How Being Dropped Effects Motivation

Different players inevitably react differently to adversity and problems in their careers. Many players have been dropped from their roles within a team, and their have been many different reactions over the years.

It is for certain that to be the best in whatever you do you need the drive to be the best. Sports stars like Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Kevin Pietersen have all shown a desire to be better than the rest with fantastic results. In this article I write about a couple of players who have shown the desire after being told that they were surplus to requirements.

The first example that must be looked at in this article is that of Nottinghamshire seamer Ryan Sidebottom. Siders, as he is affectionately know, played one test back in 2000 and if rumours are to be believed he was told to get a hair cut before he played for England again.

Seven years later, and alot of hard work on the county circuit has brought a recall into the national side. During this last year Sidebottom has wreaked havoc in the international game earning himself the tag of Wisden Cricketer of the year. Surely this is the perfect example of how to work your way to the highest level.

The most recent example is Steve Harmison. The Durham pace-man seemed to have his international career brought to an end when he was dropped after the first test in New Zealand earlier in the year.

But once again after alot of hard work in the nets and even more overs for Durham this year, Harmison has found his best form again, and the 93mph yorker which cleaned up Amla on day one of the latest test is just the proof needed that Harmison is back to his best.

Rob Key however has gone the other route. After he was dropped from the national team Key, although continuing to score runs, has not given much thought to his fitness, and how it would effect his game.

Looking around the England team, they are all in peak physical condition, whereas Key does not seem so at the moment. Rumours were that Key hired a personal trainer over the winter, however after seeing him play recently Key does not look to be in great shape.

Marcus Trescothick did the hard work. When he was younger he was told if he ever wanted to play for England that he would have to lose weight, and sure enough he had the drive and desire to go out and play for his country. Therefore there was no choice for him, he went and lost that weight.

These examples show that you must have desire to play for your national side, and that is maybe why Ravi Bopara got the nod over Rob Key for the latest test match.

Please feel free to add any more examples you can think of or any thoughts you have on these players in the comments below.