The Ashes: Australian WAGs lend joy as companions fight at Lord's

Having the wives and girlfriends on a gruelling Test tour like the Ashes may be considered a hindrance for some, but Aussie coach Darren Lehmann believes they can ease some of the on-field pressures that a player goes through.

According to an article in the The Daily Telegraph, this bunch of better halves have been valuable allies in the Ashes fight, encouraged by Lehmann who believes a happy WAG leads to a happy cricketer. The move may not have paid dividends to the team, who are in dire straits in the second Test too but the ladies are sticking close together.

Teenager Madeleine Hay, Ashton Agar's 'lady luck' - a law student at the University of Western Australia - may have had tense days watching her beau but 'experienced' Ed Cowan's wife Virginia Lette has been helping her manage all the new-found hype.

"We all huddled around Madi," Lette said. "For the first 12 hours we just protected her, it is quite daunting stemming from him being selected out of the blue to being such a centre of attention."

For the Aussie WAGS, who have been nicknamed 'The Sheilas' by the British, cricket may have been the binding factor but they are very much liking each other's company.

"People don't understand the lifestyle, and it doesn't take long for a new tour buddy to just 'get it'," Lette said.

"We all stick together. People are surprised at how solid this group is with our relationships, there are no breakdowns or depression."

Steve Smith's girlfriend Danielle Willis, James Pattinson's partner Kayla Dickson, Ryan Harris' wife Cherie and Nathan Lyon's pregnant partner Melissa Waring are all in this group of WAGs. It also includes the partners of the support staff - so Anna DeWinter, the wife of batting coach Ali DeWinter and Renee DiVenuto, wife of batting coach Mike are warmly welcomed.

Kyly Clarke, wife of captain Michael, said, "Our stomachs turn at the dreaded fall of wickets. Day in, day out, we see the constant hard work, long days of training and hours in the nets and all we want for them is success."

While cricketers and their partners are allowed to travel at their own expense, Cricket Australia's nice gesture to pay for their travel costs, tickets and logistics is reserved for a couple of times each year.

While it is the period from Boxing Day Test till the Sydney Test normally, this time the Lord's Test is the second occasion.