Sunday Cricket Lessons from Baig Sir

Baig sir was at it again. Full on at coaching young kids. Now we have a bunch of talented 10-12 year olds learning the basics from him. He is tireless as he drives them through the drills for long,  catching every single error with his eye and correcting them as they do it. The routine of practising the drills, then knocking with the tennis balls and then finally in the nets is methodically taught.

Keeping a hawk eye on the drills

While chatting with him about the importance of drills and routines he recalled how he had learned the importance of the same from his mentor Mr. Bahauddin who was a physiotherapist. A wise man with gifted hands, Baig sir said he could cure people of polio. He could, by the use of his hands and energies, spot a hairline fracture that x rays could not - he would insist on more x rays until they showed up.

Showing how to throw correctly

The first lesson that he told Baig sir was this - 'Baig, all you have to teach the student is how to use 0 to 9 and he will find his way among all the permutations and combinations. He can make any number after that.' Baig sir is still astounded by the simplicity of the explanation. If the basics are taught well and the student has an inquisitive mind, he can use the basics to master all the numbers in the world.

Physical fitness

The second lesson he told Baig sir was about the attitude of winners. 'Baig, you should learn from water. If water encounters a tough obstruction like a big rock in its path, it does not go and throw itself at it trying to move it or make it move away so it can go ahead. It goes around it and reaches its destination while at the same time, slowly eroding and weakening it.' Winners are those who get to the outcome. Not come up with excuses.

The two kids (on the left) engaged in a discussion on the correct way to play

We watched the boys practice and Baig sir's eye spotted something interesting. 'That's what happens when we get a good group,' he said. Two of the boys were discussing what they had learned. They were showing each other what they thought was the right way to do the drill. His eyes lit up at the sight of a good student, of someone learning seriously.

That's all he needs.