The mental side of cricket has increasingly gained importance over the past few years, with players feeling the heat of multiple factors, involving the game and life away from it. During such times, teams have also started hiring specialised mental skills coaches to keep the players free of clutter and assist them in performing at their best.
England will also have a mental skills coach as part of their Ashes touring party, with New Zealand’s Gilbert Enoka accompanying the support staff for what promises to be a gruelling seven weeks Down Under.
The decision to bring Enoka on board was made by head coach Brendon McCullum, who wanted the renowned mental skills coach’s help to take England to the next level. A key figure in New Zealand rugby, Enoka has been associated with the All Blacks since 2000, serving in various roles.
His tenure coincided with a golden era for the team, including back-to-back World Cup triumphs (2011 and 2015) and a prolonged reign as the world’s top-ranked side.
“I have known Brendon for many years. When I finished with [the All Blacks] after the Rugby World Cup, Brendon had been in this job two or three years, came knocking and said, ‘I am keen to take this team to next level. Will you help me?’”
“He has got players playing a certain style, he has a vision for him and where he wants to take it,” Enoka told the BBC.
Before his rugby success, Enoka worked with the New Zealand cricket team (1998–2004) and the national netball team (1994–97). Enoka had come under the spotlight for his “no d***heads policy”, which involved removing players who put themselves ahead of the team within the environment.
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“A d***head makes everything about them. They are people who put themselves ahead of the team, people who think they’re entitled to things, expect the rules to be different for them, people operating deceitfully in the dark, or being unnecessarily loud about their work,” Enoka had said in 2017.
Speaking about his role in the England setup, Enoka said that it was to try and free the visitors from stress and remind them of the challenge in front of them.
“There is more weight on that moment and we just want people to free themselves from the tension. They will have a structure or a system that allows them to direct their attention to where it needs to be. If you are a batsman that will be on the ball and if you are a bowler you will have a target or something you want to achieve.”
“There is no escaping the tension other than getting excited, reminding yourself where else would you want to be.”
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“When your mindset is directed with that intent your intention creates the intensity required to execute well,” he said.
