Colombo July 2008: Did India miss out on the basics?

Mere reputation and talent are not good enough for a team or an individual to win. I guess this is what the Indian team would have found out after their thumping innings defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankans.

To succeed as a sportsman, a coach, a trainer or as a professional embarking on an assignment there are 4 Ps to be considered.1. Planning: Had the Indian team planned for the series. Did they look at the challenges that might be thrown at them by the Lankans. Did they think of ways to tackle Ajanta Mendis? and so on... When we embark on any venture , planning is imperative. We need to think of the What, Why, When, Who, Where and Hows of the assignment.

2. Preparations: Again the question is whether the Indian team was adequately prepared for the Test series. Were tactics and strategies thought of? Was the right players picked for the task? Was sufficient work put into getting rid of the rust and lack of physical fitness? Was enough research done on the opposition? Even when it comes to non sporting assignments, there is a great need for preparation. Often this preparation involves research, analysis,strategies and definite action plans. This holds good for the playing field, this holds good for market place, this holds good for a surgeryor for a presentation ...

3. Practice: Did the Indian team have adequate practice before the Colombo Test match? Was one warm up game good enough? Geoff Boycott feels that there should be atleast 4 warm up games before a team goes into an important assignment like a Test match. Practice makes a person perfect goes the saying. We need to give ourselves enough opportunities to practice and perfect ourselves in terms of our skills, knowledge and all else before we take on an assignment.

4. Performance: The focus has to be total, effort has to be 100% and the approach has to be professional. There could be question marks on all three counts when it came to the Indian performance at Colombo. 600 runs was no impossible task. Just go back a couple of weeks and take the case of the Lords Test and the brilliant South African rear guard effort. Smith and Co were totally focused and the effort was both 100% and professional. The result is before us to see. The performance has to have a focus and commitment and a focus that is total.

Finally, the entire process has to be relished and enjoyed. So enjoy your assignments and do remember the 4 Ps.

George Abraham