But impeccable judgement outside off-stump and a slice or two of luck saw him through those tentative beginnings.
The famously private and self-deprecating billionaire will need lots of luck to make all of it pay off.
For all the elements of luck, there were far more genuine strokes, from both players.
But if Christmas has the least tendency to get you down, then lots of luck.
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"I got a little bit of luck today, " Kanaan said in a post-race interview.
Through smart strategic moves--and a bit of luck--Johnson Controls is in a sweet spot these days.
But that, says Ronnie Coffman of Cornell University, has been mainly a matter of luck.
According to 19th-century Sarkese legend, travellers who are seriously out of luck may see the Tchico.
Four minutes later, the Canaries were ahead as Pilkington benefited from a significant slice of luck.
"I had a slice of luck today with the weather conditions, " said the 25-year-old.
My team had a good performance, with a good goalkeeper and a little bit of luck.
But resource-rich Australia also enjoyed the sort of luck that has seen it weather other crises.
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His recent victory is at least one piece of luck to have come the carmakers' way.
When that same problem occurs with a digitally purchased title, consumers are out of luck.
Gary Scalone proved to be an exception to the out of luck rule, but just barely.
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It was a marvellous last game and best of luck to England for next weekend.
Out West they have fewer strictures on selling insurance but sick people are out of luck.
Meanwhile, if you want to look up the UTCI for your hometown, you're out of luck.
If you need a doctor in a hurry, you used to be out of luck.
Sceptical of mechanical explanations, Mr Paxton throughout stresses the role of luck and human choice.
We've had a bit of luck along the way but we've worked hard as a group.
Iraqis with Saddam-era passports were also out of luck, because the Iraqi government had cancelled them.
The couple's good fortune was the product of years of planning, and a bit of luck.
If you want to find a job that is free of stress, you're out of luck.
Opportunism, with a slice of luck, always played a large part in his life.
"Our timing was impeccable, " Benstock says, though that was as much because of luck as design.
It seems the present hunt will also have to continue until Veerappan finally runs out of luck.
Thought for the day: Best of luck on this Friday and be sure to enjoy the weekend!
"I wish both parties the best of luck as they move forward with their lives, " he said.
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