Cricket Injuries
04.Nov.09
As Peter Siddle becomes the latest Australian cricketer to suffer an injury during the teams one-day series against India there are increasing calls to look into the workload of the country’s top players. It has to be said that Australia’s program has been particularly punishing this year. By the end of 2009 Australia will have played 13 tests, a record 40 one day internationals as well as the World Twenty20 championship.
While I would accept that the increased amount of limited overs cricket has certainly put an added strain on the top players it should also be noted that they all have the benefit of an entire backroom staff of physio’s, dieticians and psychologists all employed to ensure they stay fit. Also in some ways the workload has eased on the top players. Central contracts now mean they are not forced to return immediately to county or state cricket in order to earn a crust.
Some ex-players from a few years ago believe that this is part of the problem. Players are being made fit in a gym rather than on a cricket field...they’re not match fit if you like. It was certainly something that the late Fred Trueman believed. Despite a workload that would make one of today’s fast bowler weep, Fred was hardly ever injured during his 20 year first class career.
It also led to an infamous conversation between Fred and the runner Gordon Pirie who won an Olympic silver medal at the 1956 Melbourne Games. England was heading for Australia by boat on the 1962-63 Ashes tour, and the captain, Ted Dexter, discovered that Pirie was one of the passengers. Dexter asked Pirie to organise a daily run around a deck, to which Fred inquired "why?"
"To keep your legs strong" Pirie replied.
"Listen here Sunshine" said Fred " I bowled 1,141 overs last summer for 153 wickets at 17.75 apiece. What makes thee think my legs need strengthening."
Then pointing in the direction of Pirie's matchstick lower limbs. "And tha's not much of an advert for legs art tha'?"
Unsurprisingly Fred wasn’t bothered for the rest of the voyage.