India coach encourages sex before matches - Times Online

Richard Hobson, Deputy Cricket Correspondent, Johannesburg

Batting's about partnerships: Kevin Pietersen and his wife, Jessica Taylor,
would no doubt subscribe to edicts sent to the India team by their coachIt used
to be said that sexual intercourse close to a sporting event sapped energy. But
India’s players have been advised otherwise in a confidential document written
by their coach that effectively tells them to boost their performances on the
field by hopping into action off it.

The four-part paper written by Gary Kirsten, who has helped India to become the
leading one-day side in the world, became the talk of the Champions Trophy
yesterday as a taboo subject was thrust into the open. The relevant chapter is
headlined “Does sex increase performance?” and the answer is explicit: “Yes it
does, so go ahead and indulge.”

Kirsten’s reasoning is that sex increases levels of testosterone, which leads to
greater strength, aggression and competitiveness. “Conversely, not having sex
for a period of a few months causes a significant drop in testosterone levels in
both males and females, with the corresponding passiveness and decrease in
aggression,” he writes.

Andrew Strauss, the England captain, was caught unawares when an Indian
television reporter asked him directly about “sexual practices” within the
squad. “I don’t think it has come up in any of our dossiers ever,” Strauss,
oblivious to his own double entendre, said. “I am not sure it is likely to
either.”

Graeme Swann described the idea of more sex as “the kind of forward thinking the
game needs”. The England bowler said: “I assume he [Kirsten] does not mean
within the team. Wives and partners must be involved. If they [the ICC] want to
make the game more exciting, fly in the wives and girlfriends or other parties
to improve the standard of cricket.”

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, was left briefly speechless by a fit of
giggles. “A team vision document on that would be interesting,” he said.
“Actually, no, it wouldn’t. That’s all I can say.”

Mike Hussey, the Australia batsman, was more rueful. “I have been away from home
for four months so I reckon I’ve forgotten how to do it,” he said. Hussey may,
then, be interested in the part of the document that reads: “If you want sex but
do not have someone to share it with, one option is to go solo whilst imagining
you have a partner, or a few partners, who are as beautiful as you wish to
imagine. No pillow talk and no hugging required. Just roll over and go to
sleep.”

Advice is also that enforced celibacy affects performance. “You may experience
that your mind spends more time focusing on the fire in your groin than on good
sport practice, preparation and sleep,” the dossier says.

Kirsten, a protégé of Duncan Fletcher, the former England coach, never set
tongues wagging in his career as a dour opening batsman for South Africa as he
has with his latest work, written in collaboration with Paddy Upton, a mental
conditioning expert. It came to light via a leak to the Hindustan Times in
India.

Dispersed to all 15 members of the squad, it quotes Tim Noakes, a professor and
sports scientist at the University of Cape Town, as saying: “Sex was not a
problem, but being up till 2am, probably having a few drinks at a bar while
trying to pick someone up, on the eve of a game, almost always was.”

It also addresses India’s history as a relatively passive nation and questions
why cricket results have been traditionally better at home. It also leaves room
for players to record their thoughts. They may choose to keep them to
themselves.

Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul, the fast bowlers, shared six wickets as Pakistan
beat West Indies by five wickets in their Champions Trophy group A match in
Johannesburg yesterday.

Just don’t get caught out
• Mike Gatting was accused of shenanigans with a barmaid at Rothley Court in
1988 and although the TCCB accepted his denial, it sacked him as England
captain.
• Bill Edrich, who made 39 Test appearances for England from 1938-55, was
frequently described as “convivial” and married five times.
• Ian Botham issued a public apology to his family in 2001 after the News of the
World revealed a two-year relationship with Kylie Verrells, an Australian.
• Kevin Pietersen was the subject of a “kiss and tell” story four years ago
after allegedly ending his relationship with Vanessa Nimmo, a Big Brother
participant, by text.