We discussed cricket and some of my ministry experiences over a life time in Christian service. My Australian cricket team chaplaincy began in 1984 towards the end of the Kim Hughes era which was followed by the Allan Border era and the first appointment of a national full time coach for the Australian cricket team, Bob Simpson.
This cricket coach we were enjoying a coffee with knew the story I relayed, that when Bob Simpson came into the role as the Australian cricket team coach, after a low period with the Australian team, his theme with the team, were three words, "Back to Basics"!
Bob Simpson would be the first to concede that these three words "Back to Basics" were not his invention. But these three words "Back to Basics" have since become a call of all Australian cricketers and the First Test at the Gabba in Brisbane demonstrated this truth.
When a cricketer misfires, a closer examination will inevitably reveal that these three words "Back to Basics" were not followed in the implementation of the cricketer's play (whether bowling, batting or fielding).
"Back to Basics" were welcome words with the advent of the Reformation in the 16th century as a Protestant evangelistic clarion call. The Bible was discovered by ordinary people with the advent of printing and the cry was soon being shouted to the roof tops, "Back to Basics".
Back to Basics Australian Christian Application
Again, this was also the philosophical cry that came with the Pentecostal movement in the 1970s in Australia where much of the outward expression of Christian worship was 'dropped' and in its place came a "Back to Basics" theology that promoted the "winning of souls", a "straight talking evangelism" and "plain speaking direct action" in the community.
This "Back to Basics" Christian call, is a movement that has certainly engulfed many of the non-conformist Australian Christian Church scenes. The Australian Christian Lobby has come out of this "sentiment". Many Christian missions have recaptured this same motif.
Vigilance has been a central theme in this resurgence, as vigilance relates to relationships, politics, civil liberties, business, marriages, the law, media and above all, the eternal page with Christ as Lord of life.
"Back to Basics" is a siren for evangelism, a call to the core values of Christian commitment of repentance, salvation and the fruit of the spirit.
I am consistently reminded of Elijah's complaint to the Lord when he claimed he was all alone as a worshipper of the one true God, when it was revealed to him there were 7,000 other worshippers of the one true God, of whom he knew nothing.
In my 34 years in Christian Ministry and 29 years of faith financed ministry largely engaged in ministry in professional sport and elite athlete respite, I have met Christian faith in many different places. I have consistently felt surrounded, each and every day, by a great crowd of witnesses of Australians who likewise follow the Lord Jesus.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html