Steve Waugh on winning and role of a leader - Always inspirational.

This is an excerpt from Steve Waugh's autobiography, his thoughts after the record breaking winning streak in test matches.

"To win so many in a row we must have been doing something right. Winning at test level requires an ability to handle pressure for sustained periods at a time and more consistently than your opponents. You have to seize the moment before it presents itself, which comes back to being able to recognize when that moment is upon you. You have to know when to retreat and stem the damage, and when to up the intensity as you sense weakness in your adversary. Each team member must know his game and prepare accordingly, with bowlers generally tapering off leading into a big game while the batsmen tend to up the tempo. The captain has to pull together 10 different individuals with contrasting personalities and character traits and get them all going in the same direction by treating them equally but differently. He also has to keep the team's reserves energized and filled with a sense of being part of the big picture. He must build morale in a way that leads to everyone believing in each other, even when those outside the team have doubts, and empower players to get outside of their comfort zone to fulfil not just their obvious potential, but also to awaken the dormant skills they might not even know about. He has to strive to continually improve his own game by recharging the batteries, clearing the mind, improving physical fitness to strengthen the body and maintaining the technique to ensure consistency, while also massaging and suppressing egos that may otherwise cause damage to the karma of the team. No one can rest on their laurels - the hunger has to be real and the intent clear."

Need I say any more about the man's thought process and man-management skills. I finished reading the autobiography long ago, and I have to admit he is the greatest of them all. The ultimate sporting idol.