"I Am Who We Are"- The story behind Lasith Malinga's away swinger!

The scorching sun was at its harshest. The stands were empty, no one was watching. A twenty-year-old youngster was bowling his heart out, trying something new.

The youngster had just broken into international cricket. He was already earmarked as one of the next big things. In a nutshell, the world seemed to be at his feet. Yet, he was going the extra mile, the mile which most conveniently choose not to go, on his own will, without knowing that one of the bowling coaches was observing from far away.

Why was he going that optional, dreaded extra mile? What triggered him?

Here's a story, fresh to the world, that can teach us a valuable lesson that can be applied starting from family rooms to board rooms.

The youngster, as you may have figured out, was none other than Lasith Malinga. Lasith had caught the world by surprise with his slingy action and sheer pace at that time. Everyone was excited, but his teammates were facing a serious challenge due to Malinga's never seen before style of bowling. Malinga's release meant the ball would land on the sides when it hit the pitch.

This resulted in the shine, which is integral for swing, getting eliminated quickly, making life difficult for his fast bowling colleagues who relied on swing more than speed. This matter had come up at a bowling group meeting that had happened earlier. Malinga's uniqueness appeared to be a double-edged sword. One end cutting through opponents, the other nullifying the efficacy of his own pack.

Malinga was a sensation. Everyone was in awe of him. He was a treasure. At this point he could easily have told himself and the others

This is how I am, and that's what makes me unique

Have you heard someone in your circle say this before? I bet you'd have...

This eccentricity is what made him special, and the team would have had to live with the downsides that came with it.

Instead Malinga chose the harder route. The harder route to adopt on behalf of others. He went back and tried to release the ball with an upright seam, using a different wrist position, which in the eyes of bowling coaches seemed impossible.

Beginning that day, he mastered the release with relentless dedication,much to the happiness of his colleagues. In the process his potency improved.

Instead of being a bowler who was reliant on pace and uniqueness alone, he mastered the art of swing. His away swingers early on with the new ball would fetch him many big fishes. Sachin Tendulkar in the 2011 World Cup final was one. Malinga's arsenal became richer, he became better, the team became stronger.

When Anusha Samaranayake, the bowling coach who was observing this narrated this story with fondness two decades later, it carried a profound message. A message that echoed beyond cricketing fields. A message that can be applied in our daily lives.

In life, those who are willing to go the extra mile keeping the interests of people around them in mind, not only make teams and societies better, but become rich for the efforts they put in, as a result of life rewarding them as in the case of Malinga. Life often gives you what you give to life.

When faced with the challenge he was facing, he could easily have chosen to say, "This is how I am, and that's what makes me unique." Instead, Mali chose the best interest of his colleagues and changed his technique with dedication for the benefit of the team.

He chose,

The result? Mali became a legend, forging strong partnerships with his bowling colleagues and scripting the best years of Sri Lankan cricket.

Next time someone says " This is how I am and this is how i will be" perhaps you can narrate this story to show the power of "I am who we are".

Go the extra mile on behalf of those around you. Life will reward you and your circle. In the process you'd become better, those around you will benefit, families, Teams and the world as a whole will be a better place.

That's the power of " I am who we are".

Also Read, Common Mistakes Lasith Malinga Warns Every Fast Bowler About, From Killer by Malinga.