October 4, 2023
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cricket

Cricket Bats and Balls Are Not Only the Major Accessories

Laura05 mins

A sport can never be played if the sportsperson does not have his/her sports kit or accessories with himself/herself. Cricket is a game which involves the use of various sports equipment and accessories. Gone are those days when it was only a game that required the use of only bat and ball. Nowadays a player’s kit encompasses of a lot of other stuff than just the bat and ball. Apart from bats and ball, cricketer’s bag usually comprises of gloves, helmets, pads, clothing and other protective guards.

Every player in the game of cricket be it a bowler, batsman or a wicket keeper makes use of different sports equipment. For instance, the wicket keepers who are termed as fielding specialists make use of pads that are leaner than those used by the batsmen. The gloves worn by them are bigger in size and less padded, which are exclusively designed for catching purpose. Other than this they also make use of inside gloves during their job of wicket keeping. The gloves used by them are far different from those used by the batsman during the game. But they utilize the normal protective equipment that is used by the batsman during the game of cricket.

All the players no matter in whichever area their specialty lies such as batting, bowling or wicket keeping, they carry the following cricket accessories in their bags:

Cricket ball and bat: Obviously cricket can’t be played without the use of bat and ball. So, they are a must in a cricketer’s bag.A�

Gloves: Earlier the cricketers did not make use of gloves while playing the game of cricket. But now you don’t see a batsman or a wicketkeeper walking into the field without their gloves. The gloves worn by the batsmen and wicket keeper differ to a large extent. The gloves worn by the wicketkeeper are bigger and less padded. Whereas the gloves worn by the batsmen are heavily padded above the fingers and are small in size as compare to those worn by the wicketkeeper.

Leg pad: A leg pad is also an important sports equipment for the benefit of the batsman and the wicket keepers. The leg pads are very vital in protecting the knee from any harm.

Helmets: They are a must while playing the game. It has become compulsory these days for batsmen and wicket keepers to wear a helmet. It protects them from the fast pace at which the ball is bowled.

Spiked shoes: Spiked shoes are worn by almost all the cricketers these days. Since cricket involves running on grass and on turfs, it is important to wear spiked shoes as it helps to have a better grip on the ground.

Other protective Guards: Since cricketers are very easily prone to injuries so they make maximum use of protective equipment. Shin guard adds extra protection to fielders very near to the batsmen. Batsmen also make use of thigh pads, chest guards, arm guards and abdomen guards to protect themselves from the …

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West Indies Cricket – Breaking A Stop Situation

Laura08 mins

So the West Indies finally break their stop situation. Since 1979 a major trophy has eluded this once great power in the game. But on Sunday, against a strong Sri Lanka team with home advantage, the West Indies finally stood up to be counted.

For too many years the West Indies have badly under-delivered. A decade of disputes and distractions has weakened their collective focus and allowed individual persuasion to hold sway.

Self interest has appeared to be the order of the day, as the team has lacked a collective identity.

To break a stop situation is no ordinary feat. A stop situation is like a barrier or wall. It’s a point beyond which the individual or group can never get beyond. It’s what appears to be the limit of their capability.

Because the stop situation becomes the norm, people allow it to influence their thinking and beliefs about what is possible. Defeatist attitudes become accepted and standards become sloppy and inconsistent.

To break a stop situation requires strong leaders. Individuals who simply refuse to accept the norm. They are the ones who can see beyond the barrier, into a future that looks different to the present. And it helps if you have a rich history to draw from.

When Ian Holloway took over at Blackpool FC in 2009, the club had not been in the top division of English football since 1971. But Holloway had a feel and sensitivity for the history of the club. Blackpool in the 1950’s were a top attraction in English football, boasting some the games greats in their ranks.

Holloway found a way of connecting into this illustrious history, and injected that feeling into his leadership. In other words, he believed that Blackpool belonged amongst the very best in the game, because the clubs history informed him so.

His belief became the players belief, as Blackpool stormed into the Premier League with a dramatic Play Off win against Cardiff. A stop situation was broken.

When a stop situation is broken you can be sure that there is a smart leader at the helm of the operation. An individual who is not tainted by past failures or limited thinking.

Obvious examples are Sir Clive Woodward and his England Rugby World Cup leadership. Or Duncan Fletcher and his England Ashes winning team of 2005. Or Dave Brailsford and his astute leadership of the Great Britain cycling project.

The breaking of a stop situation doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a gradual step by step process. Each movement forward injects a dose of belief and increased sense of possibility.

You know as a leader that things are on track, when the team care as much, if not more, about each others performance, than their own.

In a team of self interest, individuals can become jealous when others succeed, as they feel it makes them look bad. Deep down they are happy when others under-deliver, as this reflects better on themselves.

In such an atmosphere, it becomes impossible …

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