Usain Bolt starts coaching Australia for Ashes

With Ashes just around the corner, Australian batsmen have called on the sprint king Usain Bold to boost their running between wickets for the series against England.

The Jamaican legend, the world record holder in the 100m and 200m and eight-time Olympic champion, is working with the Australian batsmen to improve their 'explosiveness' off the mark.

It’s all about explosiveness and that’s one thing I’ve noticed with cricket — they don’t really have a lot of explosiveness when they’re running,” the world’s fastest man told the Herald Sun newspaper. “They seem to always take off at a slow rate. Getting that right will definitely help people.”

The 31-year-old retired from athletics after August’s World Championships in London, said that he was trying to increase the awareness of running while batting.

Australian batsman Peter Handscomb said Bolt’s tips were welcomed ahead of Thursday’s first Ashes Test in Brisbane. Bolt said had been busy after retirement preparing for a tilt at football, having been invited to train with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s something that I want to do. I’m trying to get fit now,” he said. “My doctor finally passed me after my hamstring problems at the world championships, so now I can start training. I’ve started training while I’m here and trying to get into shape before I get home and next year I’ll get a trial and we’ll take it from there.”