FORGED IN ICE Australia’s new opening pair won’t let the love thaw
DAVID Warner and Cameron Bancroft have taken bonding sessions to Arctic extremes as Australia’s newlook opening partnership sets out to conquer the WACA furnace and clinch the Ashes.
Few experiences could bring two men closer together than stepping into an ice- cold chamber together at - 110C wearing nothing more than shorts, socks and mittens.
Inspired by the union formed by Matthew Hayden n and Justin Langer at the top of the order, Warner and Bancroft spent time in a freezer in Adelaide nurturing their budding relationship.
The pair made three visits to a health and fitness centre called Minus 110 Mind and Body, which specialises in cryotherapy. Clients spend three minutes in a box that would make Eskimos shiver.
Minus 110 director Marta Krzystoszck said her treatments were as much about mental advancement as acute physical recovery. Warner and Bancroft were challenging their brains to fight back against the odds.
“I It can assist i t them to actu actually sleep better because the part of the brain responsible for stress, anxiety and sleep also gets activated when the body thinks it’s under threat,” Krzystoszck said.
“Some athletes actually use it not just for the physical part but for the mental part too, t to focus better and to deal with stress and anxiety for their sport a little bit better.”
In the first Test of this ser ries, Warner and Bancroft put on a powerful unbeaten stand to march Australia to a commanding 10- wicket victory.
There was a stumble in Adelaide for the second Test when they were involved in a run out. But the left- hand, right- hand combination looks as though it has serious potential, fuelled by the dynamic mix of having arguably the two hardest working cricketers in Australia partnering up for battle.
Temperatures could soar north of 40C in Perth for the Ashes decider, but Warner and Bancroft want to be Australia’s long- term icemen.
“Davey’s good out in the middle,” Bancroft said. “He brings a lot of energy to the crease. He’s always busy, looking to score.
“One thing I’ve learnt in the past, especially with a lot of the partners I’ve had at Western Australia, things like that take time … relationships take time to develop. So far he’s been great.
“We’ve got to know each other personally a little bit and the more we play cricket together the more relationships and partnerships develop.
“I think we’ve rotated strike quite well. We’ve got a lot of singles and that’s probably a pretty good reflection of your ability to function really well. I think that’s been a very good positive between us.”
Bancroft has moved on from his unforgettable first foray into the spotlight when he gave his extraordinary recount of the Jonny Bairstow headbutt incident.