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How good was the cricket Test series in South Africa? And before we go any further, who was the mathematical genius who decided it should be “the best of two”?
Hello? One-one? Anybody home? Whatever you do, don’t tell the Americans. They already think playing a game for five days is ridiculous enough.
Shared spoils aside, what was most pleasing was witnessing, for the first time in a long time, a display of patience from the Australians. Gritty, determined, disciplined cricket, where intense concentration was exercised, and sudden urges stifled. And hallelujah, we snuck home to square the series.
Let’s face it, patience is not a commodity particularly well suited to the break-neck speed of 21st century living. For the most part, we want it, and we want it now. And that’s only because we didn’t get it yesterday. How slow is that internet? Taking an eternity to download. That opposition leader – get rid of him – he’s had five months, and he’s still behind in the polls. Give somebody else a crack.
Even people who apparently have nothing to do, and nowhere to go, are in a hurry to get there. Maybe they have to check in to see what the Kardashians are up to, whoever they are.
But for athletes performing in a pressure-cooker environment, patience is a virtue, and a powerful one at that.
The ability to accept or tolerate delay – it slots in right along side all the other ”P” words bandied about in professional sport – planning, preparation, passion, purpose, persistence, to name but a few.
The tighter the contest, the greater the likelihood patience is required.
Think back to Wallabies crucial pool match against Ireland during the recent Rugby World Cup.
Wet, windy, an absolute arm wrestle. What we needed to do was dig in, stay patient. Kick for the corners, build pressure. What we got was razzle dazzle – grubber kicks in our 22m and attempted miracle off-loads. Speculative low percentage plays by impetuous eager beavers who might have been playing park footy on a Sunday.
Another prime example, in contrast, the President’s Cup golf. The victorious Americans, at times over the four days, were in nothing more than a holding pattern, just hanging in there. On other occasions, it was all guns blazing. Pick the time, pick the place.
As one retired cricketer pointed out the other day, professional sport would be much easier if they stocked patience on the supermarket shelves. “Yes sir – the 500g pack – you’ll find it in Aisle 7, right beside the satchels of Discipline and Work Ethic…..”
Sadly, they don’t. Patience is developed through trial and error, circumstance and experience. Maturity.
Providing of course the selectors themselves have the patience to persevere
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