ADELAIDE (Reuters)
England's Test hopefuls on tour in Australia with new academy coach Rod Marsh started their first full day in camp with an early-morning gymnasium session and a warning to toughen up or fly home.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Marsh, who has accepted a three-year term as director of the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) national academy, said: "They're here to toughen up."

Speaking in an Australian television interview aired on Monday night, he said: "If they don't get tough they might as well catch the first plane out. The pressure will be so intense that unless they perform at their absolute best they will never play for England."

Academy manager Nigel Laughton said the squad of 17, aged from 19 to 25, would play two one-day matches and one four-day game before a month's break at Christmas. They then return to play four four-day games and a one-day tournament in Sydney.

Former Australia Test players Ian Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Terry Jenner will also tutor the squad, Laughton said. "There's a full programme of technical, tactical, physical and lifestyle training. It's pretty intense," Laughton told Reuters.

The squad arrived on Monday at their base at the Australian Academy in Adelaide.

Marsh left the Australian academy this month to take up his new role with the ECB, although they do not have a permanent base as yet in England.

Laughton said the squad's Test hopefuls were all happy to be working under Marsh and would not shirk the tough workload.

"But it's not a boot camp," Laughton said. "There's no-one frightened of hard work. They had a 6am gym session today and no-one was late. We're aiming for Test-match cricketers over a long period of time. Not everyone's going to make it."

Many of Australia's leading Test players in recent years have progressed through the Australian academy in Adelaide, coached by Marsh.

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