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Cricket
By Vijay Lokapally
Sandy Gordon
This is a silent message passing from one member to another, the focus being on tomorrow. There is nothing like a winning feeling and the Indian cricketers have realised that to look ahead, it is absolutely necessary to get over the failures of yesterday. The silent revolution is being scripted by a psychologist who is convinced that this team can be a world beater, if only it plays to its potential. Sandy Gordon is not a magician but a psychologist, one who has expertise in motivating the players and helping them give their best. "He's simply amazing,'' exclaims Virender Sehwag. The opener is undeterred, the failures of the recent past buried under the positive thoughts of his better moments at the crease. "I don't remember the failures for the simple reason that they don't help me improve. There's no point brooding and sulking when the emphasis is on going out and playing your natural game. I can't worry about the ball that dismissed me and spend jittery moments at the crease. I've learnt to believe in only the positive aspect of my cricket and I must thank Sandy for it,'' says the belter from Najafgarh. Sehwag has had some rough time in the middle. Knocked out repeatedly by left-arm bowler Nathan Bracken; he has been struggling to get his basics right. In his case, it is a simple case of walking out and playing his shots. He would lose his value to the side if he begins to think in terms of changing his approach now.
Zaheer Khan, India's spearhead, has been one of the many players to benefit from Sandy Gordon's advice. — Photo: V. V. Krishnan
"Build on your strength'' is what he has understood and he has looked forward to sticking to his style. "I've developed this habit through constant interaction with Sandy. He's helped me understand my game better and I'm just keen to get cracking.'' Zaheer Khan thinks on similar lines. For him, it has been a steady transition from a shaky bowler to one who gathers innate strength at short notice. "I used to get rattled every time I was hit a four but now I quickly analyse my flaws and try to improve in quick time. It doesn't mean I sulk over what happened. Thinking about the low moments doesn't help at all. So why worry about the ball that has been hit for a four. I concentrate on not allowing that low moment to bother me as I walk back to my mark,'' says Zaheer, who has looked a mature bowler on this tour. At another stage, there is another left-arm seamer, Ashish Nehra, trying to come to terms with the challenges. Returning from injury, he has not been at his best, and the poor match at the `Gabba' may have sent alarming signals. He was unable to beat the bat and seemed lost. But he does not suffer sleepless nights. "I've no time for negative thoughts. Having Sandy around means a lot because he talks you out of those low moments. It's not easy to forget the dark periods but then Sandy precisely has taught us how to overcome the disappointments of the failures. I know I've not bowled well but I also know the level I can reach if I concentrate on the next game.'' For Anil Kumble, help has come at the right time. He is down but not out, thanks to those sessions spent with Gordon. There is a definite rise in expectations from Kumble, considering his vast experience, but then not playing matches can be such a shattering experience. Not in his case though. "Sandy's been of a big help to all of us. Needless to say, I've also gained from my sessions with him. He basically motivates you to be at your best and not to allow the situation to dictate you. One need not always be overawed by the situation. You can learn from your mistakes," says Kumble. Gordon has helped the team look ahead. The players believe the sessions with him can help them raise the level of their game. Rahul Dravid sums it up nicely: "It's all nice as long as you know you imbibe his lessons. He talks to you to essentially motivate you but then it all depends on how you go ahead and perform. There's no doubt that Sandy has helped in certain areas, most important being the mental preparation. But then it would, at the end of the day, boil down to how much of it can be imbibed to help you face the situation in the middle.'' The key lies in understanding your strength in situations where the mind plays the clinching role. Learning from failures is one thing and building on your assets to achieve results is another. This team is engaged in the process of establishing itself and Sandy Gordon will play an important role in the times to come, especially in the current series, which Sourav Ganguly and his men believe can be theirs, provided they play to their potential. A Gabba gallery of pictures by V. V. Krishnan has been put on our website. It can be accessed at www.hinduonnet.com/gallery.
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