I have raised this topic today as there was a healthy discussion between the commentary team during the New Zealand Vs England cricket test yesterday. The ex players who have now turned to commentary for a living have noticed a change in fitness techniques over the years.
Back injuries will happen to most fast bowlers at some point in their careers through wear and tear as the spina is under severe stress. The bowling action could be also causing the injury but when we are talking about professionals in their early twenties then something is seriously wrong. The list was rather lengthy with over 12 fast bowlers missing due to back problems. This highlights a lack of match preparation and nothing else as it is that obvious.
I have always said someone who trains in the gym maybe fit for the gym, but definitely not fit for playing sport. Muscles and bulking up mean absolutely nothing and cannot replace someone who is fit away from the gym.
The current England cricket team is relying on a bowling attack that would normally have retired in jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad as they have very few options left open to them. The rest are all injured mainly with back issues and that is down to one thing and that is not being match fit. Dale Steyn played 11 years before he started having injury problems and that was purely down to wear and tear which is expected in this profession as a fast bowler. He was skinny and match fit for his entire career and why most teams wanted him in their side.
Being a fast bowler in cricket means you need to bowl thousands of balls each season which puts a huge strain on the rest of your body being the back, the knees and your ankles. The gym does not prepare your body for the punishment that lies ahead.
Simon Doull who used to bowl for New Zealand mentioned his pre season training involved fitness work but also bowling over a 1000 balls per week in the training nets. That number would increase as the season got closer and why his injuries were less than others as his body was prepared.
This is not something that is aimed at cricket as most sports suffer from similar issues and sportsmen are becoming soft. There is too much emphasis on gym work over outside preparation work. Nothing can beat doing the real thing and cannot be replaced by lifting a weight.
When I was playing competitive rugby many of my team mates spent pre season in the gym and I did the exact opposite. I took a ruck sack of bricks or grabbed a large pole and did a 10 km run instead. The only playing injury I suffered was a broken ankle and it wasn't even my fault. The difference was I was punishing my body in a way the gym doesn't making myself more prepared for the oncoming season.
The same way cricketers are breaking down other sportsmen are falling to the gym idea as making you fit. Toning your body yes but fit no as this is not preparing you for what is to come. Maybe everyone is kidding themselves with all the gym work and supplements having fake muscles not fit for purpose.
The workload of all sportsman has increased over the years with more and more matches being added to the yearly calendar. This makes preparation and readiness even more important as injuries will happen to those that fail to prepare.