Cricket: Kirsten's sex mantra for success

Coach Gary Kirsten's mantra to India to have sex to boost their competitiveness is the subject of much amusement.

Kirsten, a former South African opening batsman, has reportedly handed out a four-part document which broadly envisages an active sexual life and a disciplined food and sporting habits, aimed at helping the players on and off the field.

The document, the content of which are quite unusual, looks back into India's history, its food habits and its lack of aggression.

"From a psychological (body) perspective having sex increases testosterone levels, which causes in an increase in strength, energy, aggression and competitiveness.

"Conversely, not having sex for a few months causes a significant drop in testosterone level in both males and females with the corresponding passiveness and decrease in aggression," the document said.

The document, jointly prepared by Kirsten and mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton, advice the cricketers 'to go solo' if they didn't have any partner.

The document's section on food habits asked the players to stick to a strict diet regime.

"(Acid in the body) causes the body to turn calories into fat, lowers the body's ability to deliver oxygen to the working cells, and can also cause day time fatigue, irritability, low brain functioning, over-sexuality, anxiety, diarrhea, joint pain and difficulty sleeping at night," the document said.

The document also describes India's lack of aggression by drawing historical examples.

"India has never been an aggressor at war, they have never been first to strike. They have never taken the battle to the opposition ... History will continue to be repeated if we fall foul of complacency, handing back the initiative compared to making winning a habit, where complacency is relegated to the history books," it said.