'Toughen up or fly home': Marsh
England's Test hopefuls on tour in Australia with new academy coach Rod Marsh started their first full day in camp on Tuesday with an early-morning gymnasium session and a warning to toughen up or fly home.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Marsh, who has accepted a three-year term as director of the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) national academy, said: "They're here to toughen up."
Speaking in an Australian television interview aired on Monday night, he said: "If they don't get tough they might as well catch the first plane out.
"The pressure will be so intense that unless they perform at their absolute best they will never play for England."
Academy manager Nigel Laughton said the squad of 17, aged from 19 to 25, would play two one-day matches and one four-day game before a month's break at Christmas. They then return to play four four-day games and a one-day tournament in Sydney.
Former Australia test players Ian Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Terry Jenner will also tutor the squad, Laughton said.
"There's a full programme of technical, tactical, physical and lifestyle training. It's pretty intense," Laughton told Reuters.
The squad arrived at its Australian cricket academy base in Adelaide in South Australia state on Monday.
Marsh left the Australian academy this month to take up his new role with the ECB, although they do not have a permanent base as yet in England.
NO BOOT CAMP
Laughton said the squad's test hopefuls were all happy to be working under Marsh and would not shirk the tough workload.
"But it's not a boot camp," Laughton said.
"There's no-one frightened of hard work. They had a 6 a.m. gym session today and no-one was late.
"We're aiming for Test match cricketers over a long period of time. Not everyone's going to make it."
World champions Australia beat England 4-1 in August in England to win a record seventh successive Ashes series.
Many of Australia's leading test players in recent years have progressed through the Australian academy in Adelaide, coached by Marsh.
Mail Cricket Editor
(C) 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similiar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters Sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
