Bloom on the couch

SPORTS broadcaster Gary Bloom has made the unusual switch from TV to the psychiatrist’s chair having retrained to become a psychotherapist specialising in treating elite sportspeople struggling with mental health issues. This has led to a radio series On The Sporting

Couch on talkSPORT starting on June 10, when Bloom talks to Somerset’s Marcus Trescothick about the anxiety that robbed him of the England captaincy. Other guests include James Wade, Nigel Owens and Rebecca Adlington.

TALKSPORT, locked in a radio rights battle with the BBC for the Ashes, have shown they are more serious about cricket than when they commentated off TV coverage by signing Sportsmail’s master columnist David Lloyd for the Champions Trophy. The intention is to use him in Australia as well.

GRAEME SWANN is a surprise choice by Hodder & Stoughton to write about the history of the Ashes, considering the England spinner greatly contributed to England’s demise in the last Test series Down Under by quitting international cricket halfway through the tour.

YORKSHIRE coach Andrew Gale has had serious differences with the ECB since they prevented him receiving the 2014 County Championship trophy when captain because he was banned for abusing Kolpak opponents. Yet relations have now improved enough for Gale to enjoy dinner with England head coach Trevor Bayliss.

IT HARDLY inspires confidence in the two-year sporting director MBA course when the official press release from Manchester Metropolitan University inviting sports professionals to join it spells former MBA luminary Steve McClaren’s name as ‘McLaren’.