Boot camps 'still a quandary' for Oz, England despite respective Ashes wins

Boot camps are reportedly still a 'quandary' being pondered by sporting coaches all over the world, especially cricket, even though England's cricket team is about to take part in a brief boot camp before embarking on its Ashes journey.

The boot camp has become a regular fixture in certain sporting circles, as professional organisations seek to gain whatever physical or psychological edge they can get over their rivals.

According to News.com.au, although cricket's boot camps have not reached the level of human degradation as compared to other sports, there have been several high profile examples that, from the outside at least, appear to have done more harm than good.

Australian spin legend Shane Warne had sarcastically spelt out his misgivings about Australia's boot camp ahead of the 2006-2007 Ashes, organised by then-coach John Buchanan, in which former players Stuart MacGill and Michael Kasprowicz suffered serious injuries, although Australia went on to win the series 5-0.

Similarly, England players Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar vociferously complained about their own boot camp before the 2010 Ashes, in which James Anderson suffered a cracked rib and fellow quick Chris Tremlett was also hurt during a boxing session, although England went on to win the series.

However, England wicketkeeper Matt Prior and even Warne himself admitted the players emerged from the camps as a tighter team unit, while a security consultant, who pitched a pre-Ashes boot camp to Cricket Australia earlier this year, said that the biggest benefit is improved on-field decision making.