Ashes 2015: Fitness secrets of top players

How does Johnson generate the pace?It takes quite some effort for Mitchell Johnson to bowl at 90 mph - 20 overs in a day, or for Alastair Cook to stay on the crease for an entire day. On top of that, these cricketers cannot be slacking off while fielding either as 'catches win matches'.In order to accomplish these superhuman feats, international cricketers have to do a lot of things in addition to practising their skills.Since these players are the epitome of superb strength and stamina, we decided to take at some of the unique things the top players of Ashes 2015 did to prepare themselves for combat.

#1 Mitchell Johnson

Johnson works out alone as it helps him develop better mental strength.

None of the English batsmen who were a part of the last Ashes tour down under would forget what Mitchell Johnson did to them. The 33-year-old speedster took help from Australian war hero Corporal Ben-Roberts Smith and experienced a day in the life of an SAS. The training helped Johnson mentally and significantly improved his confidence.

Johnson also works out alone as it helps him develop better mental strength. 'I would never have been able to do that before. I would never have been able to push myself to the brink, to push myself hard enough to see gains. But I now enjoy training on my own for that very reason: every session I can feel it improving my mental strength,' he was quoted as saying by Men's Health.

#2 Alastair Cook

Cook has an edge over his compatriots as he rarely perspires

Few cricketers possess the sort of mental toughness required to recover from a setback like Alastair Cook. The England skipper must be raring to play some long innings in this Ashes. To stay fit, Cook places a lot of emphasis on doing core exercises. He also has an edge over his compatriots as he rarely perspires.

“I can retain my body fluids more easily than others. When you’re dehydrated or struggling with cramp, it’s the concentration that goes first. And as a batter, I need to concentrate. A cool body certainly helps me,” he told shortlist.com.

#3 James Anderson

The one aspect that Anderson would like to improve about himself is his running speed

If England are to have any chance of taking back the urn, then James Anderson will have to play a key role. England's strike bowler in Tests, Anderson will be fancying his chances in home conditions.

When asked about one physical aspect which he would like to improve, Anderson told shortlist.com: “My speed. I’m constantly trying to increase the mileage in my legs; bowling 25 overs in a day can be tough, so running is important. I prefer not to use a treadmill as I find running on grass puts less pressure on your legs.”

Anderson also places special attention to his back, as he is a bowler. “Looking after your back is important for any athlete, especially for me because I’m a bowler. One great way to keep it strong is to balance on your bottom with your legs in the air, holding a medicine ball to your side — which you continuously rotate between your right and left side,' he told the website.

#4 Shane Watson

Watson regained control of his body by doing Pilates

Initially in his international career, Shane Watson suffered a lot of injuries due to a brittle body. We have all seen how he uses his strength to dispatch bowlers a long way down the park. While the strength served its purpose, Watson became too strong for his own good.

“He got too strong and too big and overdeveloped and was not in control of his own body, so we got him into Pilates and also changed his running style under the guidance of Stuart Karppinen, the Australian conditioning coach,” Watson's physiotherapist Victor Popov told The Telegraph.

In addition to this, Watson also follows a low carb-high fat diet which he claims has helped him look and feel better.

#5 Stuart Broad

Broad claims that a fast bowler needs to work out his legs, more than his shoulders

It is rare that a son of a popular cricketer becomes just as good (if not better) as his father. Stuart Broad is an exception. Like everyone else, Broad had to pay a price for his success. In an interview with telegraph.co.uk, Broad revealed how bowlers needed to work on their jumping skills. “The bowlers focus more on jumping movements. Before delivering a ball a bowler always jumps up so it’s important to be explosive. We practice by jumping over small hurdles, one-legged and two-legged, making sure we land in good positions,” he said.

“Everyone always sees the ball come out of the hand and thinks you bowl from your shoulder, but you really bowl from your legs. We need powerful legs to bowl with speed and to hold our balance at the crease when we’re running at full pelt to deliver the ball, so we do lots of squats,” Broad added.

Broad also makes it a point to recover after a hard day’s work by diving straight into the swimming pool.