There is a well known phrase used in sport which says “fail to prepare. Be prepared to fail” In fact it could be translated to any sphere of life. For a long time now the Australian cricketers were known to put in a lot of thought into the manner in which they prepared for their games. What happens at the top again filters down the line. Mind you, that applies to the good, the bad and the ugly.

Preparation does not only focus on the playing side and the individual’s skill development. It also involves team work and comradeship, which is what gets the side through thick and thin. Some tours are naturally tougher than the others. The main eight nations, England, Australia, West Indies, South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are and will for quite some time remain at the top of this sport. When either plays the another, a lively contest is expected. The first step then, becomes preparation.

Those who play at this level are aware of exactly what is required of them. Each has a role to play, be it as an opening batsman, top order batsman, wicket keeper / batsman, all rounder, spinner or pace bowler. The whole lot have to get together and perform for the team succeed. When playing at home the advantage of knowing home conditions exists. Years of playing matches and practicing makes every inch of ground familiar. Experience tells how to tackle every situation. The outcome may not always be successful but at the knowledge exists on the approach at each venue.

The Australian cricketers know what preparation is all about.

Away from home that changes. The more you play on foreign soil, the more you learn. It’s not learning from success, but also from failures. Those who address their minds on failed attempts and mistakes made and use them as pillars to build on go further than those who avoid them.

Extra work must be part in for the overseas tours. Currently the Australians are in India. It is a tough tour for them, in fact tough for any team. This Aussie team is still working on establishing new players, finding the correct balance and getting a core of players who will be their rock for the next few years.

It was not too long ago that they lost Shane Warne, Glen McGrath, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn. A huge chunk from the batting and bowling departments. Both in terms of wickets and runs and also experience. This year Adam Gilchrist called it a day. Another huge loss. A few months ago Stuart McGill who was in Warne’s shadow throughout his career, called it quits. Now the spin department has had to start from scratch. Preparation becomes all the more valuable.

Accurate selection becomes so valuable for this reason. Those who do not fit into the first eleven should be able to make some contribution when called on during the tour. Should the tour selectors not have the confidence to do so, then those players become passengers. Those on the bench must be good enough and young enough to be able to serve a national team for a few years or even for many years. Young may not only be in age, as some players mature late. The selectors have to be clever to judge those who can stretch their playing life span. Mike Hussey is a classic example of a late developer.

Preparation plans must be made known well in advance. Players of today although full time attached to the game, also have plenty of their own commitments. The Australians prior to their tour to the West Indies in May/June this year, conducted a team camp before departure in April. All players in the Test squad had to attend. All those who were involved in the IPL had to conclude that commitment and attend the camp. Some of the top Aussie players did not even play a handful of games in the IPL, had to forego big earnings and it was all done without a fuss. Of course the players knew well in advance where they stand with the National team’s requirements and there is no budging, no using influence!

Currently in India they spent a week ahead of the official tour in preparation. They acclimatized themselves, played on a varied number of surfaces that they would be likely to encounter. Spent a whole lot of time planning and discussing their strategies, simultaneously building team spirit. They have not left a stone unturned in preparing for this all important test series.

Every team must take a leaf of the Australian preparation book. Remember again, “fail to prepare then be prepared to fail.”

= Ranil Abeynaike is a former Sri Lanka cricketer and curator of SSC