You know those instances when mumma asks you to balance your studies, sleep, and social life, but you're too busy steadying your phone on your face while lying down? Maybe that instance where you’re trying to find the perfect temperature of water in the shower but your shower chooses to be moodier than your bestie? What actually matters in those situations is balance. I’ve heard my dad say the phrase “life is like cricket” to the point where I’m less annoyed by his jokes, but the old man might just be right in this scenario. What differentiates the great batters from the legendary batters is the perfect finding of balance.
The Caribbean franchise league was to kick off in mid-May in 2021, and the world’s best were predicted to take part. With the T20 World Cup just on the horizon, the stage was set for the talents to stand out more than you try to when your crush walks by you in the school hall. One such player was a batting all rounder, hoping to get selected for the South African national team. Known for his batting prowess against fast bowlers, the pundits from ‘round the world held him in the highest regard, considering him a no-brainer for the 15-man squad. What his coaches didn’t expect was his inability to face spin bowlers. One turn of the ball and he was falling harder than your drunk bro on a Saturday night after his break-up.
For this, he was under the microscope so often it probably made him feel tinier than the time your boys had a once-in-a-lifetime saga on the group chat and you missed it. This study made them realise that his balance was off more than that same drunk bro drying to do some Bhangra steps with overinflated self-confidence. Turns out that was losing his balance while trying to hit it big. He was struggling to use his own power while hitting spinners and was losing balance in his follow through.
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His mentors advised him to finish his shot and keep his base balanced and try to focus on timing rather than overhitting it. This would include him doing some exercises that focus on stabalising his centre of gravity, focusing on his head and shoulders positioning while playing his shots, doing drills that prioritised his footwork, etc. Soon enough, his timing against spin improved by 10% and he crossed boundaries more often than that one unhinged friend who you hope never meets your parents.
Just like trying to balance your chai cup on a stack of unfinished assignments, finding your groove as a cricketer is all about that sweet spot between power and finesse. Our spin-struggling hero went from toppling over like a Jenga tower in an earthquake to standing tall against twirling deliveries, proving that with the right mindset and a dash of practice, you can master any curveball life (or the bowler) throws at you. So whether you're facing a googly on the pitch or life's unexpected bouncers, remember: keep your head steady, your feet moving, and your balance on point.
