Lasith Malinga's Mantra to Glory!

A quote which has been at the core of Lasith Malinga's cricketing journey. A quote inculcated into Lasith's DNA, by his father during the formative phase of a ceiling-shattering career.

In reality, it's a quote which can help you and I navigate our hardest times, when taking that extra step seems to be too strenuous, when running that extra mile seems impossible, when putting in that extra repetition seems excruciatingly painful.

But as it's often found out in life, it's in that extra mile where the magic happens, because that's where the traffic is less. It's that zone where the rest choose to give up, while the best venture into letting the magic shake hands with them.

If you can't endure the pain, you shall let go of the game

 It is a mantra that leads to magic!

Here's a story of how magic unfolded in Mali's career when he chose to stick to the quote close to his heart when giving up seemed the only option.

In February 2012, on a bright summer afternoon, the sun was shining on the Adelaide Oval in Australia. However, the sun seemed to be shining strongly on the Australian batters. Despite the brightness, Sri Lanka's hopes of staying in contention to fight another day to win the famous Commonwealth Bank Triangular series seemed to be fading faster than the rate at which the evening darkness was approaching.

David Warner & Michael Clarke were smacking the daylight out of a strong Sri Lankan bowling attack. At a time when options were running out fast for Sri Lanka, Lasith Malinga was troubled by a niggle.

With the opponents in full flow, and a niggle to deal with, it was near impossible for Sri Lanka's star bowler to turn up. He had left the field and had every right to stay away and no one could have complained.

Instead with Sri Lanka's hopes on the line, Mali decided to return to complete his quota of overs. Not only did he return, but he returned in style. Mali's return yielded him the wickets of a well-set Warner and the Hussey brothers helping Sri Lanka concede only a meagre 31 runs off the last 27 deliveries, from a point where the opponents had 8 wickets in hand, with two batters batting on centuries.

It was a comeback led Lasith despite being plagued by pain, which in a small but significant way helped Sri Lanka to a famous win, levelling the three match final series and keep their hopes alive.

These are tiny moments which are not remembered compared to many other colorful moments, yet these are moments which make athletes smile on reflection even after years and earn the respect of their colleagues in the dressing rooms, because those who walk the path know the hardships endured in battling pain in high-stakes environments.

Likewise, in life there will be moments where the pain may seem to much to bear. But remember its those who endure the pain and turn up in such moments in line with the message of the quote,

If you can't endure the pain you shall give up the game

end up triumphant in sport and life.

Embrace the pain that you'd inevitably face in life. You too shall surely prevail over adversities like Mali did that day on a bright Adelaide evening, where his deeds ended up shining brighter than the sun.

Also Read,

Top 5 Game-Changing Deliveries Every Fast Bowler Must Know - From Killer by Malinga ( Fast bowling techniques )