Cricket: Aussies summon sports psychologist

Michael Clarke. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A sports psychologist has flown to Wellington to help Michael Clarke and the Australian team prepare for the first test against New Zealand.

Cricket Australia enlisted Ross Chapman to assist the Australian vice-captain and his teammates through the blinding media spotlight that began when Clarke ended his high-profile engagement to model Lara Bingle.

And he was hard at work straight away.

Chapman was a constant presence around the squad yesterday as Clarke joined teammates for his first training session since his return to the tour.

Every player, plus coach Tim Nielsen and Chapman, attended an extended team meeting yesterday that caused a one-hour delay to the team's training session.

Clarke had become a virtual prisoner in his hotel room until security removed Australian TV crews camped in the foyer.

But he was putting on a brave face yesterday morning, avoiding questions about his personal life and saying he was looking forward to Friday's test.

The level of media attention had been unexpected, he said.

"It's been a very interesting couple of weeks but it's great to be back here in New Zealand with my teammates.

"The guys have been fantastic, so supportive, and I'm here preparing for a test match and I'm really looking forward to Friday."

Clarke came under intense media scrutiny and criticism for leaving his team and returning to Australia in the middle of the one-day cricket series, after controversy exploded over naked pictures of Bingle appearing in the tabloids.