In a recent television interview Martin Johnson legendary captain of England’s successful World Cup winning rugby team -how long ago that seems – talked of his huge admiration for American football. The major difference , in his view, was that in the highly professional American game players had to be great athletes over and above their expertise as footballers.

Perhaps modestly he said that despite his size and footballing skill he would not have succeeded in the American game where athleticism is paramount.

There is a parallel in the pitching playing field. Most of us , most of the time, are more comfortable in a pitch concentrating on our area of expertise be that law, architecture, real estate or advertising. This is our comfort zone where we assume our skills as ‘rugby’ players will win the day.

What we need to do is inject the attitude and approach of the professional athlete ,not that of the enthusiastic amateur, to our pitching.