Scoring runs is the Will of God

[kiwiviktor81]

Just had a thought.

I've noticed a handful of batsmen over the years who aren't just good but are so good that they bring a certain serenity to the crease. The sort of serenity that enlightened spiritual masters possess and impress people with. That you only get when your every action is perfectly harmonised with the will of the universe and with God.

Now I'm asking if it's possible that God (non-denominational God) has actually put certain players on Earth specifically to score runs. This explains the serenity that these players have at the crease, knowing that by batting for a long time they are doing God's work.

Of the players I have seen who seemed to be at peace with eternity and the universe, I'm thinking Amla, Dravid, Inzamam and Williamson.

Interestingly, these four guys are always spoken of by their teammates as especially humble and upstanding.

It also makes me think of the concept in Taoist spiritual practice of active meditation, i.e. remaining fully aware of oneself while performing a task that might be otherwise distracting.

Seeing someone like Williamson bat while in the zone makes me think he could be a monk that just happened to bat. Like someone who is at perfect peace with what he is doing.

Does this make any sense or is my tobacco a bit naughty?

 

[cnerd123]

I want some of what you are smoking

 

[kiwiviktor81]

ABdV and Chanderpaul probably two others to make the list of batsmen-monks.

 

[Antihippy]

Seems more likely that you and those players have been smokin' the buddha, instead of god.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Note that a lot of great batsmen are not on this list. I don't include Tendulkar, Ponting, Lara, Kallis because they *dominated* the opposition. They didn't use the opposition's hostility against them like an aikido master.

Before I forget, I started this thread to talk about MS Dhoni.

 

[harsh.ag]

Testing forum classic.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Man of Peace XI

1. Amla
2. Dravid (c)
3. Williamson
4. Inzamam
5. ABdV
6. Chanderpaul
7. MS Dhoni (+)
8. Akram
9. Vettori
10. Bond
11. Murali

Really hard to think of a peaceful fast bowler who was any good. Went for Wasim because of his short, languid run up and Bond because he never got flustered.

 

[Cabinet96]

Testing forum classic.

Makes your threads seem serious

 

[Zinzan]

Man of Peace XI

1. Amla
2. Dravid (c)
3. Williamson
4. Inzamam
5. ABdV
6. Chanderpaul
7. MS Dhoni (+)
8. Akram
9. Vettori
10. Bond
11. Murali

Really hard to think of a peaceful fast bowler who was any good. Went for Wasim because of his short, languid run up and Bond because he never got flustered.

Nah, Bond often got flustered, as did Wasim.

I'd probably look at Joel Garner & Mohammad Asif (if we can forget about his indiscretion) with the ball

 

[Hurricane]

My post got eaten
The Coles notes version was dhoni wtf

 

[watson]

For the record, Eastern religions like Taoism and Buddhism are ambivalent toward the notion of God. In fact they are far closer to atheism than they are theism.

But if pushed I'll have to nominate Colin Cowdrey as the batsman with the most Zen.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Dhoni just seems so indifferent to what's going on around him. Am I right in thinking he's an actual prince of some sort?

 

[kiwiviktor81]

But I'll go for Colin Cowdrey for the batsman with the most Zen.

David Gower would be another good shout.

 

[Skyliner]

I remember Vettori going nuts on a balcony in England, sledging some Bangas, and being in a confrontational melee in a WC semi-final in Sri Lanka vs South Africa. So he has been at times too demonstrative and too lacking in peaceful intent. And he went on a bender with Jeets after the 2nd day of a (non test) match.
The true monks like Amla and Kane.....I just can't see them doing these things.

 

[Victor Ian]

I wonder how Bruce Lee would have fared had he picked up a bat. That would be quite funny, if a cricketer started to do the 'hwoarrr" thing when he played a stroke.

 

[King Pietersen]

Time to bring out this trusty gif again.

 

[Antihippy]

I wonder how Bruce Lee would have fared had he picked up a bat. That would be quite funny, if a cricketer started to do the 'hwoarrr" thing when he played a stroke.

Mark Richardson did that pretty well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQB90K73pqM

 

[Skyliner]

Chris Martin must be in the men of peace 11.

 

[Hurricane]

I need to read the op again but it is using placed on earth by God and zen like qualities interchangeably. I don't think these concepts are overly related.
People who are istps on Myers Briggs typology are zen like on the sporting field period. Istps are a dime a dozen in international sports.
People who are placed on earth by God to play cricket are those who gifted beyond all measure in terms of natural talent. Taken literally this would include Warne who is certainly not zen like.

Anyway it is your op kiwiviktor however I might have used different language.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

I remember Vettori going nuts on a balcony in England, sledging some Bangas, and being in a confrontational melee in a WC semi-final in Sri Lanka vs South Africa. So he has been at times too demonstrative and too lacking in peaceful intent. And he went on a bender with Jeets after the 2nd day of a (non test) match.
.

Sure, but that's a list of misdeeds over a 18 year period. I'd be pretty happy if those were the worst things I had done for the past 18 years.

As I said upthread, it's really, really hard to think of bowlers (and Australians). Murali was the only one I was sure of (and I've heard a story about him chasing some people in Perth in a blind rage).