Peter Ketel |
In the recent Stick to Cricket podcast, Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Mike Hussey debated how this current Ashes series might unfold, and especially the first Test in Perth – seen as a signpost.
Well, this first Test – as you all probably know by now – fell off the beaten track and landed firmly in Australia’s direction.
Here, Peter Kettle looks ahead to the second Test in Brisbane – and the intended conclusion and end of the match ceremonies.
Isa Guha, the former England Test player and currently a television commentator, interviews Chris Marshall – the England men’s Test team sports psychologist, who was appointed in June 2024.
IG: After holding on to a draw here in Brisbane – helped by thunderstorms that delayed play for a while on days four and five – it’s been a brave comeback for England after the shell shock in Perth. Chris, what has been your own role in all of this?
CM: Well, before we set off on this trip down under, Isa, the boys benefited greatly from sessions of psychoanalysis which I persuaded Mike Brearley to perform on the sofa in his London NW3 residence. They had to take a good look at themselves… inside. Nothing was spared. Even quite tiring for some of them. That was for most of September and all of October.
IG: Good to hear that England have spared nothing in their preparation for this Ashes series, Chris.
CM: My word, yes! Golf is certainly good preparation, and so is late nights on the town to help you relax. But for my money, you can’t beat the psychoanalyst’s bank.
IG: And in Australia, Chris, can you tell our viewers what you’ve done to get the English boys in the right frame of mind?
CM: Sure, Isa…the most important thing I do for them is read them a story while they go to sleep. That’s usually after a five or six course dinner and lots of delicious local white and red wine, followed by some disco dancing at a top nightclub. The telling of the story happens around 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning.
IG: I see… what kind of stories, Chris?
CM: Mostly excerpts from Alice in Wonderland… wonderful escapism. Nothing too real. The boys have had enough of that during the day.
IG: So they’re percolating pretty well, I think, Chris with your attentions at the bedside.
CM: Pretty good here in Brisbane, Isa. Even though they were back in Perth, some of the boys had bad nightmares: they felt like they were facing Warnie at the MCG and had no idea what was coming out of his hand. Or pinned to the crease as Malcolm Marshall sends nose-crushing short stuff to the West Indies. But they’re pretty much over that now.
IG: Good to hear!
CM: I also had the boys watch some videos… this is over breakfast… videos of net sessions where they are batting really well. At these practice sessions, their own mothers watch, sitting on a bench off to the side, and when their son comes out after doing his stuff, they hug him warmly – and reassure him about how good he is on the international stage.
IG: Wow…that’s an innovation in applied sports psychology, I think, Chris.
CM: Very much! I even went so far as to have Boycs play a role. He sits in a deck chair as the boys enter the nets to bat, eat ice cream and smile broadly at each of them, in a fatherly way.
IG: Instilling even more confidence.
CM: Exactly!
IG: Brilliant, Chris…may I wish you all the best for Adelaide and for the really big one – the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
CM: We’re going to have a blast at the MCG, don’t worry about that, Isa.
IG: And now to you, Adam Gilchrist, for the post-match presentations…
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