Danny
31-03-2005, 09:40 AM
Ponting is on the money here, sure have your month holiday but don't forget your fitness program.
A good read on the current injury prevention culture working its way into Australian cricket.......
No rest for quicks
By Andrew Ramsey
March 31, 2005
FOXSPORTS
As Australia's cricketers begin their longest lay-off in years, captain Ricky Ponting has instructed his four fast bowlers to program weekly training sessions into their vacation.
While Ponting has urged his batsmen to follow his lead and zip-up their kit bags for the next month or more, he is worried that such an unusually long hiatus in his team's playing schedule might pose an increased injury risk for the quicks upon resumption.
Having completed their six-week tour of New Zealand a day early, most of the Test squad returned home from Auckland yesterday with Australia's next international match not scheduled until June 13 in England.
But Ponting said yesterday he expected fast bowlers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee to have regular bowling sessions to maintain their fitness and rhythm for the 14-week tour of England.
Lee has indicated he may consider a short-term stint with an English county before the tour because of the lack of first-class opportunities he had during the Australian summer.
The other fast bowlers will have a program mapped out for them by team fitness adviser Jock Campbell and physiotherapists Errol Alcott and Alex Kountouri.
"I will be encouraging these guys to do some bowling through their break," Ponting said yesterday.
"As Glenn has said before, it's when they have a long break and start working back into their bowling that they're most likely to get injured.
"That's what I'm more worried about and I hope everyone gives themselves the best chance (of staying fit)."
In the past, McGrath has claimed he preferred to continue playing once he was fully fit and bowling well because it helped him remain "in the groove" for Test matches and one-day internationals.
His performances since returning to Test cricket last July after major ankle surgery -- 69 wickets at an average of 18.17 from 14 Tests -- suggests he has well and truly found that groove.
McGrath, who finished the NZ series stranded on 499 Test wickets, said yesterday he would have regular bowling sessions at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the next two months to maintain his rhythm.
"I've never felt better, the body is going well and I couldn't be happier with the way I'm bowling," McGrath said.
Cricket Australia is expected to announce the squads for the five-Test Ashes series and the 13 one-day internationals which precede them on Monday.
A good read on the current injury prevention culture working its way into Australian cricket.......
No rest for quicks
By Andrew Ramsey
March 31, 2005
FOXSPORTS
As Australia's cricketers begin their longest lay-off in years, captain Ricky Ponting has instructed his four fast bowlers to program weekly training sessions into their vacation.
While Ponting has urged his batsmen to follow his lead and zip-up their kit bags for the next month or more, he is worried that such an unusually long hiatus in his team's playing schedule might pose an increased injury risk for the quicks upon resumption.
Having completed their six-week tour of New Zealand a day early, most of the Test squad returned home from Auckland yesterday with Australia's next international match not scheduled until June 13 in England.
But Ponting said yesterday he expected fast bowlers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee to have regular bowling sessions to maintain their fitness and rhythm for the 14-week tour of England.
Lee has indicated he may consider a short-term stint with an English county before the tour because of the lack of first-class opportunities he had during the Australian summer.
The other fast bowlers will have a program mapped out for them by team fitness adviser Jock Campbell and physiotherapists Errol Alcott and Alex Kountouri.
"I will be encouraging these guys to do some bowling through their break," Ponting said yesterday.
"As Glenn has said before, it's when they have a long break and start working back into their bowling that they're most likely to get injured.
"That's what I'm more worried about and I hope everyone gives themselves the best chance (of staying fit)."
In the past, McGrath has claimed he preferred to continue playing once he was fully fit and bowling well because it helped him remain "in the groove" for Test matches and one-day internationals.
His performances since returning to Test cricket last July after major ankle surgery -- 69 wickets at an average of 18.17 from 14 Tests -- suggests he has well and truly found that groove.
McGrath, who finished the NZ series stranded on 499 Test wickets, said yesterday he would have regular bowling sessions at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the next two months to maintain his rhythm.
"I've never felt better, the body is going well and I couldn't be happier with the way I'm bowling," McGrath said.
Cricket Australia is expected to announce the squads for the five-Test Ashes series and the 13 one-day internationals which precede them on Monday.