Profile: Richard Rowland

About This Author

The history of the life the author has led is most enjoyably in cricket. Captain of (Waverley) now named Easts 1970 to 1974. Captain of Combined Sydney 2nd Eleven against NSW Country. Played in London UK for Finchley and Middlesex County 2nd team. Member of Australian Collegians World Cricket tour 1980.Level One cricket Coach where he had different approaches to practice in and outside of the nets. At this stage of life 35years of age moved into how the mind, body and soul entered the ancient game of cricket after an unusual connection with 3 wise men in a London bowling club on a rainy day. Although research of cricket historic writings, he could find no proof to verify this in Cricket. A benefit he gained from this enquiry led him to find how meditation leads to the flow zone. He had felt in his practices both of meditation and Tai chi, this amazing detachment of the physical body into a power of energy or what the Chinese named Chi. The strongest part of the body are not in upper body muscles, but in the muscles attached to the pelvic girdle where rowers work from and this energy spot is named Tan Tien,( 3 inch below navel) the energy portal in Tai Chi. An athlete will experience this mind state when moving from the physical centre(tan Tien) into the zone or Zen state of mind. Subconsciously without knowing. A one pointedness of concentration on a single activity This provides a state of being for the athlete that they felt could run forever, action less action, effort of no effort. A feeling of being absolutely connected to all of nature and movement was with-ease. In this centre (Tan Tien) one feels safe and invincible, fearless. In Tai Chi shifting weight from one foot to the other, there is tension in one foot and the opposite hand. Named Yang other side is yin. Yang is power strength. Yin is grace, relaxation. These Join energy at the centre the gut/mind (tan Tien). The message from the head mind will indicate from practice in the cricket nets, allowing the ball to be met with the middle of the bat. When the bowler delivers a bouncer (head height) the batter moves body weight to left foot pivots (yang) (strength and balance)and the foot yang through Tan Tien to the right hand which allows the righthanded bats person to control the ball up over the fence of down along the ground with power or timing. The electrical body connection from foot via tan Tien to hand, never double weighted allows the power and timing of mind/body/soul. I thought Ian Chappell ,pivot and swivel hook shot that he had mastered this the best in batting. He practiced with brother Greg with a golf ball in the cricket nets to achieve this mastery. From this, the reader, can identify that focus is like a muscle-Learn to exercise it and gain mastery of the mind over force, body wisdom from concentration is the short cut to the flow zone