. As a result, the attack was somewhere between conservative and tentative. I am sure that after a bit of success the team will play much better - not through any increase in skill, but just because of confidence.

Later i realised that i can be the same way. People can sometimes tell when i'm not feeling myself, because of the way i act. I'll talk less, and if i do say something it will be very short - sometimes sarcastic. When i'm feeling feeling positive and confident, there'll be a bit more chatter, some stories and some jokes. Granted, the jokes aren't that great (mostly the type that your dad might come up with) but they're there. It's amazing the difference that frame-of-mind can make.

Ready to go?

2006-03-03T16:19:00.001+10:00

The other night i was having a chat with some friends and we had been discussing that shark attack that had happened several weeks ago.

Apparently the victim (on her way to into hospital) said that she was "at peace" and ready to accept her fate. We discussed whether we could say the same. The answer seemed to be unanimously "No" - although some of us did feel that we would be more ready now than at particular times in the past. Or, for that matter, times that may be still to come.

It was at this point that it struck me how similar this is to a cricket innings. Nobody actually wants to be dismissed, although every innings must come to an end. There are times when getting out would be tragic, and there are times when it would be slightly less heartbreaking.

There are times when we can accept being dismissed, and times when we are forced to accept it. We don't seek to be dismissed, but it will happen anyway. All we can do is to make the absolute best of our time at the crease.

A Run of Success

2006-03-01T16:53:00.000+10:00

During the recent winter olympics, i saw an interview with Australia's gold medallist Dale Begg-Smith, in which he was asked that standard 'what's it like to win a gold medal?' type of question.

To the interviewer's surprise, the response was calm and simple - "it's good". However, when asked to "take us through" that final run, he enthusiastically described minute details, and was obviously excited about doing a great run with no mistakes.

I can't help but think that this is a really healthy attitude.

A gold medal depends entirely on the results of the other competitors - particularly in Dale's case, where he was not the final competitor to take part. Having already completed his runs, should Dale judge himself as a success or failure, based on whether the Norwegian can go 1/100th of a second quicker or slower?

I think not - and Dale seems to agree. Perhaps true success, in sport or in life, has little to do with comparison. Perhaps true success is as simple as doing the best you can do, and being the best you can be.

"Here We Are Again"

2006-02-16T17:33:00.000+10:00

I was thinking some more about monday's post, and the great effort by Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds.

Suddenly i noticed the similarity to the 2003 world cup match against Pakistan. Again, Australia had been in trouble, when Symonds joined Ponting at the crease. Whatever Ponting said to Symonds - it certainly did the trick. Symonds played better than he had ever before and deservedly won the man of the match award - and many new fans.

So when Ponting and Symonds combined again last Sunday, it may well have been a case of "We've got out of this before - we can get out of it again". Same thing goes in life. There are ups and there are downs. Good patches and bad patches. Somehow we always manage to get through the tough times, and on to better times. The trick is, when we go through another bad patch, to remember that "We've got out of this before - we can get out of it again".

3 Wickets for 10

2006-02-13T18:17:00.000+10:00

Yesterday some friends and i gathered to watch the second final of the one-day cricket. Australia had lost the first match of the best-of-three series, so this was the last chance for the green-and-gold.

Second ball of the match, Gilchrist is out for no score. A few minutes later and Katich is lbw. Martyn raced to 8, but was out just as quickly. Three players out for just 10 runs and things are looking very bad. The tv people (as they do) continue to show replay after replay, and by now one starts to feel quite deflated.

Australia, the great team that they are, managed to even up the contest, and continued to take the ascendency. By the end of the innings Australia (somewhat amazingly) had posted 368 - its highest ever team total.

Now, as those early replays are aired again, they take on a whole new meaning. They are no longer reminders of a dire situation, they are the beginnings of a wonderful innings, which may not have taken place without those early setbacks.

I reckon the same goes in life. Bad things happen. Unhappy things happen. Stressful things happen. Sometimes it can feels like a lost cause - but don't lose heart! Hang in there, and there's a fair chance things will get much better. Then those setbacks become part of a great innings.

Fielding Names

2006-02-09T17:45:00.000+10:00

One of the difficulties of explaining cricket to people is describing the location each of the fielding positions. Names like mid-off, mid-on, cover, point, cover-point, extra cover, square leg, fine leg, gully, mid-wicket ... what does it mean??

Of course, no sooner has my friend formed a mental picture of the situation, than a left-handed batsman comes into play. Experienced cricket fans know that (for a left hander) the fielding 'map' is reversed. But for people new to the game, it's difficult to believe that the guy who just ran 50 metres is still at fine leg, while the guy who remains unmoved has gone from forward square leg to cover-point.

All of this confusion comes from the fact that the whole thing is centred around the batsman. Each and every fielder can be described in terms of how far (and in what direction) he is from the face of the batsman.

In life, what do we centre our game around? Is it our job? Is it sport? Is it money? Is it our partner? Christians believe the answer is to centre it around Jesus - the guy with two main goals - love god and love others. Sounds good to me.

Boxing Day Memories

2006-02-03T16:32:00.000+10:00

Each year in cricket, there is the Boxing Day test match. This summer, channel nine showed snippets of interviews with current players - each player was asked his most memorable boxing day moment.

There were usual answers from players who had done particularly well, or been involved in a great win, until they got to Matthew Hayden. In the last 5 boxing day matches, he has made 4 hundreds, and i expected one of those to be his answer.

Instead he named 1996 against the West Indies. New to the team, he had not scored many runs, and was "under the pump" to stay in the side.

He was bowled for nought and still says he can hear the ball knocking the off stump. Shortly after he was dropped from the team, and it would be three long years before he returned.

Sometimes life can be incrediby harsh (even harsher than being bowled for nought). I guess the key is to get through the bad times and appreciate the good ones. As Hayden says about his tough times, "that's made all the special happy times so much more special".

Electrical Tape

2006-02-02T15:20:00.000+10:00

The touch football team that i am in, plays in a social competition. I'm sure that expression qualifies as an oxymoron. I seems like a contradiction in terms to have something that is social (ie. enjoying the company of others) and yet a competition (ie. trying to defeat others).

As we continue to be both social and competitive, the challenge is to not be over-competitive at the expense of the social aspect (we're not playing for sheep stations) and i manage this quite well. As the opposition reaches double figures (and our team is still on zero) suddenly it's very easy to believe that the score is not important.

But just the other week, a remarkable thing happened - we were winning a game! During this strange circumstance, the referee told one of the players on the other team to leave the field as his playing shirt was un-numbered (it's the rules). Playing on the wing, I heard one of our subs say to the player "I've got some tape in the car" (a shirt number made out of electrical tape is permissible).

While i didn't say anything, i remember thinking "Shut up, Chris! We're in with a chance of winning here!". Of course, i later regained my perspective. Still don't know if i would have gone and got the guy some tape (if i was in Chris's position) but i hope i would have. One thing i do know is that it's a lot harder to not care about winning when you actually have a chance to.

A Bonus Point

2006-02-01T18:29:00.000+10:00

Last night i arrived home to see the last 20 overs of the cricket on tv. The batting team was doing quite well, and were headed for a comfortable victory. So comfortable in fact, that they were a chance for a 'bonus point' - an extra competition point awarded to a team who wins by more than a set margin.

With the possibility that an extra point could come in handy later in the competition, the batting team accelerated their efforts, but in doing so several players got out in quick succession. It started to look as if they would do the unthinkable, and 'snatch defeat from the jaws of victory' - losing the match and 4 competition points - all for the sake of this 'bonus point'.

How does this happen? We set out for what's important (like winning a cricket match) but we get distracted. Greed takes over. We want more! And sometimes it costs us the thing we originally wanted.

Fortunately the batting side realised this and settled for an 'ordinary' win. They focussed on what was important, and achieved it. Let's hope we can do the same.

"On The Mark, Player"

2006-01-31T12:26:00.000+10:00

On monday nights i play touch football. The thing with touch football is that if you have the ball, and are touched by a player from the other team, you must stop. You then 'play the ball' by rolling it back between your legs for a teammate to pick up - and play continues.

As you might expect, one should play the ball at the point on the field where the touch occurred. The trick is that when running at speed, sometimes it takes a step or two to slow down.

We know we should return to the point of the touch, and then play the ball - but that takes time - it slows momentum - and we're trying to play fast. In our mind, we think "it's probably only half a step ... no big deal". In reality it's a metre and a half and it's a penalty to the other team.

So much for trying to 'play fast'! We've lost the momentum - and possession - and the opportunity to score points - all for the sake of a couple of seconds. "Why didn't i just step back?" we ask ourselves "we'd still have the ball". But all too often this kind of wisdom only comes after the sound of the whistle.

The same happens in life. It's the eternal battle of discpline versus temptation. In theory, we know the best thing to do is to return to the mark. The temptation is always there to sneak an extra metre, to get an unfair advantage (and we pay the price for it). It's about having the discpline to get back to the mark.

Number 11 Batsman

2006-01-18T17:26:00.000+10:00

Things happen when a number 11 batsman comes out to bat. Ground curators start to get their equipment ready. Venue caterers start preparing extra food for the impending rush. And spectators start to think about what they might choose to eat during the 10 minute break. Not much is expected of the 'last man in'. And sure enough, he is shortly dismissed.

So, as non-cricket people will inevitably ask, "Why is he even in the team?". Well, batting may not be the strong point of our number eleven. If he ever makes 50 runs, it will be over the course of a season rather than an afternoon. But once the curators have re-marked the lines, and spectators have returned to their seats, it is his turn to shine when the captain throws him the ball. While his batting may have been court jester-like, in bowling he is the king of the game.

If there's anything to be learnt from our friend the number 11 (apart from resilience) it is the knowledge of oneself and one's strengths. The ribbing he cops from his teammates does not affect him. He'll try his best with the bat, but knows it's not his forte. He knows who he is, and is comfortable with it. He knows that others (many others) will be better at batting, but this does not phase him. He's a bowler, and wouldn't want it any other way. Good on you number eleven!

Sport

2006-01-18T16:25:00.005+10:00

As a teenager, i really got into sport. I played a lot, and watched a lot. So what? Millions of kids would have done the same (except maybe without the very late nights watching Australia play cricket in England).

But after a few thousand hours of viewing, practicing after school, and many hours fielding on a cricket boundary - you start to think more deeply about the game.

Consequently, the attitude, the psychology, the enthusiasm and the teamwork of sport kind of became my philosophy during those years. That's when i started saying "it's a lot like sport".

Since those days i have become more interested in Jesus, and (no offence to Richie Benaud) but i'm finding that Jesus is even wiser :)

And i reckon the things i enjoy most about sport are the things that reflect Jesus. When immense talent comes with humility. When passion inspires great achievement. When selfishness is put aside for the greater good. When excellence is possible.

This is what is great about sport. I hope you share my joy.