10 Management lessons to learn from cricket

There are ten clear lessons we can learn from cricket.

1.Lead from the front, take calculated risks: What differentiates a great leader from a good leader is the “Ability to lead from the front” and the courage to take “calculated risks”. Every risk has a probability of failure but if you don’t take risks, you don’t achieve anything.

During the finals of 2011 World Cup, when India lost its 2nd wicket, in walked skipper MS Dhoni to bat. The entire Wankhede stadium let out a gasp, just like the billion viewers watching the match on TV. What made an out-of-form Dhoni to take the bold decision of promoting himself up the order ahead of the inform Yuvaraj Singh – this was the question on most of our minds.  It was a brave but risky move, especially since Dhoni was not in the best of forms. However, this is what great leaders are made of. Dhoni wanted to lead from the front, which he did so well and was one of the main architects of an Indian victory.

2. Work with your strengths, be a “Change Agent”: In today’s competitive world, we are so much interested in addressing our “areas of improvement” that very often we forget to build on our strengths. Knowing our strengths and using them to our advantage are important as working on our areas of improvements. Do what you are good at, you need not succumb to “herd mentality”. This is the only way you can develop “Centres for Competence” in different Technologies and Domains.

It is also important that each of us behaves like a “Change Agent”.  Having an attitude of “we always do it this way” can be the biggest deterrent for improvements and enhancements.

During the 1996 World Cup finals, when Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan skipper won the toss, he went against “conventional wisdom” and took the risk of bowling first. Past history of 5 World Cup Finals had shown that the team batting first had invariably won the Championship. However, Arjuna knew that his team’s strength was in chasing rather than defending scores. His ability to not only recognize his team’s strengths but also challenge the conventional approach coupled with Arvinda de Silva’s classy century helped Sri Lanka achieve its maiden triumph.

3. Learn to work without your best resource, Ethics / Compliance more important than competence: Every Manager likes to have the best resources in his / her team however we should learn to work without them to handle contingencies better. There are many occasions when our critical resources may violate the Company’s norms but we treat their illegal behavior / non-compliance with kids gloves for the fear of jeapardising the projects and deliverables. However, we should realise that Compliance comes first, irrespective of the person’s competence.

Sharne Warne, the star of the Australian team and arguably the best leg spinner in the World was slapped with a one year ban when he tested positive for doping. While the Media was ready to write off the Australian team even before the first ball of 2003 World Cup had been bowled, their Captain Ricky Ponting was unruffled and went about his task. Australia won the World Cup. It is important to note that the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) had no hesitation in showing the door to Warne, despite him being the most important member of their team.

4. Loyalty versus Productivity: A good leader should realise that though loyalty from team members is good, it should not be at the cost of productivity. He should be able to “separate the grain from chaff”. Learn to distinguish between “wanted” and “unwanted” attrition. Misplaced loyalty can result in loss of productivity.

In the 1975 World Cup played at Lord’s England, Gavaskar scored a painstaking 36 and remained unbeaten at the end of 60 overs against England but that did not help the team’s cause. It would have been better if he had got out. Compare this with the scintillating137 by England’s Dennis Amiss in the same match and you will know who won the match.

5. Don’t lose your temper, nobody wants it!: Even under the most challenging and adverse circumstances, learn to control your temper. Losing your cool will not only make you lose objectivity that results in poor emotional decisions but can also cause great errors in the Quality of your output. Cool head always wins !

During the quarter finals of the 1996 World Cup, India played Pakistan at Bangalore. Amir Sohail had just spanked local boy Venkatesh Prasad for 3 consecutive boundaries. At that moment, he lost his cool and pointed his bat threateningly at Venkatesh Prasad. The cool headed fast bowler, with the support of 50,000 local fans rooting behind him, bowled an indipping yorker and Sohail took a wild swing at it only to watch his timber shatter. This was the turning point of the match from which Pakistan, which seemed to be coasting towards a comfortable win, never recovered.

6. “Straight from the gut”: There is a famous Book with the same title from Jack Welch, former CEO of GE. While hiring, though its good to look at the resume and past achievements, learn to listen to your gut “feel”.

Imran Khan the former charismatic Pakistani captain was known for picking boys from his backyard and catapulting them to the highest echelons of cricket. During the 1992 World Cup he plucked Inzamam from nowhere and though the latter had hardly played any formal first class cricket, he showed his talent by single handedly winning matches for them and was a key member of the Pakistani squad which won the World Cup that year.

7. Keep the differences within the team, don’t succumb to external factors: There are bound to be differences and dissidence within your teams. Its important how you manage them. Never allow the external forces to take charge of the situation, it never helps.

During the 1996 World Cup semi finals at Calcutta (now Kolkata), the unruly fans took advantage of India’s poor batting display and disrupted the match. The match referee had no hesitation in abandoning the match, but not before he declared Sri Lankans the winners of the semi finals. India crashed out of the championships and Sri Lanka went on to win the finals and the World Cup.

8. Multi skills help: Whether you are playing cricket or developing software, its always good to have people who are multi-skilled, known as “all-rounders” in cricketing parlance.

A good Developer should have the necessary skill to do testing and a good Test Engineer should understand the nuances of a good design.

Mohinder Amarnath’s “all-round” ability of providing solidity to the middle order and at the same time snaring wickets with his innocuous looking medium pace helped India clinch the World Cup in Lord’s England in 1983. He was the “Man of the Match” during the semi finals and finals. Similarly Yuvaraj Singh’s multi skills helped him garner four “Man of the Match” Awards during 2011 World Cup and it was fitting that he was at the wicket when Dhoni hit the winning six to bring back the Cup after 28 years.

9. Differentiate personal adversity from professional work: We are taught to maintain the right amount of balance between professional and personal life. Apart from that, we should also know how to keep the two isolated. Never let your personal adversity reflect on your professional work and vice versa.

During the 1999 World Cup being played in England, Sachin Tendulkar’s father died. Sachin made a quick dash to India and was back in England in a jiffy. When he scored an unbeaten 140 century on his arrival at Bristol, England and looked Heavenwards at his departed father, he had the entire crowd at its feet and even the most “stiff upper lipped” could be seen wiping a tear or two.

10. “Rolling stone gathers no moss”: This is a very famous saying that we have heard since time immemorial. No article in today’s fast paced IT can be complete without talking of attrition! In today’s IT era, it’s a fashion to be changing jobs at the speed of changing clothes. Gone are the days when our parents would work for 25 years in one Company.

At the time of retirement, the Company would reward their 25 years of loyalty with a Two Hundred Rupee HMT watch that they would proudly display on their wrinkled wrist. In any field, whether its sports or IT, its important to continue in the “same field” to acquire good functional and domain competency. A best example of “continuation” comes from none other than Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Indian cricket. In his 21 years of Indian cricket, he has conquered most of the World records, more than what the rest have achieved put together. However, just for a moment, pause and think how little Sachin would have achieved if he had been changing his sport every 2 years !

Whether it is a game of cricket or professional work, the core values, ethics and principles remain unchanged!

 

- M R Dev Prasad

COACHING : Basic Wicket Keeping

Set Up
• The crouch
• Feet approximately shoulder width apart
• Weight evenly balanced on the balls of the feet
• Gloves open and lightly touching the ground
 
Positioning
• Always ensure a clear view down the delivery line
• To the spinners crouch with the inside leg in line with off-stump and about 2 foot lengths back
• To fast/medium pacers stand far enough back to take the ball about hip height (Keepers control the slips positioning)
• Always mark the positioning

Footwork
• Keep the weight on the balls of the feet
• Maintain flexed knees throughout the sideways movement
• Keeping back; Position feet to take the ball on inside leg
• Keeping up; Keep the head in-line with the ball
Glovework
• Point the fingers at the ground, sky or sideways, NEVER at the ball
• Extend the arms, then give with the ball
• Catch the ball in the palms at the base of the fingers, so that the fingers close around the ball

Mental skills
• Staying focused for every second of the days play is impossible. Keepers need to switch on as the bowler comes in and then switch off when the ball is dead.
 
Role in the team
• The keeper should lead in the field
• Set a high standard for you fielders to follow as how the keeper conducts himself on the field often is reflected in the whole team performance
• The keeper is also in a prime position to identify batters weaknesses, bowlers performances and field placements so as to assist the captain

COACHING : Basic Fielding #3

Catching

When taking a catch, fingers should only point one of different three ways;

1. At the ground

2. At the sky

3. Parallel to the ground (side-on)

In order to take any catch cleanly, as player must use length of catch also known as `soft’ hands. These principles also apply for taking outfield/in-the-circle catches. It refers to the cushioning effect on the ball. This is best explained through the example that, if a ball is thrown at concrete it bounces up, if it is thrown at a soft pillow it stays in the pillow and doesn’t bounce out.

Slips: Perhaps the most difficult position to field. Slips fieldsmen need great concentration, coordination and reflexes. The slips fieldsmen should position himself according to the wicketkeeper. 1^st slips should be roughly a pace behind the keeper, 2^nd slip in-line with the keeper, and 3^rd slip closer to the batsman than 2^nd. Slips fieldsmen should try to spread themselves as wide as possible. Players should have feet shoulder width apart, their weight on their toes (balls of feet) and their hands out in front.

Close in fieldsman: These fieldsmen are often employed early in the innings or when a spinner is bowling well. These fielders are in a dangerous position and thus should wear protective equipment at all times. Once a fieldsman is placed it is important that as the bowler moves into bowl the fieldsman squats slightly and stays still. By the fieldsman taking up a `half’ wicket keeper stance and staying low it helps them to move quickly. Weight should be low and distributed on the toes with feet roughly shoulder width apart.

Fielding in the circle: These fieldsmen main responsibility is to stop singles and boundary scoring shots when possible. About 20-35m from the bat these fieldsmen should `walk in with the bowler’. Once the bowler starts his run-up the in the circle fieldsman should start to walk in gradually building their momentum, so that at the moment the ball is delivered the fieldsman is in a balanced position, hands in front of the body and ready to move either, left, right, forwards or backwards

Fielding on the boundary: These players should make sure they position themselves right on the boundary. They are there to prevent the ball from going for four but also to limit the number of runs taken. When the bowler moves into bowl they should walk in a couple of paces.

Fielding is mainly an attitude; fieldsman must wish the ball to come to them. The most successful fieldsman concentrates every ball and likes to display their skills in the field. A long day or a long partnership may lead to a noticeable drop in the teams fielding performance. It is important that coaches recognize this and encourage their players to stay focused for the entire fielding session.

5. Basic Fielding

How to slide and dive

To try and keep the pressure on it is important to be able to slide and dive efficiently.

What is a slide? What is a dive? – The basic difference is that a slide is down with the feet first, then sliding on the thigh collecting the ball in the mid drift area. A dive is head first, with arms reaching to collect the ball at full stretch in one or two hands.

How to slide

The slide is often employed when the ball is racing away from you towards the boundary. The player chasing the ball wants to get his body behind the ball collect and return it quickly. Imagine you are running 45 degrees to your right, with a ball that is already past you on the way to the boundary. You judge where you will intercept it, then as you get close, you start getting side on. You then make a small jump and land with your left leg straight to the ground sliding on the area between your knee and hip. As you slide you gather the ball, quickly rise from the slide and return the ball to the keeper. If the ball is on your right side, slide on your left thigh, if the ball is on your left side, slide on your right thigh.

How to dive

With a dive you have less time than a slide and the fieldsman’s only concern is to stop the ball. As the ball will be traveling past you normally for a boundary, dives are usually at full stretch. You judge the speed of the ball and make an angle to it. Taking quick steps you cover the ground, your momentum is heading towards where you plan to intercept the ball. As you get within approximately the length of your body from the ball, jump head first at the ball, sliding on the side of your chest, with arms outstretched at the ball. If the ball is heading right, slide on the right side of your body, if the ball is heading left slide on the left. A dive should be the last resort as it takes a long time to gain your balance and be able to throw after a dive.

COACHING : Basic Fielding #2

Throwing
Technique development of a strong flat arm involves progression in a number of steps. The fastest throw is a low flat throw, it will always beat a high loopy throw.
Overarm: - Progression
• Pick up
• Crow Hop
• Shoulder rotation
• Hip Rotation
• Elbow flick
• Wrist and finger flick

Important Points:
Players must have their elbow above the shoulder
Stepping forward and bracing the front leg
Using stomach muscles to propel the top half of the body over the braced front leg
Underarm: - Progression
• Attack the ball, which is close to the stumps (up to approximately 15meters away).
• Pick the ball up in the hand you are going to throw with by bending the knees (not the back).
• Pick it up next to your foot and like a pendulum, short controlled back swing, follow through with your palm pointing at the target.

COACHING : Basic Fielding #1

In cricket no matter, if you are a batsman or bowler you, spend at least 80% of your time in the field. If a player cannot enjoy fielding, he will not enjoy cricket. The best way to enjoy fielding is to see it as a challenge and try to focus on every ball giving 100% effort. Catches win matches, an ordinary team can become a good team, and a good team may become a great team through fielding with enthusiasm and skill.

Attacking versus Defensive fielding

In the circle and outfield, it is important wherever possible to make a straight line for the ball. The shortest route between two points is a straight line. This puts the pressure on the batsman and gets the fieldsman in the habit for when a runout opportunity arises. This is known as `Swooping on the ball’

This idea may also be called making an angle to the ball. This involves the players being quickly able to judge the line and the speed of the shot. Once he has made that judgment he must pick the straightest possible line to the ball. If he `circles’ the ball he runs around the ball to pick it up, he wastes valuable time.

By attacking the ball and making an angle to it. You cut down the thinking time of the batsmen, thus creating opportunities for runouts.

Defensive fielding should only be used when a boundary scoring shot has been struck. The idea is therefore only to stop the ball. The best way to achieve this to get your body completely behind the ball with one knee on the ground and watch it closely into your hands.