Key pair to get help for long road ahead
STEVE Smith and David Warner will be offered emotional support to help cope with four months of relentless crowd abuse in England, which is set to begin in Southampton this week.
Australian coach Justin Langer moved to humanise Smith and Warner’s comebacks at the World Cup by saying it was critical to keep tabs on their mental health.
“What we’ve got to understand is that they’re human beings as well,” Langer said.
“There’s not too many I’ve met in my life who like being booed or heckled or disliked. We’re going to have to care for them, we’re going to have to put an arm around them and make sure they’re going OK.
“What we can do is keep an eye on them and make sure they’re going OK as people as much as cricketers.
“It (crowd abuse) may heat up, but it won’t be any hotter than it was 12 months ago, so the boys are well prepared. We’re expecting to come here and to face the fire and we’re ready for that.”
Langer barked at his players to pretend a weekend six-hour training session was a World Cup semi-final as they simulated different game scenarios on a centre wicket in Croydon, 19km south of London.
Smith then clubbed a Pat Cummins delivery straight over his head for six, with the ball flying out of the school ground and crashing into a moving car, leaving a small dent in the Volkswagen.
Mitchell Starc trapped captain Aaron Finch lbw, while Jason Behrendorff had Warner caught behind as both openers fell cheaply.
Smith started the day with a 2km time trial and then grabbed Warner after training to spend 10 minutes practising throwing overarm to test his heavily strapped elbow.