Cricket

Jasprit Bumrah's Workload Management: A Balancing Act for India's Pace SpearheadJasprit Bumrah, India's premier fast bowler, has been a subject of intense scrutiny regarding his workload management. His unique bowling action, blistering pace, and exceptional yorker-bowling ability have made him an indispensable asset to the team in all formats. However, injury concerns, particularly back issues, have plagued Bumrah in recent years, forcing him to miss crucial series.To ensure Bumrah's longevity, the Indian cricket management and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have adopted a cautious approach, carefully managing his participation across formats. Head coach Gautam Gambhir recently stated that the team will assess Bumrah's workload after the second Test against New Zealand, which begins on Thursday.India's decision to rest Bumrah after the second Test stems from his participation in all three home Tests this season and the impending tour of Australia, which is less than a month away. "Once the series is over, we still have around 10 or 12 days before the (first) Test starts in Australia. That is enough break for our fast bowlers as well," Gambhir explained.However, Gambhir emphasized that workload management extends beyond Bumrah, encompassing all fast bowlers. "We want to keep them fresh. We know that obviously we've got a long tour and an important tour of Australia," he said.Bumrah's return to action during the 2023 Asia Cup and subsequent participation in the World Cup demonstrated the importance of workload management and injury prevention. By prioritizing these aspects, India aims to ensure Bumrah's availability for key matches while mitigating the risk of future injuries.

Cricket Australia (CA) is implementing a new role for a national pace-bowling coach to oversee the management of fast bowlers across international and domestic programs. This move aims to prevent the spate of injuries that have plagued Australia's quicks and ensure a more coordinated approach to their handling.The new role, based in Brisbane, was conceived before the recent limited-overs tour of the UK, where six fast bowlers were injured and six others were unavailable. It comes amid a debate within Australian cricket about the suitability of the current contracting model for top male cricketers in the era of franchise cricket, with the management of fast bowlers being a key concern.Daniel Vettori, Australia's current bowling coach, will continue in that position while traveling with the team. The new role will primarily focus on managing contracted fast bowlers, as well as Under-19 and Australia A quicks. However, the successful candidate will also tour with the men's international side at various stages.Australia's fast-bowling stocks have traditionally been a strength, but the reliance on Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood in all formats, coupled with recent injuries to the next generation, has highlighted the need for effective management of the next generation.The injuries on the UK tour included side strains, soft tissue injuries, and back stress fractures, which have become common themes among Australia's fast bowlers. Cameron Green has become the fourth Australian fast bowler to undergo significant spine surgery to stabilize vertebrae in his back and prevent future stress fractures.The injuries led to the selection of West Australian youngster Mahli Beardman for the UK tour despite his limited experience, raising concerns among state associations. CA and the state associations have had friction over the management of fringe fast bowlers in recent years, as the demanding international schedule requires more players than ever before.The new pace-bowling role is designed to be a central point under head coach Andrew McDonald to coordinate an approach to managing Australia's current and next generation of quicks. It will involve performing a lead role in case management, load planning and monitoring, off-tour preparation, and individual skill development of CA-contracted pace bowlers and pace bowlers of national interest.CA currently has nine contracted fast bowlers among a list of 23, excluding pace-bowling all-rounders. However, there is a belief within Australian cricket that the current model of offering up to 24 central contracts is outdated. Some argue that the men's team would be better served by contracting 30-plus players initially each year and carefully tailoring their playing and preparation schedules to avoid injuries and situations like the one that arose in the UK.

The Indian cricket team's recent T20 World Cup victory marked a significant shift in the approach to player fitness and injury prevention. In the past, standard fitness tests were used as a selection criterion, but the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has now adopted a more comprehensive approach that prioritizes injury prevention and performance optimization.The NCA has developed three proformas: National Fitness Testing Criteria (NFTC), Performance Testing Battery, and Prevention Testing Battery. NFTC, conducted every 12-16 weeks, includes tests like sprint tests, standing long jump, and yo-yo tests. Performance Testing Battery, conducted every six weeks, assesses specific skills related to the player's role. Prevention Testing Battery, conducted every two weeks, focuses on identifying potential injury risks through tests like overhead squats and glute bridge holds.Notably, the yo-yo test, once a key selection criterion, is now rarely used for centrally contracted players. Instead, the focus has shifted to injury prevention and performance tests. The NCA's team of physios and strength and conditioning coaches has played a crucial role in keeping players fit and available for selection.The Prevention Testing Battery has become particularly important. It helps identify players at risk of injury, allowing the medical team to intervene early and prevent potential setbacks. GPS vests and whoop bands provide additional data on running-bowling metrics and off-field activities like sleep and recovery.In February 2022, head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma devised a blueprint for player rotation and fitness management. They identified a pool of players and ensured they were available and in optimal shape for major tournaments. This approach allowed the team to rest players when necessary and avoid injuries.Despite injuries to key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, the team management stuck to their plan of protecting and preparing players. This strategy ultimately paid off, with India lifting the T20 World Cup trophy in Barbados.

Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid has called for a comprehensive review of domestic cricket scheduling in India, following concerns raised by players like Shardul Thakur and R Sai Kishore. Thakur had expressed the need for more breaks between matches to prevent injuries, a sentiment echoed by Sai Kishore.Dravid acknowledged the players' concerns, emphasizing the importance of listening to those who are "going through the grind and putting their bodies on the line." He suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) consult with players to address the issue."We need to hear the players. They are the ones going through the grind and putting their bodies on the line, and if there are enough voices saying that, then yeah, I think there's some need to look at it, and see how we can manage our schedules," Dravid said.The coach also urged the BCCI to examine the scheduling of other competitions like the Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy to reduce the pressure on cricketers."It's a long season already in India. It's tough," Dravid said. "The Ranji Trophy is a long season, and if you add a Duleep and a Deodhar on top of that... Last year, if I'm not mistaken, the Duleep started in June, it was just a month after the IPL, and your problem in this situation is your best players, the guys who are pushing for selection for India, are the ones that end up playing the most cricket."Dravid suggested that some tournaments may need to be re-evaluated for their necessity in the current era."Maybe we need to re-look and see whether some of the tournaments that we are conducting are necessary in this day and age or if they are not necessary. There needs to be an all-round review [involving] coaches and players, especially the guys who are part of the domestic circuit," he added.