Dr Phil’s tip for Kiwis

They say anyone can have a bad decade. But three in a row?

When the Australia-New Zealand Test series starts in Wellington on Thursday, the Kiwis are hoping to snap one of cricket’s most bewildering slumps. New Zealand has won one of its last 31 Tests against Australia stretching back to November 1993.

Australia is good but not that good. New Zealand may be the Shaky Isles but they are not that shaky.

The gap should never be that wide. Don’t be surprised if this is the Test which changes the theme.

During the three decades the Kiwis have barely been able to beat an egg against Australia, they have won four series against India and another four against England, fighting like the blood and guts outfit they pride themselves on being. But against Australia, the cement in their game turns to sand.

The Kiwi team has always got along well with Australia. Maybe that’s the problem. Do they admire them too much? It’s a significant point because most lopsided records that defy traditional form patterns are motivated by dark forces.

So how do the Kiwis shake off their Australian blues?

Respected sports psychologist Dr Phil Jauncey, who had worked with a string of international cricket teams, said one of the tricks in conquering a bogey was totally ignoring its presence.

“If you start thinking you have to deal with the bogey you start playing differently,’’ Jauncey said.

“It is hard to know what New Zealand are thinking but if it’s ‘we have to get this thing off our back’ it won’t help them. We talk a lot in sport about an active or passive mindset.

“A passive mindset is ‘I hope I don’t make a mistake’ but an active mindset might be ‘I have to bowl straight and quick’. Think ‘I have to watch the ball and go hard’ not ‘I hope I don’t snick it’.’’