Dom Sibley hopeful lockdown weight loss can help cement England Test spot

The Warwickshire batsman has shed 12 kilos during the enforced break after realising he had to change during the eventually-aborted tour of Sri Lanka

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From Ben Stokes' press-up challenge, James Anderson and Stuart Broad's virtual cycling duels and Jos Buttler's pilates routines, England players kept busy and their fitness ticking over during a lockdown when cricket practice was impossible.

But perhaps no individual matched the efforts of Dom Sibley. One of the new faces of the senior team followed his ECB training plan to the letter, leading to a phenomenal weight-loss.

The Warwickshire batsman shed 12 kilograms during the period and heads into the West Indies Test series starting on Wednesday at The Ageas Bowl leaner and fitter than ever.

For Sibley, the penny dropped during his short spell on the eventually-aborted tour of Sri Lanka. Senior players were staying late after practise sessions to go on long runs in the searing south Asian heat and on his way back home after the series was called off he made a critical decision.

"I've always been someone who has never been the fittest in the squad," the 24-year-old admitted. "I've always, whether it has been Surrey or Warwickshire, coasted in that aspect. I always pride myself on training hard on my batting.

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"Maybe that side is not something that I've done to the best of my ability. I just remember being in Sri Lanka, training in that heat, a few of the lads were running after a long session and it was a bit of an eye-opener for me.

"I've had taps on the shoulder before and I've not done anything about it. It was a bit overdue having that wake-up call and it was a good thing for me. 

"Regardless of whether it leads to runs or not it was something I needed to do and something during lockdown that I needed to put in the bank because there wasn't any cricket. I did that tough graft and hopefully, it will stand me in good stead."

He added: "I remember being on the plane thinking that is something during lockdown when we couldn't improve any of our cricket skills it was an opportunity to improve that side of our game. I'm glad to have been able to have stuck to it."

Though a change of attitude won't have been for nothing if Sibley's impressive start to life as a Test player doesn't continue, it is also true that the right-hander hopes the toil pays dividends in the middle.

England's top order suddenly looks burgeoning. Rory Burns' place is assured. Zak Crawley has the ability to bat anywhere in the top four. Joe Denly remains a trusty performer. Joe Root will return for the second and third Tests. And James Bracey proved in the intra-squad warm-up there is plenty in reserve too.

After a somewhat pressure-free start to life at the top, there is suddenly some real competition for places.

"People say I look different which is nice," Sibley blushed. "But in terms of batting it's just doing the same thing what I always try to do really which is batting for a long period of time. Hopefully being a bit fitter will help me do that.

"I can try and build on what I did in South Arica and try and put some good score together and contribute to a few wins. That would be great. It feels like a lifetime ago for me personally but it is a case of trying to build on that and get some big scores in this series."

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