England openers attempt bizarre ‘hopscotch’ training drill ahead of Boxing Day Test

England’s batting needs to improve drastically if they are to get back into the Ashes, but one training drill they tried raised some eyebrows.

Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed batted at one leg in the nets.

The Poms really are trying every trick in the book to get their disastrous Ashes campaign back on track.

One of England’s biggest headaches is the poor form of their openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, who have averaged just 12.74 and 14.50 throughout the series so far, which Australia leads 2-0.

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The pair have struggled against the new ball, being dismissed edging outside off stump several times during the first two Tests — and their difficulties have underscored England’s batting woes.

While Burns or Hameed could be dropped for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG — with youngster Zak Crawley a potential replacement at the top of the order — they are doing everything they can to regain some remnant of form.

At Thursday’s net session, the openers were spotted facing throw downs while standing on one leg in a bizarre training drill supposedly designed to improve their balance on the front foot.

This was quite intriguing today. Burns batting on one leg, flamingo style. Wondered if it was about balance or his front foot. Then Hameed was doing it. Then Hameed was doing one leg & one hand, his bottom hand. #Ashespic.twitter.com/amvpSb8Hcx

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 23, 2021

Whatever works for you, Rory.

Haseeb Hameed was having a go at the the quirky drill too.

Cricbuzz reporter Bharat Sundaresan likened the technique to “playing hopscotch”.

The incumbent English openers, Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed were put though some unique ‘balance’ tests by assistant coach Ant Botha, which included them batting on one leg, like they were playing hopscotch, with Hameed even at one point batting with one hand & on one leg #Ashespic.twitter.com/MkcfbQ6jFs

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 23, 2021

While the unusual sight had many England fans bewildered, Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus supported the strange drill, arguing returning back to basics in training is sometimes exactly what is needed to get out of a form slump.

“Some negative comments on here, but I like it,” Erasmus tweeted.

“When you’re backs against the wall, you have to fall back on foundations. Base work.

“They are high level players, and with a positive mindset can turn their form around. Cricket is brutal, but you’ve got to own your own game”.

Burns and Hameed aren’t the only England players looking for alternative ways to improve their batting.

Captain Joe Root was seen adding a fourth stump to his set up at Thursday’s net session to help him better judge where his off stump was — and what deliveries he could afford to let go.

The Boxing Day Test will get underway at the MCG on Sunday.