Pressure Is an Illusion: How to Master Big Moments
- Joe Gatting
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
You’re on strike.
3 to win.
Last over.
The crowd’s buzzing.
Your heart’s racing.
Your mind’s yelling: “Don’t mess this up.”
Now pause.
“Pressure is an illusion.” – Sydney McLaughlin
Feels wrong, doesn’t it?
But here’s the truth:
The only thing that’s real is the ball.
Everything else is noise you’ve built around it.
Let’s break it down.
Where Pressure Actually Comes From
You weren’t born fearing failure.
You weren’t thinking about “selection”, “form”, or “outcomes” when you were six in the backyard.
So what changed?
You learned to be careful.
You learned to protect.
You absorbed ideas like:
“This matters.”
“Don’t stuff it up.”
“People are watching.”
Your brain, built to keep you safe, converts moments into threats.
Fight-or-flight kicks in.
Useful if a tiger’s after you.Not so useful when you’re facing a left-arm spinner on a tired day-four wicket.
The game hasn’t changed.
Your meaning of the moment has.
What Happens When Pressure Takes Over
When you buy into the “pressure story”, here’s the pattern:
Thoughts speed up
Doubt gets loud
You overthink outcomes
Your body tenses
Movements tighten
Instinct disappears
Suddenly, you’re not playing the ball.
You’re trying to survive an imaginary crisis.
Reality Check: Cricket Doesn’t Change
A bowler bowls.
A batter reacts.
A fielder moves.
Same game in the backyard.Same game in front of 30,000 at the SCG.
The difference?
Your interpretation.
That’s good news — because interpretation is trainable.
The Tool: Step Into the Grandstand
When things feel big, do this:
Close your eyes.Picture yourself sitting in the Grandstand — watching the moment, not drowning in it.
Ask yourself:
“What would I say from up here?”
“What’s actually happening?”
“What’s the smartest decision, not the safest one?”
This gives you space.
Space slows things down.
And it pulls you back into this ball.
The P.O.D. Method: A Fast Reset
Use this when pressure peaks:
P – Pause
Interrupt the story running in your head.
O – Observe
See the moment from a neutral lens — like you’re in the Grandstand.
D – Decide
Make the clearest next move.
Not the emotional one.
It’s a skill.
You build it like any other.
Real Moments Where This Helps
Two dots and you’re feeling stuck
Walking in with five overs left
Tight chase, last over
After a dropped catch
After a bad over
When the game “feels big”
Big moments don’t need big reactions.
They need better perception.
Pressure vs Presence
Pressure Thinking | Presence Thinking |
“What if I fail?” | “What’s the next ball?” |
“Everyone’s watching.” | “I’m watching the ball.” |
“This moment is huge.” | “This moment is now.” |
“I need to win it.” | “I need to respond well.” |
Final Word: It’s Just the Ball
People say, “Handle the pressure.”
What they really mean is:
“Change how you see the moment.”
Next time it all feels too big:
Sit in the Grandstand.
See it clearly.
Play the ball.
Everything else takes care of itself.
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