Broken Bowlers. Is it the boots?

[Covertackle]

It would be interesting to know if these injuries come from the bowling action itself or from the jarring of the back in the jump at the crease?

There is a push these days for barefoot running being better for you than running in gel healed $200 running shoes. The theory behind it is that you should run on the ball of your foot not your heels. Having no support under your foot makes you run on the ball of your foot.

Cricket shoes of not so long ago.....in McDermots era were hand made leather shoes with no fancy gel support etc. So it would be interesting to watch video of that era and earlier to see how bowlers used their feel during the bowling action at the crease.

 

[Dan Cooper]

You may have just raised a very interesting point?

 

[Selective Retention]

Weights.

/Thread

 

[greatwhiteshark]

I think their are many factors. But the biggest factor is the players themselves have little resilience at all.
The slightest little niggle and they are out for 6 months.
I was a Fast Bowler and I played at a pretty high level for 17 years and you have to learn to not only play with some discomfort but to play with pain.
I had stress fractures by 19 and had a screw put in my back by the time I was 21. It comes with the territory of being a quick.
The sports scientist molly coddle them, the bowlers are not doing the work needed and instead are wasting their time in gyms when they should be out running and Bowling.
Just look at the farsical situation when Siddle was rested for an important test match because he bowled 22 overs in one day.
It is very hard from afar but I would bet the injuries that Stark and Pattinson have we would not even of thought were an injury 20 years ago. We would of just played with it.
I am not saying the players are soft, I am saying they are to easily told not to play by sports scientist who have never bowled a ball in their life.
These bowlers should be getting all their advice from Lillee, Lawson, Mcdermott, Magrath etc.
The facts are not disputable, more sports people miss games and are out injured now than ever before. Is it a coincidence that sports science is having to much say? They are the problem.

 

[Dan Cooper]

I think their are many factors. But the biggest factor is the players themselves have little resilience at all.
The slightest little niggle and they are out for 6 months.
I was a Fast Bowler and I played at a pretty high level for 17 years and you have to learn to not only play with some discomfort but to play with pain.
I had stress fractures by 19 and had a screw put in my back by the time I was 21. It comes with the territory of being a quick.
The sports scientist molly coddle them, the bowlers are not doing the work needed and instead are wasting their time in gyms when they should be out running and Bowling.
Just look at the farsical situation when Siddle was rested for an important test match because he bowled 22 overs in one day.
It is very hard from afar but I would bet the injuries that Stark and Pattinson have we would not even of thought were an injury 20 years ago. We would of just played with it.
I am not saying the players are soft, I am saying they are to easily told not to play by sports scientist who have never bowled a ball in their life.
These bowlers should be getting all their advice from Lillee, Lawson, Mcdermott, Magrath etc.
The facts are not disputable, more sports people miss games and are out injured now than ever before. Is it a coincidence that sports science is having to much say? They are the problem.

That's all and good. But fast bowlers shouldn't be getting stress-fractures at the rate our bowlers are at the present time, and playing with stress fractures in your back isn't tough, it's just plain stupid.

When Lillee had stress fractures in his back he missed a lot of cricket while he exhaustively rehabilitated the injury under the guidance of Dr Frank Pyke.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

That's all and good. But fast bowlers shouldn't be getting stress-fractures at the rate our bowlers are at the present time, and playing with stress fractures in your back isn't tough, it's just plain stupid.

When Lillee had stress fractures in his back he missed a lot of cricket while he exhaustively rehabilitated the injury under the guidance of Dr Frank Pyke.

Thats true and I also missed a full season and a half. Lillee missed when he actually snapped the L5 in his back, just as I did, Ian Bishop did the same. Lillee played with stress Fractures his whole career. Is that smart? Not sure and maybe down the track one could pay the penalty for doing so?

If you think that any fast bowler will not play with niggling injuries, sore backs, sore shoulders, Rib injuries then you obviously have not been a fast bowler. I have never heard of a fully fit fast bowler in my life. They constantly have major problems they have to play with and if they don't then they don't play.

And again what we called a stress fracture they now call a broken back. What we called knees soreness they call knee recon now.

Maybe as you are pointing out they have it right now? Or maybe they don't?
The simple answer however is that they are all injured, is that a coincidence?

 

[Dan Cooper]

Thats true and I also missed a full season and a half. Lillee missed when he actually snapped the L5 in his back, just as I did, Ian Bishop did the same. Lillee played with stress Fractures his whole career. Is that smart? Not sure and maybe down the track one could pay the penalty for doing so?

If you think that any fast bowler will not play with niggling injuries, sore backs, sore shoulders, Rib injuries then you obviously have not been a fast bowler.

I have never heard of a fully fit fast bowler in my life. They constantly have major problems they have to play with and if they don't then they don't play.

And again what we called a stress fracture they now call a broken back. What we called knees soreness they call knee recon now.

Maybe as you are pointing out they have it right now? Or maybe they don't?
The simple answer however is that they are all injured, is that a coincidence?

You've jumped to some false conclusions there

I said "playing with stress fractures in their backs"

How does that translate to "niggling injuries" ??

 

[greatwhiteshark]

You've jumped to some false conclusions there

I said "playing with stress fractures in their backs"

How does that translate to "niggling injuries" ??

Mate a majority of all fast bowlers play with stress fractures in their backs. It is the depth of the fracture that determines how much they can play with.
Fast bowling is not a natural movement for the body, it will cause stress to many area's particularly the back. Technology cannot change what the stress is on a body when fast bowling.
Anyhow I have given you my reasons, why do you think so many bowlers are out injured?

 

[Covertackle]

GWS. I think you are putting the cart before the horse. In the first instance we are tying to figure out what is causing the injury? The arm action or the foot action. Is it the jarring of the legs or the torque generated by the arms?

If the cause was worked out, then something can be done. Historically bowlers had less back injury than our bowlers of today. Something has changed. My theory is that the footwear has changed. Not much else has.

 

[Dan Cooper]

Mate a majority of all fast bowlers play with stress fractures in their backs...

I seriously doubt that. But that's what forums are for, a sharing of opinions.

What's causing all these injuries? Like most people I honestly don't know.

But the suggestion footwear could be contributing to it is an interesting call. It wasn't that long ago fast bowlers wore ankle high leather boots that resembled workboots. There's a big difference between those and what is commonly worn now.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

GWS. I think you are putting the cart before the horse. In the first instance we are tying to figure out what is causing the injury? The arm action or the foot action. Is it the jarring of the legs or the torque generated by the arms?

If the cause was worked out, then something can be done. Historically bowlers had less back injury than our bowlers of today. Something has changed. My theory is that the footwear has changed. Not much else has.

Tiger, Footwear could possibly be a factor. No doubt the boots we used are different to what they bowl in now. How a bowler lands I do not know how much impact that has on back injuries compared to the actual action the bowler bowls with.
I see less bowlers bowling side on now than ever before, they are very front on actions now and they also bowl a lot around the wicket these days which puts huge stress on a bowler having to deliver the ball and then quickly make sure they adjust their follow through so they don't run on the danger area.
I also notice that their follow through is much shorter than it should be, they are pulling up very quickly after they release the ball.

They bowl a lot less than previous era's yet they play more games, they do not bowl in the nets enough in my view on their days off but that is my view.

Aerobically they are very fit people and much fitter than when I played, it worries me though what their breaking point is? What pain will they play with or are allowed to play with? I simply don't know those answers.
But I do know I would listen to a Dennis Lillee first before a sports science person tells me I need some time off. But again that is my own view.
'Your theory that footwear has changed is correct, is that the reason? God Knows.
My theory is they don't bowl enough and they also spend way to much time in the gym instead of doing some long running.
But again my view is from a different era.

But it frustrates the hell out out of me with these blokes being rested and so many of them out injured.

 

[Dan Cooper]

But I do know I would listen to a Dennis Lillee first before a sports science person tells me I need some time off. But again that is my own view.
...

Are you saying you'd listen to Dennis Lillee regarding a back injury without getting an X-ray or a scan done?

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Are you saying you'd listen to Dennis Lillee regarding a back injury without getting an X-ray or a scan done?

Of course you would get a scan done first.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

greatwhiteshark is spot on

Our bowlers are catwalk fit, not bowling fit.

Wrapped in cotton wool from juniors and surprise, surprise they break down when confronted by test cricket.

Think of your own club, whatever level. The fast bowlers who are plumbers, builders, tradies... never break down. The ones with the toned and tanned beach bods who hit the gyms and know all the fancy core stability stretching routines are injured every five seconds.