In October 2021, the Proteas will participate in the T20 World Cup tournament in the UAE. And if they are to have a reasonable shot at winning the title, they will need a certain mindset. They will need to participate as great competitors and not just cricketers.
They will need to embody the Protea Fire, a fire that burns with resilience even in the most difficult circumstances. They will need a mindset that they’re always going to succeed, that they’ve got something to prove.
They’re going to have to be resilient, and not allow setbacks to hold them back. They’re going to have to develop an attitude that they are not going to be deterred by challenges posed by conditions and opposition strength.
They will need to have grit. According to Angela Duckworth a preeminent psychologist, researcher and author, grit is about perseverance. To persevere means to stick with it; to continue working hard even after experiencing difficulty or failure.
According to Duckworth, research indicates that the ability to be gritty — to stick with things that are important to you and bounce back from failure — is an essential component of success independent of and beyond what talent contributes.
“Being naturally smart and talented are great, but to truly do well and thrive, we need the ability to persevere. Without grit, talent may be nothing more than unmet potential. It is only with effort that talent becomes a skill that leads to success,” said Duckworth.
