Talent wins moments. Application wins matches.

27 November 2025

I was in Perth this week watching England play. From an English perspective… painful.

And here’s the irony: this was 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥’𝘴 opportunity. Australia came in with two players injured, and lost two more during the match. They were effectively held together by tape - and sheer will.

Yet look at Starc and Head. They played almost single-handedly at times… and they 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 themselves:

⬆️ 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
⬆️ 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
⬆️ 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺

England had extraordinary talent - world-class players - but some batters didn’t match the moment:

⬇️ 𝗗𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
⬇️ 𝗗𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁
⬇️ 𝗗𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺

It reminded me of something I see with leaders:

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲.
𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗔𝗻𝗱 “𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲” 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆.

Here’s the simple formula behind it all:

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 × 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 = 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀

If a Talented individual scores 1 out of 10 for application, their max score is 𝟭𝟬.

For me? I'd prefer an average talent (6/10) who applies themselves (9/10) = 𝟱𝟰.

The maths is unforgiving: 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱.

Australia applied themselves. England didn't.

Whether in cricket or leadership, outcomes reflect not just what you 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 - but how you 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 it.

That said, with unfailing (=delusional) optimism, bring on the 2nd Test.

Written by Jonathan Stern
ICF Certified Coach | Gallup CliftonStrengths Certified | Former MuleSoft ANZ Leader
I coach high-potential leaders and high-potential scale-ups.
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