Aussies spiritually connect with Edgbaston turf

Australian players sat barefoot in a circle to spiritually connect with the Edgbaston turf before they face England.

Justin Langer leads the Australian World Cup squad onto Edgbaston in bare feet. Picture: Cricket Australia

Australian players sat barefoot in a circle to spiritually connect with the Edgbaston turf they will face England on as their semi-final preparations began by “pouring out their hearts” with World Cup stories.

Coach Justin Langer instructed all players and staff to remove their socks and shoes for the earthing exercise, a technique that has been used by NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, who is close with Langer, traditionally takes his players on pre-finals camps where they sit around a bonfire to discuss the significance of their September campaigns.

Squad inclusion Peter Handscomb said the 30 minutes of pre-training bonding helped get “a feel for the ground, literally” as every member of the touring party described what lifting the trophy would mean to them.

“You get a feel of the grass on your feet, a bit of grounding, the positive and negative energy flowing through and coming out of the earth,” he said.

“There were some really good stories. It was just an open and honest conversation and it was great that some of the guys poured their heart out there about what it meant to get to the semi-final. It was great to see what playing in the finals means to this group.”

Mitchell Marsh wants to recreate a treasured photo of him and his dad, former Australian coach Geoff Marsh, with the World Cup on the Lord’s balcony 20 years on.

Marsh was just seven years old when he and his dad posed with the trophy after the Aussies’ 1999 triumph.

Handscomb recounted how he had played countless mock World Cup semi-finals in his backyard growing up, which was proof he was living the dream this week.

Langer has conducted the exercise at other venues including Hyderabad and Dubai.

Struggling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell then walked two laps of the ground in deep conversation with Langer.

It’s understood Maxwell has been urged by coaches to leave short balls against England, even if that means soaking up dot balls, to help combat his weakness.

Handscomb is in a fight with the in-form Matthew Wade to replace injured batsman Usman Khawaja.

But England dumping offspinner Moeen Ali has hurt Handscomb’s selection hopes, given he is an excellent player of spin.

Handscomb averages 29.5 runs against pace and 41.6 against spin in his ODI career and it would be a surprise if England includes Ali at Liam Plunkett’s expense.

Plunkett has been England’s lucky charm — he was overlooked for the team’s three losses, while England has won only once without him, against Afghanistan.

Ali (1-42 off six overs) was targeted by Aaron Finch last month and has not played since.