Kiwi quick McClenaghan credits healthy 'cave-man' diet for wicket-taking prowess

New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan is reportedly fueled by his 'cave-man style' diet of almond and coconut cereal, organic fruit and biltong, in his bid to farewell each of his victims in matches.

McClenaghan is the poster boy for the paleo diet and CrossFit, the core strength and conditioning programme. It changed his life so much that he put his money where his mouth was nine months ago, and with a friend, set up a company, Clean Paleo, to sell the vital ingredients to fellow converts.

According to Stuff.co.nz, the benefits are obvious as the wicket-taking machine had 48 scalps from 20 ODIs heading into the tied third ODI against India at Eden Park, and he is showing no signs of slowing down.

McClenaghan said that he tries to stick with the diet 70-80 per cent as he is travelling with the squad most of the time, adding that it makes him feel less bloated, gives him more energy and helped him get back to good health when he was injured.

The diet forbids hamburger, chips, grain, sugar, dairy, carbohydrates and processed food, but allows chicken, fish or steak with kumara mash and broccoli, adding that while the team celebrates with beer and alcohol, McClenaghan's toast contains cold water although he admitted that his body does not respond well to alcohol.

The player credits CrossFit for getting him back on the park and into the New Zealand team after a series of injuries threatened his career in his early 20s.

McClenaghan counts 40 stores nationwide with their products like vacuum-sealed biltong and free-range egg white protein powder, flavoured with freeze dried fruit, the report added.