Meet Gilbert Enoka: The mental skills coach hired by England for the India Test series
Gilbert Enoka is a renowned mental skills coach from New Zealand, famous for implementing a 'no d***heads policy.' His extensive background includes working with the New Zealand national netball team (1994-97), the New Zealand cricket team (1998-2004), and most notably, the All Blacks (New Zealand's national rugby team) from 2000, where he served as a mental skills coach for 15 years and then as their leadership manager for seven. He also had a stint with Premier League club Chelsea in 2023.
Why has England's cricket team brought in Enoka?
England's cricket team has hired Gilbert Enoka amidst a high-drama series against India and in preparation for the crucial Ashes against Australia. The decision was influenced by the growing number of New Zealanders in the England setup, including head coach Brendon McCullum, with whom Enoka previously worked in New Zealand cricket. His role is to 'toughen up' the squad during this pivotal phase.
What is Enoka's 'no d***heads policy'?
Enoka's 'no d***heads policy' is a philosophy designed to eliminate self-serving and counterproductive behaviours within a team. According to Enoka, a 'd***head' is someone who makes everything about themselves, puts themselves ahead of the team, believes they are entitled to special treatment, operates deceitfully, or seeks unnecessary attention for their work. The policy emphasises that if such individuals cannot change their behaviour, they should be removed from the team, regardless of their talent.
What was Enoka's impact on the All Blacks rugby team?
Gilbert Enoka's tenure with the All Blacks, where he served for 22 years, coincided with a 'golden era' for the team. During this period, the All Blacks achieved significant success, including back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015, and maintained a prolonged reign as the world's top-ranked side.
When did Gilbert Enoka join the England cricket setup and for how long?
Gilbert Enoka began working behind the scenes with Brendon McCullum's team since a pre-season camp in London in May, ahead of the Zimbabwe Test. He formally joined the squad during the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against India, addressing players before training at Old Trafford.
Related Topics
India vs England Test series
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
20 minutes ago
- Mint
Chelsea advancing talks to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons
Chelsea are in talks to sign Ajax's Jorrel Hato and RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons. However, to follow UEFA's financial rules and manage their large squad, the Blues need to raise over £60 million to bring in new players for the 2025-26 Champions League season. This means selling or loaning out several players who were either on loan last season or not playing regularly under coach Enzo Maresca. Jorrel Hato is a versatile Ajax defender who can play centre-back or left-back. The 19-year-old impressed last season with consistent performances. Chelsea's interest in the player signals their intent to strengthen the backline. To make room for new defensive recruits, players like Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi could be on the move. Chilwell was part of Chelsea's 'bomb squad' last pre-season but stayed because no deal was finalized. The club will try to sell or loan him in 2025, preferably permanently. Similarly, Disasi, who was on loan last season, is also likely to be sold to free up money and squad spots. RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons, an attacking midfielder, is a top target after a remarkable season, scoring 10 goals and providing 15 assists in 34 Bundesliga games. He could transform Chelsea's attack. Simons, who has two years left on his contract and is expected to leave this summer, could lead to the departure of midfielders like Carney Chukwuemeka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Chukwuemeka, a 21-year-old with three years left on his deal, has caught RB Leipzig's attention after an underwhelming loan at Borussia Dortmund. His limited game time under Maresca (only three substitute appearances last season) makes him a prime candidate for a permanent transfer. On the other hand, Fulham are interested in Dewsbury-Hall, exploring both loan and permanent options. Despite featuring in six of Chelsea's eight FIFA Club World Cup matches, his single start suggests he is not central to Maresca's plans. In attack, Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling face uncertain futures. Nkunku was a standout in the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring three goals in eight matches, but a £52 million offer could see him leave if Simons increases competition. Raheem Sterling's form slumped during his Arsenal loan, managing only two goals in 14 appearances, prompting Chelsea to seek a permanent sale. Joao Felix, who scored four goals in 20 games on loan last season, also faces a potential exit.
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Yashasvi Jaiswal's bat broken by just 126kph delivery days after Duke's owner had warned hard balls can destroy willows
An unexpected incident involving Yashasvi Jaiswal took place in the morning session of Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford. The young Indian opener was left baffled when his bat broke while defending a delivery from Chris Woakes, an incident that forced a halt in play and also brought back the questions over the construction of the Duke's ball, albeit in a different light. Manchester: India's Yashasvi Jaiswal, left, reacts after his bat broke on day one of the fourth test cricket match between India and England(PTI) In the ninth over of India's innings, Jaiswal went for a simple back-foot defence against a short-of-length ball from Woakes. But what should've been a routine block turned dramatic, as the impact cracked the bat near the neck and visibly bent the willow. Surprised, Jaiswal had to walk away to fetch a replacement. Interestingly, the delivery was just 126kph on the speed radar, which sparked speculation on whether the Duke's ball had suddenly become harder than expected. The debate isn't new. Throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, players from both sides have repeatedly raised concerns about the inconsistency of the Dukes ball. The unusually dry English summer and docile pitches have seen bowlers struggle for movement, and teams have often requested ball changes due to rapid softening. This particular breakage, however, turned the conversation on its head: was the ball now too hard? Duke's owner's earlier warning Dilip Jagjodia, manufacturer of the Dukes ball, had earlier acknowledged the criticism but dismissed any major deviation from established production standards. He had pointed out the fine line manufacturers must walk between durability and damage. 'If I made a really hard ball, it would have broken bats,' Jagjodia was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. 'That's the problem, we have to be careful. If people are adventurous players, they might be tempted to do it. That would be disastrous.' Jagjodia also clarified the rules that guide the lifespan of the ball in Test matches. 'The laws of the game are that the ball has to deteriorate over 80 overs. So, the ball has to play 80 overs, it gradually gets worse. You can't suddenly come after 20 overs and say, this ball is not doing what I want or what it does.' He added that every ball is crafted with precision, following British standards. 'I'm a very stickler for the rules, I make sure that we do the best we can. I select the balls personally… they are the most beautiful things on the planet. When you play with them, that's out of my control.'
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Jaiswal makes history with half-century in Manchester Test as Indian opener
India's young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, after a double failure in the Lord's Test in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, is back at his best in the fourth Test at Manchester as he adds yet another unique record to his name. On Day 1 of the Test, Jaiswal scored his 12th Test fifty but, more importantly, became the first Indian batter to score a half-century in Tests at Old Trafford, Manchester, after 51 years. Before him, the last Indian batter to score 50 or more in Manchester was Sunil Gavaskar back in 1974. Jaiswal had the chance to become only the fourth batter to score a hundred in Tests in Manchester but lost his wicket to Liam Dawson on 58, bringing the curtains down on an incredible innings, but not before completeing 1000 Test runs against England in just 16 innings. Highest score by an Indian opener in Tests in England Player Runs 4s 6s SR Inns Start Date VM Merchant 114 13 0 - 3 25 Jul 1936 S Mushtaq Ali 112 17 0 - 3 25 Jul 1936 SM Gavaskar 101 8 0 40.23 2 6 Jun 1974 VM Merchant 78 9 0 - 2 20 Jul 1946 SM Gavaskar 58 5 0 41.42 4 6 Jun 1974 YBK Jaiswal 58 10 1 54.21 1 23 Jul 2025 SM Gavaskar 57 5 0 44.18 2 5 Aug 1971 NJ Contractor 56 - 0 - 4 23 Jul 1959
