22nd Jan 2002… on the bus to Bowral and later in bed…

Here we are, travelling as a team, all muftied up in surfwear, otherwise a $1000 fine for conflicting apparel - cursing, bloody cruising. The laughter surrounding the entertainment courteous of the 'road trip'...it feeds the vibe in the team at the mo. Tired yes, excited yes, knowing we can play better....YES!

We are obviously happy with our position in the World Series at the mo - 3 out of 4...good times. An individual hero last game at the Gabba, but geez, if anyone can do it, who can...what a legend!

Personal disappointments were immediately saturated with inspiration of what I can do for the team...I love it and I want it; 'want it' meaning 'I want to do well'.

It's easy to go through the motions with whatever you do. You lose the passion for control and take the easy way out at times. The key is not to let up, love the thought of control, the feeling of control, know yourself and know your strengths. But as unnatural as it may seem at times...it's there. Sometimes you may feel it goes on vacation for more than the allocated 4 weeks per year...but to use and regenerate the control you need intent, i.e. if you go into a net practice feeling a little slow, 50/50 about it, not feeling right, you are going to struggle. The intent and what it means comes with a plan - know what you're trying to perform - accuracy is the short cut to all the bullcrap in between. If you have purpose, you have a proposition...what proposition you determine is sometimes unknown, but that's half the fun. If you have desire and passion to do something...anything, the mind is an underestimated big beefy V8 with a destination to travel to. Take me there, I want to be tested...

Bruce Lee would have been the 2nd best batsman in history if he'd played, watching his footage of him training and fighting with the power and balance, plus his superior hand eye coordination mixed with speed quicker than anyone, put this together and WA la...boom boom.

Break it down and put into practice what he did and relate it to batting. Firstly, the stance. Bruce Lee had the balance in his stance, natural, feet wide, hips locked, arms balanced, relaxed...but naturally. With this stance you give yourself every opportunity to move with maximum power in any direction, so this part is ready. Then you need the vision to ignite the movement...looking at something straight on you see it with the loss of distance perception. Your peripheral vision understands the depth and judgement. Put into practice - in your stance, if you're looking dead straight on, your balance is therefore even. Your actions are coming from in front of you so your weight should be balanced towards the action. The vision - if you're looking, for example, straight towards the base of the stumps at the bowler's end. Of course you are looking at the ball, but the peripheral vision picks up quicker the action below you. Why have so much of the picture with the sky in it? Yes, it's beautiful at times, but like the saying goes...'get your head down and work your arse off'. I'm going to give it a try today, I'll let you know how it goes...if I get a hundred Adelaide I guess it will work...we'll see.

Just arrived in Bowral, home of the great one, Sir Donald Bradman. Went to his museum for a few drinks with the locals...beauty, and big day tomorrow...well, walk through and read on about history of the game and Sir Don.

I bet you don't know and would never guess who played in the first international cricket game? Australia, England?.....Naaaaaa
Canada v USA in Toronto 1844, 5000 people watched the game. Can't remember who won though. There's also a section where a model of his backyard with the water tank, stump and golf ball game he played. So I gave it a crack, unfortunately there was no golf ball to try it...

I remember in our double garage in Mairangi Bay, Auckland when I was 10-12. I used to play big test matches in there...doors closed, axe handle, concrete wall to throw golf ball against, rolled up newspaper as stumps, recycle bin as David Boon, shoes as the slips cordon and the chalk making the crease.... Two innings test matches that would last all day...just like anything, it took awhile to get half decent at it, so for the first three test matches, they were played on a huge green seamer with McDermot and Merv Hughes bowling at you so the scores average between 10 and 30. One day test matches...but after awhile, and a few dents in the garage door, and the constant telling off for being too loud...it became fun batters game I say.

Well, so much to write about but not enough zizzes time. Good times at the mo...keep charging with a smile.

Louievee

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