Bowling injuries: Why are they on a rise?
Contrary to the amount of technological advancement in the management of bowlers' bodies, the number of injuries have been on a rise
Devashish Fuloria
25-Feb-2013
Contrary to the amount of technological advancement in the management of bowlers' bodies, the number of injuries have been on a rise. Avi Singh in Holdingwilley.com lists some of the findings from research in the area of bio-mechanics and its implications on cricket in a country which has had a history of fast-bowler injuries - New Zealand.
Wistful reminiscing about Alec Bedser, Brian Statham and Fred Trueman ploughing through thousands of overs in county cricket without repercussion has been replaced by a surfeit of stories detailing the travails of the latest fast bowler unable to complete a match or series due to injury. Such a trend intriguingly defies the standard perception that the human body is more advanced physically than it has ever been.
Nowhere is this trend more evident than in New Zealand, who have developed a reputation as the injury capital of world cricket. Shane Bond, Trent Boult, Adam Milne, Hamish Bennett, Brent Arnel, Doug Bracewell, Andy McKay and Kyle Mills are just some of the casualties in recent times on the international scene, with countless more domestic bowlers also struck down. The obvious question on everyone's minds is: Why?
Devashish Fuloria is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo