Dear Editor,
Mind over matter is how the article on sports psychology by Simon Hughes in the latest edition of the Cricketer magazine is described. It is not a major piece, by any means, but for me it is timely coming as it did on the heels of my recent suggestion to the WICB published in Stabroek News last week that they retain the services of a sports psychologist to assist in building confidence in the players, and also the recent pronouncement of Mr Garner, the team manager, that the problem with the team is that they do not work hard enough, going so far as to imply that staying longer at the wicket is evidence of a willingness to work harder. Some time ago focusing on the fast bowlers he had said that they were too lazy. Admittedly my cricket was played between the ages of about 7 and 18, but I never met a sportsman who didn’t love playing and who didn’t want to succeed. It might appear ironic coming from someone who wants to see cricketers make as much money as they can, but it seems to me that cricket is a game, and while it requires, like everything else, a great deal of work to excel, it is not work as reasonable people understand that concept.
Here is how Hughes ended his article:
“A sports psychologist had unlocked his ‒ Mark Ramperkash ‒ gifts and made him feel, at least for a time, at ease at test level.
“England now have one on site for a couple of days before every test and then on call thereafter.
Helping cricketers handle stress and expectation is one area that a psychologist can be valuable.”
Anyone who saw Bravo`s dismissal and believes it to be a consequence of lack of hard work, is, not, in my view, a serious student of the game.
Yours faithfully,
Romain Pitt
