Sibley out to prove a perfect fit
DOM SIBLEY says he was inspired to hit the gym and shed the pounds after seeing Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler going the extra mile in Sri Lanka.
The England opener has lost nearly two stone during lockdown after realising he needed to be fitter to make it at Test level.
And it was the example of the big guns putting in hard yards in 30 degree heat in Colombo that convinced him he was falling short.
“You look at the guys who have been in the system a long time. Stokesy is a bit of a freak when it comes to his training and actually it was seeing him, Root and Buttler running after a session in Colombo,” said Sibley.
“I remember being absolutely spent so that was a real eye-opener.
“Seeing these guys and the graft they put in to stay at this level for the amount of time they have done, is something that I want to do. That was part of my motivation for doing it.”
Sibley makes his home England debut at Ageas Bowl tomorrow following a winter in which he played six Tests, reaching a first century at the fourth attempt in Cape Town in January.
After getting that taste the man who friends used to nickname “The Fridge” says he has left “no stone unturned” in his efforts to stay in the side.
Sibley can expect a hostile welcome from West Indies similar to the short-pitched bodyline South Africa employed against him.
But, rather like his fitness, he claimed the key in Test cricket is turning a perceived weakness into a new strength.
“That’s the great thing about Test cricket, you’ve always got new challenges and suddenly my strength is being turned into a way to get me out,” said Sibley.
“I’ve trained hard and I’m ready for the series. Success or failure, I feel like I’ve left no stone unturned.
“I will try and take confidence from what I did in South Africa and use that success and that confidence to show I belong at this level.”