Back in training for the first time since the death of Phillip Hughes, Australia’s players and staff made conscious attempts at fun and games, at bonding, at being there for each other
Sidharth Monga05-Dec-20141:00
‘Important to stick together and get on with the game’ – Lehmann
Getting back on your feet after losing a close one is a tricky business, especially when that close one was a constant presence at work. After a while, you want to get out of the mourning atmosphere and itch to go back to work, but you can never be sure what is in store for you. You can take all the counselling you want, you can psyche yourself up, you can want to get back all you want, but nothing prepares you for what actually happens on the first day back. During their first training session after the loss of Phillip Hughes, Australia made conscious attempts at fun and games, at bonding, at being there for each other.It worked for the most part; there were smiles, laughter, cheers, dives, plenty of bouncers, quite a few blows on the thigh pad and above. David Warner, though, walked out early from his net session – possibly his first since Hughes’ death – after which team psychologist Michael Lloyd spoke to him for about 20 minutes. Warner then went indoors, removed his pads, and came out to bowl to some of his team-mates. That he was back on the field, even if just bowling medium-pace and dodgy offbreaks, would have come as relief to his team-mates, but they will keep a close eye on him in the lead-up to the Test, which begins on Tuesday.There was a certain deliberateness to how Australia went about their first day back at work. They didn’t go to Adelaide Oval, choosing instead Park 25 Cricket Ground, which is open from all sides. One reason could be that they wanted to be able to bat in the middle, which might not have been possible at a ground getting ready for a Test. “We felt doing it in the open air would be better,” coach Darren Lehmann commented before the session began. His answers remained short, suggesting even he didn’t – as expected – know how the return was going to go, and promised normal – good, hard – Test cricket.”We have plenty of steps to be honest, but we would like to keep it to ourselves for now to be honest,” Lehmann said when asked if any of the players came out of a training session not feeling too good about playing the Test. “It’s all about facing that first ball on Tuesday. So that’s what we are trying to do: get them to that first ball over the next few days.”Team bonding was a major focus during Australia’s first training session since Phillip Hughes’ death•Getty ImagesYou could tell Lehmann himself didn’t know what lay ahead. He had all the support, though. A familiar face welcomed the team to the ground. Barry “Nugget” Rees, the former Adelaide Oval dressing-room attendant, a motivating figure and a favourite among the players, was the first person they met as they walked in to the ground. The 70-year-old had that calming look on his face, one that said “I know what you have been through”, and he shook hands and patted the shoulders of everyone.The focus clearly was on easing the players back in. Selector Rod Marsh was present too, and he took part in the huddle, which ended in loud applause. The players were then divided into pairs, almost like they were at a dance. Brad Haddin, who could be captaining at the Adelaide Oval should Michael Clarke not be fit, and Ryan Harris, who is coming back from a career-threatening injury, responded by getting into a mock ball-room dance. Some others started doing the worm. The actual exercise was for the players to send their partner in circles, like a revolving door, until they felt dizzy. They all had a good laugh or three over it.Fielding consultant Greg Blewett then made his way towards the cameramen, speaking to the one from , presumably telling him to focus on something in particular. Presumably that something in particular was the same warm-up game with a football that Hughes is seen playing and enjoying immensely in the endearing tribute video. After that they played another warm-up game, that of handball with a cricket ball, except that in this game the ball had to be kept close to the ground. Dives, slides, passes, dribbles, goals, all had the players expressing themselves freely, which would have been a struggle over the last few days.When the nets began, the fast bowlers were given the centre pitch. No one held back. Bouncers flew from every arm. Thighs pads and ribs were hit. Hooks were played. There was no visible stigma around the bouncer. Finally you could see the players were getting some much-needed release.However, it’s when you are alone that your recovery from a personal loss is tested. And batting is a lonely job. When Warner went into the net, to face throwdowns from batting coach Michael Di Venuto, he was all alone. He didn’t seem pleased with the way he hit the ball. The first bouncer at him, though, he hooked away comfortably. At other times he kicked the ground whenever he mis-hit. He cussed when he wore one in the rib. Eventually he hit the stumps with the bat when he edged one towards gully, ending his session. Di Venuto walked towards Warner, asking him if he was all right, but didn’t get much of a response.Warner walked straight to the tent outside the nets, seeming to wipe his face with his arm. He sat with his face in his hands until Lloyd joined him. What stood out was that the other players went on with their work even though Lehmann and Rod Marsh did have conversations with Lloyd.Warner then walked back into the sheds, emerged about half an hour later with a ball in hand, and had a long bowl at the centre wicket. The usual legbreaks were missing. He bowled energetic seam-up for quite some time before bowling offbreaks with an action that would have had the ICC technical committee in knots had they been watching. Blewett, who kept wicket with a baseball mitt on, kept calling every delivery a no-ball. Warner didn’t react much, but seemed more at ease. Bowling provides a release, batting draws you inwards. After he was done, Warner walked back to his hotel with his fellow opener Chris Rogers.The first session was now out of the way. Three more of these, many press conferences where they will be asked emotional questions, some ceremony on Tuesday morning, and the Test match will be upon Australia. If this training session was emotional for Australia, Tuesday morning will be many times more so. As Harris said earlier this week, this is a great unknown, and nothing can prepare Australia enough for the morning of the first Test after Hughes.
