So Somerset, led by Justin Langer, head to the top of the County Championship. Although it’s still early days in the cricket season, it would be no surprise, come September, if they achieve the county’s first ever Championship pennant.
Once more, the winning mentality and attitude of Australian cricket, is delivering results in England. From Rodney Marsh as England Academy director; Troy Cooley as successful England Ashes bowling coach; Shane Warne’s cup-winning regime at Hampshire; now Justin Langer transforming the fortunes of Somerset.
Let’s not forget that the West Country men, finished bottom of Division Two of the County Championship, a couple of seasons ago. Now they are top of the pile.
In the presence of Langer, Somerset have a belief and hunger to rewrite history. It’s no different to the way Shane Warne delivered the IPL title to the Rajasthan Royals. Hunger; desire; the will to win; a positive attitude; a strategic mind; building confidence in the players.
It’s a contagious state of affairs, that underachieving players want to be part of. Justin Langer was an integral part of the history-making Australian side. And has the know-how and acumen, to be able to transfer that success. And, more importantly the hunger.
Defeat or coming second, is anathema to the Australian mind-set. It’s about winning, and the mental, physical and emotional conditions that create a winning team and culture. In the presence of an Australian test player, steeped in the winning cultures of Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, even great county cricket under-achievers like Somerset, suddenly become transformed into winners.
The Somerset story, simply confirms that the Australian success mentality, is not just an Australian thing. It’s a universal attitude of how to win and succeed. The Australian’s have simply been more thorough and dedicated to the study and application of those key success principles, than the rest of the cricketing world.