SJS
Hall of Fame Member
I am currently reading one of the oldest (the prefatory note is dated August 1897) cricket books I have come across and easily one of the most engrossing - The Jubilee Book of Cricket by Prince Ranjitsinhji.
It is amazing how much of what was written more than a hundred years ago is still valid.
Here is a bit from the bowling section that should be a source of ‘moral’ support to Inzemam and well meaning advise to the talented but immature Shoaib.
“A bowler must understand that he owes implicit obedience to his captain, under whose guidance he has voluntarily placed himself. He may, in his mind, dissent from his captain’s views or disapprove of his generalship, but he must not show the slightest sign of open disobedience. On the contrary, he must make the best of things as they are. It has been proved beyond dispute that every side should be led by one man, and one man only, and that it is far better to accept without murmur any mistakes entailed by the fallibility of one man, than to introduce any form of co-operative captaincy. The captain, of course, should consult the bowler, and do all he can to work with him. But in any case, the bowler must take everything as done for the best.”
......
“Nothing is more upsetting to an entire side than a bowler’s loss of temper or tendency to sulk. The sulky bowler may be known by various signs. He takes a long time to get into his place in the field when not bowling; after fielding the ball, he throws it in needlessly hard, to the detriment of someone’s hands and at the risk of overthrows; if he misses the ball he will be reluctant to run after it; often he bowls too fast and too short. and generally gives the impression that he does not care. Bowling misfortunes often test a man’s temper ; but he must remember that, as a mere matter of expediency, it is essential that he should keep a complete control over himself, and also that an even temper is an indispensable qualification for a good sportsman.”
......
“Indeed he must learn to regard himself as part of an organism for whose god as a whole, in his sphere, he is working. He is playing for his side and not for himself. When everyman in an eleven fosters this spirit of mutual cohesion between himself and his comrades, the side is be a good one to meet and a bad one to beat-a joy to itself and all the world besides.”
Clearly the Shoaibs' of the cricketing world haven’t changed over time; nor has the content of the well meaning advise to them !!
It is amazing how much of what was written more than a hundred years ago is still valid.
Here is a bit from the bowling section that should be a source of ‘moral’ support to Inzemam and well meaning advise to the talented but immature Shoaib.
“A bowler must understand that he owes implicit obedience to his captain, under whose guidance he has voluntarily placed himself. He may, in his mind, dissent from his captain’s views or disapprove of his generalship, but he must not show the slightest sign of open disobedience. On the contrary, he must make the best of things as they are. It has been proved beyond dispute that every side should be led by one man, and one man only, and that it is far better to accept without murmur any mistakes entailed by the fallibility of one man, than to introduce any form of co-operative captaincy. The captain, of course, should consult the bowler, and do all he can to work with him. But in any case, the bowler must take everything as done for the best.”
......
“Nothing is more upsetting to an entire side than a bowler’s loss of temper or tendency to sulk. The sulky bowler may be known by various signs. He takes a long time to get into his place in the field when not bowling; after fielding the ball, he throws it in needlessly hard, to the detriment of someone’s hands and at the risk of overthrows; if he misses the ball he will be reluctant to run after it; often he bowls too fast and too short. and generally gives the impression that he does not care. Bowling misfortunes often test a man’s temper ; but he must remember that, as a mere matter of expediency, it is essential that he should keep a complete control over himself, and also that an even temper is an indispensable qualification for a good sportsman.”
......
“Indeed he must learn to regard himself as part of an organism for whose god as a whole, in his sphere, he is working. He is playing for his side and not for himself. When everyman in an eleven fosters this spirit of mutual cohesion between himself and his comrades, the side is be a good one to meet and a bad one to beat-a joy to itself and all the world besides.”
Clearly the Shoaibs' of the cricketing world haven’t changed over time; nor has the content of the well meaning advise to them !!
