Over the past four weeks, I have been following the Australian cricket team around Australia. The famous rivalry between Australia and England where they fight for the "Ashes" is a thing of folk lore in my family, and although I would not consider myself as much of a cricket tragic as this endeavour would suggest, I certainly am grateful to have shared this experience with my husband and Dad and help him tick this off his bucket list.
This series was fraught with unexpected events that only a corona coaster can offer. It started with the commentators contracting COVID, and before long, it infiltrated the Austrlaian team proper and there were players having to withdraw from matches with hours notice. While this was unfortunate, it did provide an opportunity for another eager player waiting in the wings to don the "Baggy Green".
In Sydney, a batsman close to my heart, who shares a birthdate with me and plays for Queensland named Usman Khawaja, found himself with that opportunity. Having been out of the test side for over two years, and just turned 35, hopes were fading that Usman would bat for Australia again……and then, he got the call up. He came onto the SCG in 5th spot and did everything right. Played the game that the team needed him to and ended up making an exciting 137. The crowd was thoroughly behind him once they smelt the chance of a century and the celebration around the ground was only rivalled by Ussie’s celebration on field – he was one very happy Aussie. In the second innings, he backed up with 101 not out and the Australian public was elated to see him do it.
In an interview, ever the humble batsman said regardless of the sensational performance it was unlikely he would be chosen in the next test. I was outraged. We need to pick the best players, and he was streets above any other batsman I had seen all series! It wasn’t fair if he didn’t get picked, especially considering the consistency of a century in consecutive innings. However, it was what he said in the follow up that really hit home. "I’ll just be ready. When the Aussie cricket team needs me, I’ll be ready." If we have talent of this calibre who are “ready”, what does that say about the depth of the team?
More importantly, what can we learn about being ready? Some of us think we are born ready, but are we ready for that opportunity that we are waiting for? Are we as ready as Usman Khawaja is? This level of readiness is what I will aspire to because if I am that ready, there is no way I can fail! This is also the level of preparedness I will encourage in my coaching clients, being supremely ready for your next opportunity will ensure your success. If you are thinking about your next opportunity for 2022, I would love to talk to you about my career coaching package.