David Warner Talks About Learning Discipline and Focus from Sachin Tendulkar

DobiDobi
5 min read

David Warner is the name that brings power to our mind. He is the player known for hitting the cricket ball very hard. Sachin Tendulkar is another name we all know. He is the player who mastered the game and always appeared calm, experienced and experienced a lot of success.

These two players are very different, but Warner has explained that he learnt a lot from watching Tendulkar play cricket. It was not in terms of ball striking but what he learned was about how to became a better player through hard work and an astute mind.

This is the story that demonstrates how a great big hitter became tactical lessons from a quiet Master - namely; even the best can learn from others. His story tells us that successful outcome is the blend of talent and discipline in any field.

A Fiery Begining

When David Warner started out playing for Australia, he was a tornado! The pace at which he struck the ball and carved up the bowlers frightened them.

It worked out well for him as he scored runs at an outstanding rate. Everyone could see he had a real gift. His style was vibrant and dynamic for the spectators to watch, and he was a natural boundaries hitter.

Yet, his aggressive batting style at times got him into trouble. At times he would be out playing a risky shot. At times, his energy on the field was too much. He had all the talent in the world but he needed something else to make him really great.

He needed control; he needed to learn to control his energy and use it at the right time. This was something the young star was quite challenged by.

Watching the Master Work

Warner paid more attention to watching Sachin Tendulkars' batting lately. He watched how Tendulkar prepared for each game and how calm he was even when times were tough. Tendulkar had a different kind of energy. It was not about brute force. It was about control, timing and thinking.

Warner began to realize that Tendulkar constructed his innings carefully. He did not try to hit every ball for a six. He respected the good balls and exploited the bad balls. This was a completely new concept for Warner.

He realized that cricket is not only a physical game, it is also mental. Tendulkars' concentration was unrelenting. It was as though he was in his own little bubble when he batted. This quiet strength was something Warner wanted to have.

The Lesson in Discipline

Discipline was the first big lesson. Warner figured out that Tendulkar's success was not a fluke. It was the result of years of hard work. Tendulkar was legendary for his practice habits. He would spend hours and hours to get everything right. His body management and fitness allowed him to play for a very long time.

It was not only the fact that Warner was learning about what was going on the field, but also that what was happening off the field is just as important. So-called true professionals, are those who create discipline in the way they conduct themselves all parts of their life.

Fans who follow the sport of cricket on platforms like Kheloexch see the amazing shots played on TV, but they don't always see the sweat and effort that has gone beforehand.

Warner understood that he had to work harder and he had to be smart. This began to build healthier habits into his own practice. He began to put more time into his practice and fitness.

Some things Warner gained from learning discipline:

Practice with purpose - have a goal for every session.

Control your emotions - remain calm under pressure.

Respect the game - play fair and respect the sport.

Finding a New Focus

The second lesson was about focus. Tendulkar had the ability to focus unlike any other athlete. Once Tendulkar was at the crease, he was only focused on the cricket. Everything else like... the crowd... the opposing team... the pressure... nothing else mattered. The crowd, the pressure, the noise—it all disappeared. He only thought about the next ball.

It was a significant lesson for Warner. He had an active mind and would get distracted at times. He learned from watching Tendulkar how to still his mind and he practiced doing so by staying in the moment.

That is when he was really able to focus, and he was a different batter. He was starting to be able to spend long periods at the batting crease without thinking about it. He was able to turn his quick thirty's and forty's into big hundreds.

There is often detailed game analysis shown on sites such as Kheloexch360 depicting how a batter's level of concentration can affect their score (ex: both players could be playing the same, but if you sustained a higher level of concentration the batter will be more consistent and more successful). Warner's statistics began to demonstrate this change.

His sharpening his focus involved three things:

-Blocking out crowd noise

-Focusing only on the next ball

-Forgiving oneself for a previous mistake

A More Complete Player

Warner had not lost his inherent attacking style. This is why he is David Warner. He simply took Tendulkar's lessons and integrated them into his game.

He combined his power with discipline and new found focus, and he became a much better player. He became a lot more consistent. He was able to know when to attack and when to defend.

Other players and captains noticed the change in the cloth cap. He was still the exciting player that everyone enjoyed watching. He was also a player that, his teammates knew or could trust.

He had developed into a leader in the Australian team. He was using his wealth of experience to help develop younger players. He proved to them that there can still be aggressive play, but also smart play. This combination was what made him one of the most feared openers in the world.

Warner is a great example for any aspiring player. He was very fortunate, but very humble in reaching out to another great player and master of his craft. He recognised that talent means nothing if you don't apply hard work, discipline and focus. Talent is merely the starting point. His story proves that you never stop learning no matter how good you are!

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