In a match in Australia last year, Gavaskar’s “stupid, stupid, stupid” remark on Pant’s reckless shot became a funny meme and now even an ad for Goibibo. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/vWZVQFy3sfg?si=f2aohx0BbndhkRXs.
1. Unforced Errors: Not So Funny Anymore
In yesterday’s Test match at Lord’s, there were three unforced errors:
Jaiswal’s rash shot, Pant’s run-out, and Bumrah’s wild swing.
All three mistakes cost us the match.
2. What Are Unforced Errors?
Unforced errors as a concept aren’t new in sport. The term is widely used in tennis. An unforced error is a mistake made by the player that was entirely avoidable and not the result of the opponent’s brilliance. In other words, it’s self-inflicted.
3. Lessons From Tennis
I’m sharing an academic paper on unforced errors in tennis. The authors measured and modelled them, and showed how even small reductions in such errors can significantly swing outcomes. Just a slight drop in these errors can shift results. The lesson: you don’t need to do more to win just do less wrong.
4. Evolution of Coaching
Coaching in cricket has now reached a different level. Every ball is tracked, every shot dissected. Players’ strengths and weaknesses are mapped in great detail. This has definitely improved both batters and bowlers and raised the overall quality of the game. But all of this is still at the skill level. We now need to focus on behaviour and the cavalier attitude some players carry.
5. “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”
Let’s look at the three unforced errors or stupid acts that cost us the Lord’s Test:
Jaiswal:
He had just walked in. Seven balls faced. We needed 193 runs on a pitch that wasn’t dangerous, with more than a day in hand. He simply has to settle in and score runs slowly, but he went for a swipe and threw it away.
Stupid.
Pant:
He went for a desperate single just so Rahul could reach his century before lunch. It probably cost us 40–50 runs in lead.
Stupid.
Bumrah:
Stokes was clearly targeting him with short balls, tempting him. He swung at them and missed thrice. His role was to block and let Jadeja finish the job. But no, he had to have a go again, spooning an easy catch.
Stupid.
6. Bench Them: No Nets. No Safety Net.
If coaching is now data driven, and skill corrections are made at the nets based on such analytics, we now must also build a system for correcting players reckless behaviour. Unforced errors are not skill-based they come from mindset and attitude. And behaviour can and must change.
I feel the only way to drive the point home is to bench them for the next match. They must know that there is no safety net of automatic selection. When they sit on the sidelines, watching every ball in a match they could have played but aren’t because of their foolishness they will surely learn. They’re benched not for form or fitness, but for their foolishness. One such experience will teach them what no dressing room talk ever can.
Like in life, there can never be a safety net for stupidity.
Hari’s Curries
A Buffet of Reflections