SPORTS June 8, 2009 Issue

LESSONS ON THE CRICKET FIELD

ANDREW WILSON

IN ENGLAND the new cricket season is under way in earnest. In the past months, cricket has had a pretty dramatic season in the Southern Hemisphere and in the Caribbean.

Australia retained its place at the top of the world rankings after holding off a strong challenge from South Africa. And the West Indies unexpectedly beat England in their five-match Test Series in the Caribbean, after they bowled out England for a mere 51 runs in the first Test in Jamaica.

The English players recovered in a subsequent match to score over 600 runs, showing their true character and worth both as cricketers and men. The qualities that stood out were their resilience, perseverance, determination, and commitment, and their confidence in their ability to put the record straight—to do justice to themselves and to perform at the level of which they were capable.