Howzat! First slip in the bedroom for Indian cricketers?

Sep 23, 2009, 13:01 GMT

New Delhi - Indian cricketers at South Africa's Champions Trophy are being encouraged by their coaches to have sex to improve their performance on the field, a news report said Wednesday.

The secret document prepared by coach Gary Kirsten and mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton talks about the benefits of sex and a healthy diet, the English-language Hindustan Times newspaper reported.

The advisory was circulated among the team members ahead of their first match with arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday.

The chapter entitled 'Does sex increase performance?' in the four-part document clearly shows that the coaches want the team to be more sexually active.

'Yes it does, so go ahead and indulge,' the document says listing the benefits of a healthy sex life and even suggested 'going solo' if no partners were available.

'Having sex increases testosterone levels, which cause an increase in strength, energy, aggression and competitiveness,' the document said.

'Conversely not having sex for a period of a few months causes a significant drop in testosterone levels in both males and females, with corresponding passiveness and decrease in aggression.'

Kirsten says that having sex on the eve of matches can improve a player's energy and competitiveness.

The advisory quotes Tim Noakes, a sports scientist, as saying, 'Sex was not a problem, but being up till 2 a.m., probably having a few drinks at a bar while trying to pick someone up, on the eve of a game, almost always was.'

The coaches offer a solution. 'If you want sex but do not have someone to share it with, one option is to go solo whilst imagining you have a partner, or a few partners, who are as beautiful as you wish to imagine,' the document said.

'No pillow talk and no hugging required. Just roll over and go to sleep.'

The document also stresses the importance of being aggressive on the field from the start, self-improvement and healthy eating.

'For a team on tour most of the time, cricketers need a balanced and healthy diet. You are not an average man, so choose your food cleverly,' added the Indian coach.

The document goes beyond passion to increase performance. It also asks the players to develop 'social, emotional and spiritual intelligence.'