Australian Test workhorse Peter Siddle believes the injuries sidelining his young pace colleagues are unavoidable.
With James Pattinson, 23, Mitchell Starc, 23, Pat Cummins, 20, and 26-year-old Jackson Bird all out of action with back injuries as the Ashes series nears, theories abound about why the nation’s best young quicks are breaking down.
Fast bowling great Dennis Lillee has suggested the pacemen of today don’t spend enough time bowling in the nets.
But Siddle, 28, who himself dealt with early-career back problems, said such injuries were inevitable as young pacemen’s bodies become accustomed to the strain.
“We get a bit worked up about the issue,” Siddle told AAP on Tuesday.
“You look at blokes around that age in the world – in the history of cricket, that age has always been a prone age for injury.
“It’s just a matter of taking time.
“We’re probably just blessed in a way that we’ve got three young blokes at the same age that are going to be future superstars.
“They’re just playing at the same time and they’re getting the same injuries, which is no different to what James Anderson got or Brett Lee, when he was a youngster.”
Siddle said even at local level, young quicks were often injured, but the international cricket workload compounded the issue.
“It is unavoidable,” he said.
“Blokes want to bowl fast and your body’s just not made to do that action.”
Siddle said experience had taught him what his body could handle.
“Sometimes it might be for only three overs a session where you have a bit of a dash at them and then ease off and just get through your rhythm,” he said.
“But at a young age you don’t want to do that stuff.”
He believes Australia are still well stocked with quicks for the Ashes, nominating Mitchell Johnson as favourite to back himself and Ryan Harris, with Ben Hilfenhaus and Josh Hazlewood other options.
He said Ian Bell was the key England batsmen to counter, after his dominance at home earlier this year.
Siddle is confident bouncier Australian pitches will help.
“With the faster wickets and the short balls, hopefully we can get on top of him.”
captainBokster!
Guest
I think australia need to learn a few things from dale steyn hi has been very lucky in his career but I think its more to do with his freakishniss his a awesome athlete and the only pacer I know off being consistently not injured and also his at his best bowling more which is a bit off a catch22 but hi doesn't play much ODI stuff,your player rotation is doing more bad than good learn from the saffas they seem to have found a formula for him in particular
James
Guest
it doesnt seem as unavoidable and inevitable for other countries players. and even when they do get injured its not the never getting better stuff australian bowlers seem to have more of. either australia is just really unlucky atm with their bowlers or australia is doing something wrong with their young bowlers.
A punter
Guest
Injuries to young quicks only seem to be inevitable in this country at present. It has never occurred to this extent in other country or our teams of the past. It seems to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. They look for any signs of stress and they always seem to find them for young bowlers. @Chris I agree that bowling is the best way to prepare for bowling.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Hazelwood isn't ready. He shouldn't be considered. He is one of those guys who showed promise then got injured, but since coming back from injury hasn't shown enough yet. There would be plenty ahead of him. I'm still firmly of the opinion that the only way to strengthen a body for fast bowling is by doing lots of bowling. I saw a press conference with Cummins after his latest injury and he went through a big list of things he'd been doing to try and prevent injury, and the list didn't include bowling. I'm sure he was doing some bowling, but just getting down to the nets every day and bowling a lot at around 90% pace most of the time with just a few overs worth ramping up to full pace I truly believe is the key to overcoming injuries. No other form of exercise truly replicates the action of fast bowling to strengthen the muscles in the right way. Cricket Australia's restrictions on the amount of bowling young fast bowlers can do just increases the risk of injury. Ask yourself, have injuries reduced since they brought those restrictions in? I really doubt it. If anything they'll have increased. It clearly doesn't work so it should be scrapped.