Pickle juice: TV reporter is mocked for making a rookie mistake as he tries disgusting health drink footy stars swear by
Pickle juice has become the foul-tasting health trend in sports from the AFL and NRL to the Premier League, but it turns out plenty of people are consuming in the wrong way - as two leading footy analysts found out on Thursday.
The Hawthorn took on the Gold Coast Suns in Darwin while the second match of the Women's State of Origin was held at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
During both matches, the pickle juice was brought out to assist cramping players.
Drinking a small shot of the awful-tasting juice can calm a muscle cramp in under a minute because the sharp taste tells the nerves to relax the muscle.
It has become a major health trend and is used by weekend warriors and international footballers alike.
However, it turns out you're not actually supposed to drink it.
Channel Seven analyst Mitch Cleary learned that the hard way when he knocked back some of the foul stuff for a dare, while giving a live cross in Darwin.
'The doctor is also running around giving everybody pickle juice out to the trainers running around the ground,' he said. 'So Hawthorn are well aware that they might be cramping up late in this quarter.'
That led to a challenge from veteran commentator Brian 'BT' Taylor, who told Cleary to 'knock the top off' the pickle juice and drink it himself.
It was challenge accepted, as he skolled the foul-tasting liquid.
'Don't rush to your local supermarket to get some of that into you, BT,' he grimaced.
Former Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge quickly educated Cleary on the error of his ways.
'You're not supposed to swallow it, you're supposed to spit it out, mate,' he said.
Hodge is right - simply swishing the juice around like mouthwash is all that is required to send the required signal to the impacted nerves.
'You don't necessarily need to swallow pickle juice to benefit from its potential cramp-relieving properties,' one viewer pointed out.
'Swishing the juice in your mouth for a short time, and then spitting it out, can still trigger the necessary neurological reflex that might help alleviate cramps. Swallowing it, however, can provide an extra electrolyte boost.'
A similar scenario unfolded in the Women's State of Origin, this time with Bulldogs boss Phil Gould being schooled on the best way to ingest pickle juice.
'There's a few starting to go down,' he said.
'The field is very heavy, having some pickle juice. She spat it out!
'Pickle juice can't help you if you spit it out.'
Co-commentator Peter Psaltis then asked: 'I'm not a pickle juice expert, are you?'
'Well I think it's better if you swallow it, don't know if it's any good if you spit it out,' Gould replied.
But Gould was then proven wrong.
'One of our producers is saying you do have to spit it out,' Psaltis said.
Gould was shocked, asking: 'You're supposed to spit it out, are you?'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Rugby Union Weekly Inside the Lions camp
We go behind the scenes at the Lions training camp in Portugal to see how preparations have begun for the clash with Argentina in Dublin and the tour down under. Chris chats to Ellis Genge who's already striking up an unexpected 'bromance' with one of the Irish players he's usually slating on the pitch. Genge talks openly about trying to get out of his comfort zone in camp and how he's approaching his first Lions tour aged 30. Forwards coach John Dalziel stops by to talk Argentina and what has impressed him most since the players came into camp. Plus, Jac Morgan tells us how it feels to be flying the flag for Welsh rugby on tour, his memories of the Australia tour in 2013 and he discusses the fierce competition in the back row.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Experimental Australia batting line-up exposed – but their bowling attack remains supreme
An evening of stellar fast bowling leaves Australia as strong favourites to retain their World Test Championship at Lord's. But Australia needed Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins at their strangling, relentless best, after their batting line-up had displayed more hints of frailty. Last home summer, admittedly against a cocktail of spicy wickets and Jasprit Bumrah, only one Australian Test batsman averaged 35. Such struggles contributed to them reshuffling their top three dramatically for the World Test Championship final. Marnus Labuschagne, the long-term No 3, moved up to open for the first time in a Test match. But for all his doughty defence, here Labuschagne resembled a cricketer who has long mislaid his best form. Over 56 balls, he displayed little of the proactivity that characterised the brilliant start to his Test career – or Steve Smith showed in his supreme 66 at Lord's. Instead, Labuschagne stumbled against terrific new-ball bowling by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. When he pushed Jansen behind to fall for 17, it extended his slump. In Labuschagne's first 30 Tests, up to December 2022, he averaged 60.8 and scored 10 hundreds. In his past 28 Tests, he now averages just 30.5, with a solitary century. Although Labuschagne turns only 31 later this month, there is a sense that elevating him to open represents a last chance for him to save his Test career. Yet Labuschagne was only one Australian player batting in a novel position. After returning from injury and his brilliant stint as a specialist batsman at Gloucestershire, paid for by an anonymous benefactor, Cameron Green made his first Test appearance for 17 months. Green walked out at No 3, the highest he has batted in Test cricket. Three balls later, he prodded Rabada to the slips and trudged off for four. There is even some uncertainty about the position of the one man in the top three batting in their usual position. Usman Khawaja has enjoyed a brilliant flourishing after his re-emergence as an opener four years ago. But he is now exhibiting growing vulnerability against high-class pace bowling. He averaged just 20.4 against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, tormented by Bumrah, though a double-century in Sri Lanka in February showed Khawaja's continued aptitude against spin. His first ball at Lord's, which jagged off a length and beat his groping bat, set the template. Scoreless throughout his first 19 balls, showing no more relish for facing Rabada than he had for Bumrah, Khawaja edged his 20th behind. South Africa get the breakthrough ‼️ — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 11, 2025 The vulnerabilities of Australia's top order should not obscure Rabada's magnificence. Arriving at Lord's after a brief ban for the use of recreational drugs, he saw the Test Championship final as his stage. Rabada has often lamented South Africa 's sparse Test schedule. Nearing 10 full years in the format, during which he has been an automatic pick, this was only his 71st Test. But Rabada's five wickets at Lord's, which took his overall haul to 332, surpassing Allan Donald, emphasised his greatness in the format. Against Australia, his 54 Test wickets have come at a rate of one every 38 balls: the best of anyone who has taken at least 50 wickets against Australia. His method at Lord's was Rabada in excelsis: using wobble seam to move the ball off the pitch both ways at speeds approaching 90mph, with the occasional venomous bouncer thrown in. After snaring Khawaja and Green with the new ball, Rabada then returned to bowl Australia out with the old ball, clean bowling both Cummins and Starc. Yet, not for the first time in his career, Rabada was left lamenting inadequate support from his team-mates. Bowling Australia out for 212 fully vindicated South Africa's decision to field first. Yet captain Temba Bavuma would still feel a pang of regret at Australia's total. When Beau Webster had made eight – Rabada, naturally was the bowler – Bavuma neglected to review an lbw appeal. Had South Africa used the Decision Review System, Webster would have been out; instead, his 72 continued the fine start to his Test career. But, in front of a full house that included thousands wearing the country's cricket or rugby shirts, South Africa's greatest regret from the opening day was predictable. The sight of all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who has a Test average of 22, walking out at No 3 encapsulated the state of South Africa's batting. Australia's pace trio exhibited their full range of skills – Starc swinging the new ball prodigiously, while Cummins and Hazlewood settled into bowling back of a length with the wobble seam. Facing such excellence, South Africa's struggles were understandable. Yet batsmen could have been more proactive – for instance, taking guard a few inches further forward to force Australia to adjust their lengths. Instead, Mulder took 44 balls over his six runs; Bavuma took until his 31st delivery to get off the mark. Ironic cheers ensued from the Australian contingent in the crowd. South Africa will need to find a new approach if they are to stop more Australian celebrations over the coming days.
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Kagiso Rabada five-for hands South Africa initiative before Australia fight back
Rabada overtook Allan Donald to become his country's most prolific Test wicket-taker by claiming five for 51 as Australia were bowled out for 212 on the opening day at Lord's. Yet on what proved a fine day for seam bowling, Australia hit back to reduce the Proteas to 43 for four in their reply before the close. Australia initially struggled in gloomy conditions after being put in to bat by Temba Bavuma. Rabada made his mark early on as he removed Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in the space of four deliveries. Marco Jansen – who finished with three for 49 – also caused problems and accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. That left Australia 67 for four but their innings was repaired by the ever-dependable Steve Smith, who overcame a difficult start to carve out 66. In the process he became the leading overseas Test run-scorer at Lord's, reaching 591 before being caught – at the third attempt – by Jansen at slip off the spin of Aiden Markram. Australian pacers rattle South Africa's top order in the final session to seize the momentum at Stumps 👊 Follow LIVE ➡️ — ICC (@ICC) June 11, 2025 He had shared in a fifth-wicket stand of 79 with Beau Webster, who had survived two lbw scares in his own less-than-convincing start. The first saw him escape on review and the second, off Rabada, would have seen him removed if Bavuma had reviewed. He rode out those difficulties as he went on to top-score in the innings with 72 from 92 deliveries. He helped Australia to 190 for five at tea but then Keshav Maharaj prompted a collapse by bowling Alex Carey, who attempted an ill-fated reverse sweep on 23. Rabada returned to account for Pat Cummins and Webster and finished off the innings by bowling Mitchell Starc after Jansen had cleaned up Nathan Lyon. It took his career wicket tally to 332, two ahead of Donald. South Africa's batters were unable to build on the work of their attack as Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs all fell in a difficult 22-over session. Starc took two for 10 with Josh Hazlewood and Cummins grabbing a wicket apiece.
