A Wild West gun fight is just like going out to bat.

Like the gunslinger you stand alone against one man and you only get one chance. It's a psychological battle.

Who will flinch first as the chapel bell chimes midday?

Chances are it's the one who is most in control.

Wyatt Earp once said; "The winner of gunplay usually was the one who took his time."

In other words, in times of extreme stress, those in control exude a calm confidence. Great batsmen like Inzamam never get flustered. They take a moment, compose themselves and take their stance. Even when the ball is flying round their ears they look like they are in position even before the ball is bowled.

Partly this is their ability to pick up line and length early, partly this is their confidence in their technique. It always results in winning the gunplay.

All great gunslingers were typified by confident body language. Wild Bill Hickok never walked into the street apologising for being there.

It was all about a steely glare, a puffed out chest and a wide legged stance. The unspoken message: I'm the one in charge.

Just like Viv Richards used to do when walking out to bat.

You might not be as talented as Viv, but you can show you mean business. Remember, it's as much a battle of wills as it is of technique and talent. You can stand as tall as a great gunslinger.

But body language only goes so far. Nobody is perfect. The great gun fighters knew this and wore their scars with pride.

Each mark showed they had survived and learned and become a better fighter.

It's the same for your batting. If you live in fear of getting out, even in practice, you will never accept that it's inevitable. Every time you get out you learn something new that will make you better next time.

Accept your scars, let others see them and you will be a gunslinger too.

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image credit: Fonzie's cousin