Melbourne, Nov. 15 : The Australian cricket team is on the lookout for a full-time travelling sports psychologist to prevent players from breaking down mentally.

According to the Courier Mail, South Africa and India both have "mental coaches" but Australia engage the services of a sports shrink only occasionally.

Australia''s arduous schedule in the next 12 months means there will almost certainly be combustible mental issues to counter.

Former Australian coach John Buchanan is behind a push for a more extended team support network, including a sports psychologist, and the Australian Cricketers'' Association is developing a blueprint to examine the issue.

"Cricket Australia has always argued that it is a fairly expensive exercise to have a sports psychologist or a doctor on tour. It probably is, but I would say the benefits of having one can be pretty significant," the paper quoted Buchanan, as saying.

It is the mental fatigue of Australia''s cricketers, as much as any physical health issues, that is becoming a growing concern.

"Our cricketers spend a lot of time away from family and friends and we have to look at their welfare in this regard," players'' union boss Paul Marsh said.

"We are talking to some experts in the field to help us put together a plan," he added.

India''s coach Gary Kirsten has appointed former South African first-class cricketer Paddy Upton as a mental conditioning guru, while former England off-spinner Jeremy Snape is South Africa''s mental coach.

Brisbane-based sports psychologist Phil Jauncey has periodically consulted Australia''s cricketers, particularly when Buchanan was in charge, but there is a growing push for a full-time job. (ANI)