Boxing clever to wardoff demons

Langer’s fight club

AUSTRALIAN coach Justin Langer has introduced a “fight club” into the team’s quarantine hub training regimen in a bid to fend off mental fatigue in the new cricket world.

During the recent whiteball tour of England Langer, who boxes every other day in his own training, got players bashing into pads to break up the mono tony of the bubble.

Some players could spend up to the next six months in playing hubs through the IPL, Sheffield Shield, Test and white-ball series against India, Big Bash and even a tour to South Africa next year.

Langer has made mental health a huge priority and knows the value of working in things like boxing to “blow off steam” and keep fit, with some players likely to watch more cricket than they play.

“I know from a lifetime of doing it, there‘s real advantages in staying fit and healthy and letting off some steam,” Langer said from Adelaide, where he is quarantined with players who returned from England.

“A number of the guys got all our boxing gear over here and we’ve been doing a bit of that, as much to keep us stimulated as anything. I’ve said for many years that the best form of training for batting particularly is boxing because you’ve got to concentrate. It’s footwork, it’s technique, you’ve got to face your opponent, got to have good defence and good offence. I know some of the players are enjoying doing some boxing training.

“We have to be really conscious that we keep things as fresh as possible … any way we can break it up is going to be really important.”

Selectors are likely to choose a big squad for the international summer, with movement of players around the country likely to remain restricted.

He hasn’ t settled on a number, but knows several players might not play much cricket, which was another issue to cope with in a summer like no other.

“Whatever size our squad is going to be, they’re going to see a lot of their mates playing Big Bash cricket or potentially playing some Shield cricket, “Langer said.