Longevity out beats short-lived celebrity status

Not many would be aware of Cecil Wright or ‘Cec’ as he is fondly called. The West Indian pacer has been around since the time of Gary Sobers, Wes Hall, Garfield Sobers and Sir Vivian Richards. Wright has outdone such greats of the game by longevity and has now finally decided to call time on his illustrious career at the age of 85.



This ageless cricketer has played with Joel Garner among the greatest the game has seen. In the sixty years that he has been actively playing, he has grabbed more than 7000 wickets. At one stage, he took 538 wickets in five seasons at a very impressive average of 27.

This caught my attention because, off late, I am thinking it's just not the highest or average of the runs that you make in international cricket that matters. It also matters, how long you contribute to the game of your choice by being relevant and fit on the ground field.

Look at Cecil Wright. He chose small circle of world for him where his contributions are needed for his team. He did not strive for celebrity status rather he chose to “continue playing” with passion and experience the art of the game cricket by staying fit and by being 
relevant in his contribution of influence.

His story does trigger important lessons to the other aspect of “life game”.

1. Parenting: As parents, we strive to earn more money by burning our health to up-bring our children. What Cecil Wright's story says is that "Our children needs supporting hand of their healthy, fit and relevant parents more than the money parents give to them. Thus, as parents, being fit is the fundamental gift we are giving to our children". Learn to play long healthy innings as parents. Believe me, Longevity matters...

2. Long Innings as Employer: Sharpen your strategies such that you build your enterprise on ethically fit and win-win principles. In the short run, you may witness challenges. But in the long run, you will certainly build great enterprise brands in consumer's mind. Longevity does lead to the long-lasting success.

3. As an individual: We witness scenarios where individuals take shortcuts and risk themselves too much to win big games in the short run. Please understand over speeding cars cannot travel long distances always "safe and secure". Learn to stay fit and play long innings. Longevity does matter to the enduring success. Let us help each other and experience the art of the team work.

We choose our goal with proper rationale. Try contributing to our goal with constant focus by experiencing the journey. Whether outwardly world recognize our efforts or not, for sure, our inner self appreciates our truthful zeal behind our passion.

In my view, We can manipulate entire world around us, but not our inner self. for sure. Our inner self. when mixed with honesty and nobleness will give us enormous power and courage to reach our goal. That is why, in my view, appreciation from inner self is the most difficult piece compared to out worldly opportunity-based appreciation. Longevity mixed with passion does lead to inner satisfaction.

Well done Cecil Wright sir! I sincerely appreciate your passion to contribute to the game of cricket because your story is adding another import dimension "Longevity" to the existing statistical measurement dimensions (highest score, average, mode and median of runs).