One Day Workshop for the Andhra Cricket Association Under 25 Boys

 When Madhusudhan Raju called me and asked me if I could do a one day program and meet with the Under 25 team that was heading out to play the CK Nayudu 4 day tournament, I was excited. Mostly because much of my writing and thinking has been around using cricket to understand personal excellence and building winning teams. I enjoyed all the cricket programs I have done over the years - with HCA's Under 17 team in 2010 if I remember - there's one Test player from that and many first class players. Then there were many with the MCC team, the trainees at Vidyuth's Academy and several with corporate teams. But the entire focus has been the same - that there is a design to winning and we can at least do these few things to plug leaks and work to greater efficiency thus increasing our chances of a better result.

Arriving at the Academy

So after some hectic scheduling thanks to Madhu, I took the 715 flight to Vizag, then a cab to Vizianagaram. They had booked a meal for me which was very thoughtful of them and the cab was waiting when I arrived at Vizag with the dignified Appa Rao at the wheel. We reached Vizianagaram after an hour and a half. It was a scenic route - the highway that connects Calcutta to Madras.

Me, Sanyasi Raju, Ramakrishna and Ratna Kumar

I was received by Mr Sanyasi Raju, Chairman of the Academy and a former Ranji Trophy player, Mr P. Ramakrishna, Manager of Cricket Operations and former BCCI umpire, Mr Jagadish, Administrative Manager of the Academy and Mr K. Ratna Kumar, Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Academy. A small memento to me, a flower pot, quick introductions and we were away. There were 22 boys of the Under 25 side, four of them had already played Ranji Trophy. The side was led by Rasheed, the India Under 19 vice captain from the latest campaign who was not present because of a felicitation. The support staff was eight in number and was headed by former Ranji player AG Pradeep, who is the Head Coach. 

I informed the team that we would follow Simon Sinek's Golden Circle for inspired work and inspired leadership (Why, How and What - Start with asking Why we are doing what we are doing, How we can achieve that objective most efficiently and What are we going to actually do) to gain clarity and also find ways to plug leaks. 

This is a format that can be used for the largest of organisations and for individuals to gain clarity and to do inspired work. I use it everywhere. One key idea was to address gaps in communication that causes much leakage. So as usual, we began with the Why.

Why are we here?

We are here to achieve a common purpose - the entire team should look in the same direction. For this team that's heading out to play a tournament - the common purpose is to WIN. Everyone is there to win the title for the ACA (which incidentally gives them the opportunity)  

Start with WHY

Common purpose - To Win

A common purpose will add a minimum 30% to team efficiency. In terms of behavior what we need once we decide the common purpose is that we need everyone to think, speak and behave with that purpose in mind - all thought, speech, actions are oriented to achieve the common purpose. Anything against it is to be called out and dropped. Like an army that has one clear common purpose, so must the team believe in it so there's no cross purpose. 

Why should we win?

The next logical Why question. There is the matter of Pride - for ACA, of each individual being part of a winning team. 

We spoke of individual benefits of being part of a winning team -

• Growth (if they win, 6-7 players will get an opportunity to play Ranji Trophy)
• Opportunities (more opportunities to perform as they play more games)
• Pleasure of being part of a winning teams
• An opportunity to create history (be the first team from Andhra to win a major championship)

I gave examples. Bombay players play more for the country (a quarter of India players are from Bombay) because Bombay won half the times Ranji Trophy was conducted. Winning teams benefit everyone including the reserves - even a reserve like Sunil Valson who was in the 1983 World Cup benefits from the winning team. So it is in their own best interests to do their best in whatever capacity they have to help the team win.

Team wins - Everyone wins (Team Loses - Everyone Loses including the Performers)

We also discussed how CK Nayudu was from Andhra and apart from being India's first captain, was also Andhra's first captain in 1953. For so many reasons, the team has enough motivation to win the tournament. 

Reality Check

Where exactly were they in the Indian cricket scene? Certainly these players were in the top 300-500, but their big push upward comes when their team wins.

How Do We Win?

They did group exercises and came up with responses. 

By giving 100% as a team, and by giving 100% as an individual.

With Head Coach AG Pradeep

Give 100% as a team

- Fix energy leakages (loose talk, low energy, groupism)
- Communicate better
- Have a learning culture
- Support one another
- Team work
- Make use of all resources
- Have more discussions around the game, how to win etc

We did some exercises/role play -
1) how the team should be as close bound as a FIST with not one player sticking out and spoiling the alignment for maximum impact
2) how the team should be close enough to hold up a person who is having a bad day 

Give 100% as an individual
- Role clarity (what is the role) - checked with the coach
- Deliver to expectations
- Prepare to deliver
- Seek help
- Form support groups
- Help one another give their best

Some learnings

Performance Management Tools
We discussed

- The Learning Mindset - a culture of learning, asking questions, clearing doubts and apprehensions
- The 10000 hours theory to gain expertise and how it can be used - strengthen strengths and then strengthen weaknesses
- Deliberate practice (doing the same thing deliberately till its perfect, deconstructing their skill and working on strengths and weaknesses)
- Being open to feedback and using feedback to constantly improve
- Importance of structured discussions about the game, skill, strategy, tactics as a culture

   

What - do we bring to the table?

- Goals - what are the team goals and individual goals for the tournament (specific numbers, runs, wickets, for the tournament, for each match)

We discussed how goals stretch and help the individual prepare better and organise thought as they head into each game. Goals also place some responsibility on each individual to bring a minimum delivery to the game in each department. We also discussed how each individual can also expand their roles to help the team when the team needs it. 

Winners CK Nayudu Tournament 2022 (in advance!) 

Strengths

We discussed the strengths of the team and the individual (and one area to improve on for both)

- Of the team -
Sticks to a plan
Good communication and coordination
Positive dressing room atmosphere
Balanced side - experience and youth
Ability to bounce back from any situation
United
Experienced coaching staff
Players back their natural game
Team can adapt to any situation
Responsible
Good work ethic
Team can handle pressure
Behave professionally
Batsmen who can play long innings
Bowlers who are consistent
Good fielding side.

Some powerful ones there - coming back from tough situations, experienced and balanced team, can handle pressure, good bonding, young side, hunger to achieve.

- Of Individuals - everyone wrote three strengths - and one area to improve - and shared the same. They all got some inputs from their team mates. Others chipped in with what they thought were that person's strengths

Strategies for the Campaign

The team formed groups and came with strategies to win - specific to the Pondicherry leg, to their team composition, attitudes etc.

The support staff - Faiz, Watekar, Pradeep,Surendra

Summing Up

I felt they have everything to actually win. If they can believe they can win, plug leakages, cut out doubt and fear, stay present and be open, they can definitely go all the way. It's that little turn that's required and maybe the day's exercises could have helped prod some thought.

Key thoughts/practices

- Believe in common purpose - the Why
- Speak the same language - support staff and players
- Be supportive of one another, don't speak negative or toxic words
- Avoid blame and excuse - in any situation - call out when someone does
- Adopt a learning mindset - ask questions, look to improve and help one another's process by sharing information or insights and practices (have a session everyday on individual insights and practices) so everyone can learn from each other - a 5% improvement in the runs, wickets or fielding is huge
- Stay open to all possibilities at all time - find ways to regroup in tough situations
- Use all resources available
- Everyone can bring one practice that brings in a 1% improvement to the team everyday in one way or another - it all adds up

Outcomes achieved

- Set a common purpose
- Connected the benefits of a winning team to each player / support staff in team
- looked at ways to perform at best as team and individual
- clarified roles and goals - placed responsibility on each individual to deliver at potential
- shared performance management tools
- formed strategies to win

Winding Up

Jagadish, Manager of the facility was extremely good at handling the entire show and treated me extremely well. It was a pleasure meeting AG Pradeep who is the Coach of the team, Watekar, and Vijay Kumar, both ex Ranji players who are serving as Batting and Bowling Coaches respectively, and a whole bunch of others.

In the end it was extremely satisfying to see the boys actually say they started believing they can win, that they will think like a leader even if they are a reserve and that they will do their best to help the team cause.    

Day well spent. I had a tiring but extremely satisfying day so the snack box on the return journey was hugely welcome.