Cricketers get ready for a long, hard summer

THE island cricket team will be put through heavy yoga, aerobics and boxing sessions to get into top shape before a crucial summer. The new, stricter fitness regime is designed to bring variety to an already tough but monotonous training regime.

Leotards are not compulsory and teammates certainly won't be settling scores over dropped catches by squaring up to each other in the ring.

Manager Dave Hearse is overseeing the fitness improvements, which will also include more running, spinning and traditional core training.

'I think they will like the yoga and quickly see the benefits,' he said.

'They certainly won't be facing each other in the ring. They won't be going into the ring unless it's purely for fitness.'

He said boxing, which will be overseen by Graham Guilbert of the Amalgamated Boxing Club, was particularly suitable because its circuits were hard-hitting.

'The last thing I want is a player who cannot play because he is too tired,' said manager Dave Hearse.

'The core sessions are good, but they're a bit samey.'

The team face a long, challenging season after winning international status.

The pressure will be on in the 2006 ECC European Second Division Championship in Scotland, when five crunch 50-over games take place in six days.

The GCB has already earmarked the tournament a 'must-win' if Guernsey is to fulfil its long-term international ambitions.

The fitness drive originated in late 2004 when visiting former England player Jack Birkenshaw complimented the team but criticised fitness levels.

Captain Andy Biggins said the sessions would add variety to the regime and said that the inclusion of boxing was interesting.

'Personally I couldn't think of anything less appealing than getting into a boxing ring but if that's what it takes to do ourselves justice on the cricket pitch then so be it.

'Anything we do to spice up these fitness sessions has to be welcomed,' he added. 'We made great progress last year but in a bid to liven things up a bit and maintain our rate of improvement we have to keep coming up with new ideas. It is always very encouraging to see the squad accepting the challenge.'