Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
You have to work hard to get to the top of your game. I think every writer has doubts! I still do all the time.
Work hard, work away from the game, work when no one's looking, and just knowing that it's a process. Everything will come at the right time.
In Twenty20, because of the pace of the game, everyone is constantly involved in the field, you have to work as a team covering each other, there's no time to take your eye off the ball.
I never think that I have to be at top every time. Obviously, I have to do well in every game and series; that's what I try to do. I try to improve and work on the swing and variation in my bowling.
Once our season finishes in November, a lot of players maybe take a couple of weeks off and start training for the next year. You often usually have only a little time to work on your game and stuff.
Only one time have I had Twitter open when I was doing a game, and after that I took it off my phone. I said, 'This is so counterproductive. I'm actually reacting to people reacting to what I'm saying, and it can't work that way.'
As a batter you are generally playing a mental game most of the time and having too long to prepare can work against you - you can almost fry yourself out before a Test match or feel slightly fatigued two games in because you have spent too long preparing.
In domestic cricket - whether it is Ranji Trophy or other first class matches - in the first year, not many opponents will know about your game, but by the time you are into the third or fourth year, the opponents would have found out your strengths and weaknesses, and they will work on it.
A lot of people don't really understand that a statistic is an indicator, but it doesn't really give the full picture of the body of work. There's been time when I've had one sack or no sacks and controlled a whole game, and I've seen other cats get three or four sacks and it had no effect on that game.
In my early work, my time in the batting cage, that's serious, and that's when I feel like I'm really working. That's where I have to lock in on my approach, make sure my mechanics are right, and make sure my mindset is right for the upcoming game. But then, when the game comes up, it's a game! You're supposed to have fun when you play games.