BEN WANTS A HEAD START DOWN UNDER

Mind guru drafted in to toughen England up for Ashes crusade

- By Mike Walters

BEN STOKES hopes former All Blacks guru Gilbert Enoka will turn England into a winning machine greater than the scrum of their parts.

Rugby legend Enoka has been drafted into the Kiwi cartel running English cricket's Bazball revolution as a mental skills coach to toughen up the squad for a critical five months, culminating in this winter's Ashes crusade.

As All Blacks mentor, it was Enoka, below, who instigated the famous “no d***heads” policy to ensure no loose cannons rocked the boat in the dressing room.

Ahead of the fourth Test, the two-time rugby World Cup-winner has addressed Stokes’ squad - and now England are planning to lead India a Maori dance at Old Trafford.

Enoka has augmented a leadership already containing New Zealanders Brendon McCullum (head coach), Tim Southee (bowling consultant), Jeetan Patel (spin coach) and Christchurch-born skipper Stokes.

And England believe the influence of a psychologist who helped make the All Blacks almost invincible for a decade could help them reach the summit in Test cricket.

Stokes said: “In all the time off we had between the New Zealand series and playing we will necessarily just go out and start at it — I don’t think either team have looked to do that. But there will always be moments in a series where things just heat up.

“We are not going to take a backward step, by no means, and let any opposition try to be confrontational towards us and not give a bit back.”