Buchanan asks for inquest into injury problem

As Australia's endless list of injuries grows, John Buchanan, the coach, has asked officials for an inquest into the problem. Buchanan has already approached Dr Trefor James, the chief medical officer, about why these injuries, particularly to the fast bowlers, have happened so often and that there needs to be ways of stopping them. He also said that training, playing workloads and general lifestyle issues needed to be addressed.

And Buchanan has had backing from Dr Martyn Sullivan, a leading surgeon from Sydney. Sullivan recently openly criticised the gruelling international schedule which bowlers must now face in order to keep playing at the top level. Sullivan, who has recently treated six Australian bowlers, claims fierce competition for places, coupled with a heavy workload, will increase the number of players succumbing to chronic injuries.

Sullivan's and Buchanan's comments came in the wake of a glut of casualties. As well as the top three fast bowlers being forced out of the team - Brett Lee hurt his stomach and ankle, Jason Gillespie picked up a side strain and Glenn McGrath has a dodgy ankle - Stuart MacGill, Ashley Noffke and Darren Lehmann are also out of action.

To make matters worse, Michael Kasprowicz, called in to the one-day squad in India to cover the fast bowling problem, is suffering from a freak buttock injury, but is staying with the squad as the problem heals.

Buchanan said: "You start with back-to-back Test matches, players break down, then two bowlers carry an extra load of which one of those then went down in the next game ultimately because of extra load and less rest."

Buchanan also said what bowlers did in their time off needed to be discussed. "I think everybody went into the game physically fit but I think there is a question of match fitness," he said. "That's something we need to address - getting bowlers overs under their belt. If we don't have games, how are we going to deal with that? In days gone by, as you came into a season, basically bowlers used to bowl a lot of overs in the nets or do road running. Probably neither happens to the same degree now."

Ian Healy, the former Australian wicketkeeper who is also president of the current Australian Cricketers Association, recently expressed his concern, saying something needs to be done within the next few years or the repercussions would be severe. He told the British Press Association earlier this week, "Bowling careers will definitely be shortened, if players want to play both forms of the game."

Healy is not the only ex-player to get in the act, with Dennis Lillee also agreeing that the workload is too much. "They should look at a baseball-style rotational program for the fast bowlers. Fast bowling is bloody hard on the body, but one way to prolong careers is to have two completely different teams for one-dayers and Tests."