It seems there could be a potential for players of cricket to also be successful at the sport of professional poker. Obviously, one sport has nothing to do with the other on the surface, though success at one does seem to portend possible success at the other. To understand the reasons for this possible and unusual link, a deeper look into what makes a good cricket player and a good poker player are warranted. There must be some similarities in order to connect the two disciplines, making it possible for cricketers to cross over to poker in a successful manner. 

Location, Location, Location 

First, consider the regions where cricket and poker are played. Location is important to cricket and poker players alike. In fact, location for either or both may create variance in the specifics of the sports in some manner, though the basic principles of each respective sport are essentially the same everywhere they are played in the world. For instance, everything needed to learn how to become a cricketer will be ninety percent the same whether in Sri Lanka or India as well as England and Australia. The same can be said for poker; as a sport the rules of the game are quite similar no matter the region within which it is played. 

However, in some regions people can play poker of every kind professionally, but in other regions only certain types of poker may be played as a profession. While cricket may not be a sport with these types of restrictions, there are regions where it is not a popular sport and thus is not played at the highest levels. The question becomes whether successful players of either sport come from the regions where there is full access and popularity of the respective sports; does unfettered access provide more opportunity for success?

The case of Aditya Agarwal, a poker player from India, signing as an ambassador of the largest online poker site in the world, PokerStars, has brought this comparison to light. Agarwal clearly has become a great name in poker, while his nation is mad about cricket. It is also a nation that has open access to online gaming. It may very well be opportunity and access that creates the potential for success in both sports. Then again, maybe there are other abilities, training regimes, and/or skills that help create great players of both sports. 

Ability 

This is a key component that may need to be an inherent quality of the individual for success. Ability has a great deal to do with passion, motivation, and possibly talent. To make it to the top of cricket or poker there needs to be some semblance of ability. This means a potential which can be maximized through training and the honing of skills, but something inherently special may be needed. This inner quality may be passion or even a flair or talent; whatever it is called it is what inspires and motivates a player of either sport to be impervious to setbacks.

When it comes to cricket, youth is a factor that will surely help due to the physical nature of the sport. Though poker is not a physical sport in the same way, youth may also be a factor of ability. The advantages of youth in poker includes being able to think about the game in a new way, creating new strategies, and also having the stamina to sit and play poker for hours at a time. With cricket and poker there may be a bit of luck, but really it comes down to an ability to squeeze out every ounce of talent within to not only reach the professional level, but to also be successful. 

Practice, Practice, Practice 

Squeezing out every bit of talent requires constant practice from players of either sport. This means starting as early as possible; the earlier the start often means the better the play and practice. To reach the highest levels of either sport requires hard, deliberate practice and robust confidence. It is this combination that feeds into on-field and on-the-felt performance over a long period. Working hard means taking wickets and scoring runs when playing cricket, but translates to good decision-making and great strategy and observational skills that create a winning record over time when playing poker. 

Mental Confidence and Toughness 

Cricket is a game that can be won or lost in the head, just like poker. Learning the techniques of either game will give players the mental toughness that is required to win. Just as it is important to practice playing, it is just as important to study and practice this element of confidence in order to ensure it is a natural part of the mental makeup. Playing cricket and poker will result in losses and failures; it is inevitable, but the important part is how players bounce back from these losses. After all, it is impossible to win every single hand of poker and just as impossible to never be bowled out or caught at cricket. 

Learning to be tough mentally is a skill that can be enhanced over time. Emotional control is a key component to this toughness; it is an essential skill. Whether playing cricket or poker, players should know their trigger points. Even more important, players need to understand themselves well enough to know how to remain level headed and to keep their heads in the game. Control and self-awareness will help players maintain an astute and strategic approach to the games, helping them find the way to the heights of their respective sports. 

Observational Skills 

A key skill in both sports is having empathy, which is another way to characterize the understanding of opponents through great observational skills. Empathy involves trying to understand your opponents' skill levels and how they may think based upon their observed actions. In cricket some players may be fast bowlers, while others may be spin bowlers. In poker, some players may be loose and aggressive, while other players may be passive and tight. In both sports players will have their own playing styles that will be evident by their actions, which may be repetitive in certain circumstances. Having an understanding of what to expect from opponents helps players make more informed strategic decisions on the shot they need to play, or the hand they need to bet or fold. In poker, these repetitive behaviours or tendencies are referred to as ; they tell, or give up additional information, that helps other players know something about that particular player's holdings and/or potential actions. Being able to observe and understand what the behaviours mean creates an opening to develop a better strategy to win. 

Clearly, these are but a few of the similarities that may create successful players in each sport. However, just looking at these few elements it is much easier to understand how a successful cricketer can crossover to also become a successful poker player. Though the two sports are played out on the field and on the green felt in such a disparate manner, the skills that a professional cricketer learns are so much the same as the skills needed to play poker at a high level. Players of both sports combine their ability with the motivation to practice, work hard, and develop their passions into successful careers.