England’s newest opening batsman Dom Sibley has on Monday (July 6) revealed that he lost 12kg weight during the recent three-month Coronavirus-forced break after feeling “self-conscious about his fitness and weight” during the abandoned Sri Lanka tour earlier this year.
Sibley has admitted that he's never been the fittest player and earned the nickname 'Fridge' due to his solid build, but after watching his international teammates Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jos Buttler sweating it out during a training session in Sri Lanka, he realized to improve his fitness.
The 24-year-old said Sri Lanka tour was the “wake-up call” for him and then he decided to shed his weight during the COVID-19 lockdown for a more agile and less injury-prone body.
Well, Sibley admitted he is now fitter, lighter, and stronger than ever after shedding 12 kg through improved diet and fitness regimes and is raring to go in the upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies starting on Wednesday, July 8, at the Ages Bowl.
Sibley said ahead of the Southampton Test: “In Sri Lanka, for the first time in my career, I felt a little bit self-conscious about my physique and my weight. I just remember sitting on the plane and thinking, 'I need to do something'. You look at the guys who have been in the system for a long time.”
He further added, “Just seeing how fit some of the senior guys are and how impressive they are in training… I remember being in Sri Lanka, especially with that heat and seeing a few of the lads running after a big session and that was an eye-opener for me. Ben Stokes is a bit of a freak when it comes to his training.
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Actually, it was seeing him, Root and Buttler running after a session in Colombo. I remember being absolutely spent so that was a real eye-opener. Seeing these guys and the graft they put in to stay at this level for the amount of time they have done, is something that I want to do.
It was an opportunity for me to improve that side of my game and I'm glad to have been able to stick to it. I needed to do it. It's great to have all the support from the backroom staff, the support's been great and the information I've been given and all that has been really helpful.”
However, the right-hander, who now weighs in at around 88kg, is yet to feel the true benefits of his improved fitness but feels it would be helpful for him in many ways on the field and is ready for the upcoming Test series.
He added, “I've always been someone who hasn't necessarily been the fittest in the squad. I've always, whether at Surrey or Warwickshire, been coasting in that aspect. I have always prided myself in training really hard on my batting but maybe that side has not been something I have done to the best of my ability. I've had taps on the shoulder before and haven't really done anything about it. I think it was overdue having that wake-up call and a good lesson for me, regardless of whether it leads to runs.”
Sibley signed off by saying, “If I'd done nothing during the lockdown, I think I'd have got to here and thought, 'I haven't quite ticked every box'. But I feel I've trained hard and I'm ready for the series. Success or failure, I feel like I've left no stone unturned. I've never felt tired batting.
My fitness has never affected my batting. It's not necessarily going to improve my batting. But it might help my agility in the field. And carrying less weight might keep me on the park for longer with fewer niggles.”
The Warwickshire opener made his Test debut late last year while scored his maiden Test hundred against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this year and averages over 40 in the format.
Noteworthy, Sibley is set to open the batting with Rory Burns for England in the first against the West Indies on Wednesday in Southampton.
(With ESPNcricinfo Inputs)
