The Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle of Delphi plied her trade, was renowned for having the maxim know thyself carved into its stone. This, along with Polonius parting words to Laertes in Hamlet, to thine own self be true, is perhaps the best advice that a cricketer can be given. For cricket, in all of its infinite variety, relies on judgement more than any other skill, and if theres one judgement that is absolutely vital, it is that of the self.Geoffrey Boycott, for all his faults, knows a thing or two about the game. One of his mantras is make your opponent do something they dont want to do. He says this because its true.If youre bowling to Alastair Cook, you dont pitch the ball short and wide, or on his hips, you pitch it outside off... and when hes struggling, when his footwork isnt just so, or hes overbalancing, hell invariably have a nibble. When hes in form, however, his judgement is impeccable. Ignoring practically everything that isnt in his arc, he simply waits for the bad ball and puts it away, and his leave is a thing of frustrating beauty. Hes not the most elegant, attractive or technically proficient member of the England set-up, but one look at the numbers show just how effective a cricketer he is. This is because he knows his own game.In April 1997, an article appeared in the music press arguing that accurate self-assessment was vital for a musician to perform at their best, and described a psychological test that could quantify the gap between a players self-belief and his or her actual ability. It was, as the month of publication suggests, a joke, though like all good jokes it was built around close observation and understanding. Two years later, in 1999, two psychologists at Cornell University came to a similar conclusion, noting that low-ability individuals consistently overestimate their skill levels, while the converse is true of high-ability individuals. They called it the Dunning-Kruger effect. I called it the Position of Attitudes.Weve all seen the results of extreme disparity between actual and perceived ability. The batsman who thinks he can hit every ball for six but is always oh-so-unlucky; the bowler whos convinced hes lightning fast and pitches it short and shorter still, but will get the batsman soon. Neither cricketer wins games.Accurately gauging ones own ability relative to that of the other players on the field (whether they are on your side or not) is a vital part of playing at ones best.As a wicketkeeper who sometimes keeps above himself, its a constant battle to find the right place to stand, especially to spinners. Obviously, one ought to stand up to spin, but some bowlers are just too quick for me. I leak byes and am unlikely to take many nicks. Standing back even a yard or two may take stumpings out of the equation, but the byes dry up and I pouch the nicks. I know my own capabilities, and usually keep within them, but sometimes I give in to pressure and move to where someone else thinks I ought to stand. It rarely goes well. Im pretty confident I know my keeping self.When batting, the same is true. If youre aware of your limitations (and accept them), then you reduce the risk of failure. Its when youre tempted to overreach that things go badly. You decide to go for big shots when youre really a nudger and a nurdler.On tour this summer, I played a vital innings batting at No. 5 (when I was probably the 12th best bat in the team) during which I watched partner after partner try too hard and perish accordingly. I simply waited for the ball to be well within my arc. It worked because I played to my strengths (such as they are) and made the bowlers come to me. Occasionally, I simply tee off. This doesnt go so well.We must allow ourselves to play our own game and not be lured into playing someone elses. No matter what the wicketkeeper says. Yes, we adapt to the situation, and yes, sometimes that means we must take greater risks, but in acknowledging those risks we may still make the best of it. Try to hit the ball too hard, try to bowl it too fast, try too many variations and the percentages plummet. Ask not, as they say, what the ball is going to do to you, but what you can actually do with the ball.The England Test side has left in its wake many who have struggled to succeed because they have tried to change their natural game. And by this I dont mean adapting to the new arena, fine-tuning technique, or working on shot selection.Nick Compton, convinced he needed to impress, tried to change his natural game and was caught hooking. Alex Hales struggled as an opener because he couldnt decide who to be: had he played freely he may still have failed, but thats okay. Yes, James Vince, Gary Ballance and a few others have arguably failed to make their game work at Test level, but they were honest with themselves in the process. Fail on your own terms, not somebody elses.When Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed opened together in the warm-up game in Bangladesh, they were in direct competition for the vacant opening berth. Both played their own game, neither trying to impress. The result? They both impressed. This can only be good for English cricket.We should aim to do the same, learn from Duckett and Hameed and be our own role models. Cheap Ultra Boost 2018 China .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Cheap Ultra Boost 2018 . LUCIE, Fla. http://www.cheapultraboostsale.com/ . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Ultra Boost 2018 For Sale .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Grey Ultra Boost 2018 . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Russias dominance in rhythmic gymnastics remains as strong as ever. Yana Kudryavtsevas dominance of the sports big-time meets, however, is over.Margarita Mamun ended her Russian teammates long run in major international competition during the Olympic all-around final on Saturday, taking advantage when a rare mistake by Kudryavtseva gave Mamun enough room to squeak by and wrest the gold from the three-time world champion. Mamuns total of 76.483 gave Russia its fifth straight Olympic gold in the rhythmic all-around and Mamun her first major title after spending most of the last three years as the runner-up to Kudryavtseva.It was quite unexpected for me to win the gold medal today because all the competitions Yana used to win, Mamun said. I wasnt thinking about winning the gold medal. It just happened.Mamun posted the top score during qualifying on Friday. The scores reset on Saturday and Kudryavtseva led through two rotations when she ran into trouble during her club routine, the event in which she posted the highest score in the 24-woman qualifying field a day earlier.The 18-year-old tossed one of her two clubs high into the air inside Rio Olympic Arena as the music crescendoed to a finish. One problem: when Kudryavtseva reached out to grab the club, it wasnt there. Instead it bounced off the floor inches away from her outstretched hand. She left the podiuum fighting back tears, well aware gold had been lost.ddddddddddddSometimes at the end of the routine I think Im relaxed, I think its already in my hand and its not, Kudryavtseva said.Mamun wasnt aware of Kudryavtsevas mistake until she came out with a red ribbon in her hand during her final routine. Mamun glanced at the scoreboard for just a moment and saw her name in first. It stayed there after her dynamic routine -- her ribbon in constant motion -- secured a gold she never saw coming.I was really surprised to see Yana make a mistake, Mamun said.Kudryavtseva gathered herself preparing for her final set but the misstep proved costly. She settled for second despite posting the highest score in the other three disciplines.It all happened very quickly, she said.Ganna Rizatdinova of Ukraine earned bronze, capping a slow but steady rise from a 10th-place finish in London four years ago. The 23-year-old is Crimean by birth but competes for Ukraine after Russia annexed Crimea two years ago while she was training in Kiev. She considers her medal a victory for two countries.Since London my life has changed a lot, my way of preparation has changed a lot, Rizatdinova said. Now I have grown up. I have new ambitions and new way of preparation and competing. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '