Barefoot Aussies aim to find ‘earthly’ energy
Justin Langer admitted to being a ‘‘bit of a hippy’’ when he took over as Australia coach and he provided a stark example of his new-age thinking when his players sat barefoot in a circle on the Edgbaston outfield trying to harness the earth’s natural energy before tomorrow’s World Cup semifinal against England.
The players were ‘‘earthing’’, alternatively called ‘‘barefoot healing’’ or ‘‘grounding’’ – a process of ‘‘harnessing the
earth’s natural energy’’, according to its practitioners, who range from Gwyneth Paltrow to the New South Wales State of Origin league team. Langer ordered his players to take off their shoes and socks, sit in a circle and talk about the personal importance of playing a World Cup semifinal in an attempt to help his players overcome Australia’s Edgbaston curse.
‘‘It was nice. You get a feel of the grass on your feet, a bit of grounding, the positive and negative energy flowing through and coming out of the earth,’’ said Peter Handscomb, called up to the Australia squad last week when Shaun Marsh broke his arm facing Pat Cummins in the nets.
‘‘It was a nice feeling and you walk round with the group, have a bit of a laugh while you’re going and talking. It was just a moment to get a feel for the ground, literally. It’s something the coach has done before at other venues for a bit of grounding.’’
Forget the days of downing 52 tinnies of lager and threatening mental disintegration; Australian cricket has changed under Langer and, given the side’s results since he took over, it is hard to argue with his methods.
Langer has always been different and, as he has aged, he has cared less about fitting in and more about embracing new ways of thinking. He has written his own self-improvement book, Seeing The Sunrise, meditates for 20 minutes every morning, has a wall in his house daubed in permanent marker pen with motivational quotes, has practised the martial art zen do
‘‘Forget the days of downing 52 tinnies of lager and threatening mental disintegration; Australian cricket has changed under [Justin] Langer.’’