England re-enlist services of Manchester City psychologist for T20 World Cup 2024

angelo

6 months ago

ECB Logo. (Photo Source: Twitter/@ECB_cricket)

England Cricket Team has reinstated well-renowned clinical psychologist, David Young, to administer the squad for issues related to mental health and well-being during the T20 World Cup to be played in June, 2024.

Young has previously worked with the English squad from 2016 to 2020. He has offered services to one of the most top-tier football clubs – Manchester City, closely working with Pep Guardiola, who has been a class apart throughout his managerial career.

Young, acclained for his role in helping England’s white-ball skipper Jos Buttler before the ODI World Cup 2019 final, joined the English squad ahead of their first T20I against Pakistan, which ended in a washout. He will join the squad directly for their third T20I after assisting City in their preparations for the FA Cup final against arch-rivals, Manchester United.

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England’s management seeks to derive lessons from their errors at 2023 ODI World Cup, where they exited in the group stage with just three victories in nine matches. England’s white-ball head coach, Matthew Mott, described the tournament as “death by a thousand cuts”, and following a tumultuous experience stormed with profound setbacks, he asserted that carrying on with “business as usual” was no longer viable.

He also highlighted the need for a substantial realignment in the group and addressed the team’s agreement to enhance openness during training sessions. Reflecting on their experiences in India during the 50-over World Cup, Mott admitted to their tendency to handle challenges in isolation. However, hr emphasised on their new commitment aiming to foster a positive team dynamic.

“When you’ve had the kick in the pants like we’ve had, you can’t just go ‘business as usual’. You have to redefine how you go as a team. As a group, we’ve made a commitment to be a bit more open in and around our training sessions, to help each other out a bit more. In India, all of us were guilty of being a bit insular, and trying to problem-solve ourselves. We’ve made a commitment to open up and be a bit more vulnerable as a group so that we’re helping each other,” Mott was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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England are set to finalise their T20 World Cup squad before the second T20I at Edgbaston, comprising the same 15 players from the provisional squad, despite minor injury concerns for both Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood.