Success Lessons From The Ashes Cricket Series of 2006/7.

by: John Watson.

Whether people know anything about cricket or not, they can learn some lessons about success in general from the Ashes series of cricket matches.

The Ashes are the cremated remains of a cricket bail or possibly a veil which symbolise the death of English cricket. These remains or ashes are kept in a small urn which stays at Lord's cricket ground in London.

The team that wins the Ashes series of test matches between England and Australia is said to win the Ashes. The idea of the Ashes was created by a London journalist, Reginald Brooks, who wrote a mock obituary for English cricket when the England team were beaten by the Australians:

"In affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval, 29th August, 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances RIP. N.B The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia."

The Ashes were won back by England on Australian soil almost immediately and a group of Melbourne women created some real ashes, allegedly from a bail used in the third match of the series, and presented them to the leader of the England team.

Since then the Ashes have been fought over with great intensity by the English and the Australians. They were won by England in 2005 but have now been won back by the Australians in 2006.

Shane Warne, the great Australian spin bowler, described the Ashes as the 'smallest trophy with the most meaning'. Shane decided to retire after winning back the urn at the end of 2006. His desire to win the Ashes has been life long:

"Since I was a child, I didn't want England to win anything."

A key ingredient of any success is desire and motivation. Nearly all Australians have a huge desire to beat the English. Maybe this comes from the fact that the ancestors of many Australians were exported by the English to Australia as criminals in the 18th and 19th centuries.

A banner was held up at one of the test matches declaring: "Not Bad For Convicts!"

This traditional Australian motivation was increased enormously by the humiliation of losing the Ashes to England in 2005. The scenes of celebration in England last year rubbed salt in the wounds of defeat and inspired the Australians to put in the work which was rewarded in Australia in December 2006

Nor were they content to win the Ashes in three matches. They wanted to 'smash' the English in the remaining two tests and complete a white wash of five matches in all.

They would show no mercy and were ready to think big and to seek complete victory. Thinking big in this way and having such a big goal can only inspire enthusiasm and drive.

In the final test, England lost yet again. They had now lost all five tests and the whitewash was complete. Australia had not only won the Ashes; they had made England look like losers. They had achieved their big goal.

What were the secrets of the Australians? Powerful motivation, the honesty to admit their mistakes and the desire to rebuild by working hard, by preparing thoroughly and by improving. They were focused on winning and winning big.

Andrew Strauss, the English opening batsman, realised that the tables had been turned and that England needed to react in the same way as the Australians:

"We've had the upside. We're now experiencing the downside. We have to use this as motivation to go on and perform better in the future. Give the Australians an inch and they'll take a mile. If you give them a good start it is very hard to get back at them."

Ian Botham, a great England all rounder, said roughly the following:

"You have to take your hat off to the Australians. After their defeat in 2005 the Australians admitted their preparation was wrong and started to rebuild England did not prepare properly and refused to admit it. I suggest they look at the scoreboard. England, stop hiding. Admit it when you've got it wrong. Stop giving excuses. Put your hand up. Take it on the chest and let's move on and move on quickly."

We all need to check out the scoreboard and the numbers on it. Do we keep score of the number of exercise sessions we perform each week? If we are writers do we keep track of the number of words or pages we write each day? We should. We will then be in touch with reality and can make corrections as necessary.

Nasser Hussein, a former England captain, commented: "England were not stubborn enough. There was not enough 'over my dead body spirit'. Team spirit and morale come from one thing only 'winning'. There is no need for a mother's meeting about the state of English cricket. The players just need to start playing well."

Winning and winning early is a key factor in success. If you decide to achieve a goal, take action immediately so that early success will move you to further great efforts. If you delay achieving an early success, motivation will often fade and die and the doubts will grow.

Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, remarked that the little doubts in the minds of the English had grown into big doubts.

Nasser was scathing when Steve Harmison, an English bowler, was asked what he would do when he got back to England. "Ask the coach" said Steve. "Why not ask yourself?" said Nasser. Do you think Shane Warne asks the coach what he should do? "

In other words, take responsibility for your own improvement - don't ask some one else

Another great England player said that the attitude of the English team was almost one of resignation and: "You don't like to see that." Resignation means you have already given up and you never see that mindset in any Australian team. They will fight to the bitter end.

Boycott, a former England opening batsman famous for plain speaking, was asked why England had been thumped five - nil. His answer went roughly as follows:

"Inconsistent cricket for sixteen months after winning the Ashes in 2005. Victory went to their heads.. They thought that they had climbed Mt Everest. When you do something good, do something better. Winning in Australia was bigger and more difficult and they didn't focus on it. They didn't have enough practice matches. They weren't mentally strong enough. They weren't really up for it."

Two English batsmen were asked for their opinions on why England failed:

"Australia nailed down the key moments and England didn't. They played better and really wanted it badly and they hit us hard from the start and it is hard to play catch up. They got on top of us and it was hard work for us. We didn't hit the ground running in the first match and it allowed the Australians to get some momentum. "

Letting things get 'on top of you' whether they are cricket teams, or wrestlers or debts or clutter can delay or even destroy success. Even when Australia were under the cosh, they found a way to bounce back and get back on top.

Michael Holding, a great West Indian bowler, said: "Australia find a way of coming back in every game. They know that they are good and they believe that they are good."

Kevin Pietersen, England's best batsman in this series, explained that England had been on top at certain times in the series but then the 'silly season took over for a couple of hours and the advantage was lost.

Hopefully, England will regain the Ashes in 2009 when the next series takes place.

What lessons can we learn?

Successful people do not lie down and play dead when they are humiliated. Instead they stand up and prove to every one that they still have greatness in them. They enjoy proving their critics wrong.

A big goal is more inspiring than a smaller one. The Australians not only wanted the Ashes back, they wanted to demolish the English and prove beyond doubt that they were the number one cricket team in the entire world. They succeeded.

Successful people look at the scoreboard and check the numbers. This way they are in touch with reality rather than wishful thinking. They know what they have done and what needs to be done. They do not make excuses.

Successful people get on top of things immediately and do not allow any one or anything to get on top of them for long. They take action, at once, to win and then use the joy of winning to drive them further.

Successful people do not rest on their laurels; they look for bigger and better mountains to climb.

The Australians are still climbing. Since the Ashes series, they have beaten England again in a 20 - 20 overs match and in a one day's match. Ricky Ponting was asked recently: "What is the secret of Australian success?"

"Believing in our abilities and having a go!"

Golden words like that are worth a lot more than a few ashes in an urn!

Are there any words of comfort for the English? Yes. Al Murray, the host of 'Happy Hour' on ITV had the answer. In a recent show, he discussed England's defeat by the Australians.

He asked if anyone in the audience was Australian. One man had to own up as he was wearing the national colors! He nervously put his hand up.

"Are you an Australian? Well you weren't in the team!"

Al Murray hadn't finished:

"We, English, invented cricket, mate. You wouldn't have anything to do in that tinder box down under if it wasn't for us! "

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- about the Author: John Watson

John Watson is an award winning teacher and 5th degree blackbelt martial arts instructor. He has written several ebooks on motivation and success topics.
One of these can be found at: www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

You can also find motivational ebooks by authors like Stuart Goldsmith.
Check out: www.motivationtoday.com/the_midas_method.php

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