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All Blacks' 'No D***Head Policy' Coach Gilbert Enoka Joins England Ahead Of 4th Test

Soumyajit Dutta

Gilbert Enoka Joins England [Source: @19cric/X.com]Gilbert Enoka Joins England [Source: @19cric/X.com]

England have made a bold move with the recent addition of former All Blacks mental skills guru Gilbert Enoka. He joins head coach Brendon McCullum, consultant Tim Southee, and captain Ben Stokes (a New Zealand native) during the crucial phase of the ongoing Test series against India. 

For the unaware, All Blacks are the national rugby team of New Zealand, and Enoka coached the team for a straight 15 years, which saw the team win two rugby world cups, one Laureus Award, 20 Bledisloe Cups, three Grand Slams, eight Tri-Nations, and eight rugby championships.

Enoka Set To Revamp The Bazball Mindset?

Enoka, renowned for implementing the All Blacks' "no d***heads policy," is working to strengthen the England squad's mentality ahead of key fixtures, including the Ashes.

According to The Telegraph, Enoka was brought in by compatriot McCullum, having previously collaborated in New Zealand cricket. He has been involved since England's pre-season camp before the Zimbabwe Test in May and addressed players at Old Trafford this week, staying with the squad until the weekend. His arrival comes with England trailing India 2-1 in the high-stakes series.

What is Enoka's No D***heads Policy? 

Central to Enoka's approach is his famous "no d***heads policy," designed to foster team unity and eliminate disruptive egos.

“A d****head makes everything about them. They are people who put themselves ahead of the team, people who think they’re entitled to things, expect the rules to be different for them, people operating deceitfully in the dark, or being unnecessarily loud about their work," Gilbert said back in 2017 as quoted by The Guardian.

Enoka believes it's crucial for players and leaders themselves to address such behaviour, rather than relying solely on management. Hence, McCullum clearly hopes Enoka's expertise and proven methods will instil similar resilience and cohesion in the England squad during this pivotal period.