Email
Print
ShareCenturion: "Women weaken legs" is trainer Mickey's advice to boxer Rocky Balboa, in the celluloid hit which made Sylvester Stallone an international star in the 70s, but new-age cricket coach Gary Kirsten's mantra obviously runs contrary.
On the evidence of contemporary sports medicine and coaching methods, there is little that is novel about what Kirsten has said. Footballers, for instance, are encouraged to enjoy their partners' presence, and most cricket teams, too, now allow WAGs (Wives and girlfriends) on tour.
But public knowledge of the document prepared by Kirsten and his support staff for the Indian team currently in South Africa -- advising them, among many things, on diet, spirituality and, more particularly, sex -- in the quest to become the number one side in the world left MS Dhoni & Co ducking for cover and the rest of the cricketing fraternity highly amused on Wednesday.
According to a media report on Wednesday, Kirsten has circulated a four-page preparatory document among the cricketers, detailing the benefits of a good sex life and even suggests "going solo". "...having sex increases testosterone levels, which cause an increase in strength, energy, aggression and competitiveness," the document reportedly said.
It quotes Tim Noakes, a sports scientist at the University of Cape Town, Kirsten's hometown, as saying that "sex was not a problem, but being up till 2.00am... having a few drinks at a bar while trying to pick someone up, on the eve of a game, almost always was".
None of the Indian players was willing to discuss the issue. Even Kirsten looked glum, and kept mum. "No comments," is all he said. But leading cricketers from other countries were not so reticent.
England skipper Andrew Strauss, when asked about the new prescription for Team India, looked bemused. "I don't think we ever had anything about our sexual habits written down in a dossier and I am pretty sure we won't get an advisory on that ever," he said.
"Is that in the team's vision statement? Hmm," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said breaking into a naughty smile. "That is some vision. I really don't know what to say," he added before breaking into a hearty laugh.
England's Twenty20 skipper Paul Collingwood was in splits when he was asked what he thought of the team management giving MS Dhoni & Co a free hand when it came to scoring off the field. "That is probably the funniest and most entertaining question I have ever been asked,'' he said. "But I can't answer if it is good or bad." England spinner Graeme Swann did not even hedge his verdict. "I wish Gary was our coach," he said drolly.
Meanwhile back home, other sportspersons and experts had their own take on the theory. MP Singh, an NIS-qualified cricket coach, said, "I don't think there is a direct relation between having sex (thus increasing testosterone levels) and cricket because this is a game that requires technique more than strength."
Dr PSM Chandran, former director of sports science with the Sports Authority of India, believed that power sports like weightlifting require high testosterone levels, a point with which former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha agrees. "Contact sports like boxing, football or even hockey need the extra boost, but I have no clue whether that extra boost can be got through Gary's mantra," Rasquinha said.
Boxer Akhil Kumar said, "In our culture, we abstain from discussing our sex lives openly, which is why this has created a stir. But once you are in the ring, these things don't matter." Vijender Singh, who recently won a bronze at the World Championships, in fact rubbished the theory saying Kirsten's formula would never ensure success.
The debate, doubtless, will continue to rage.
