Jasprit Bumrah needs to change his run up to prolong career, believes Michael Holding
West Indian fast-bowling legend Michael Holding believes that Jasprit Bumrah would need to tweak his run-up and action in order to reduce stress prolong his career. Bumrah was ruled out of the ongoing Test series against South Africa after sustaining a minor stress fracture on his back.
Jasprit Bumrah's unorthodox action has raised eyebrows ever since the pacer made his debut with people often fearing that it might put further stress on his body which will eventually lead to injuries. The fear became a reality last week as the pacer was subsequently diagnosed with a stress fracture to his back, ruling him out of the Test series against South Africa.Â
While not being 100% sure if his action was the cause for the stress fracture, former Windies pacer Michael Holding believes that Bumrah would need to have to make significant tweaks to his run-up and action in order to prolong his international career. Holding feels that right now, the 25-year-old puts too much stress on his body with his action, which might open up the possibility of long-term injuries.
“I wouldn’t be able to say that Bumrah’s action has caused him to have stress fractures as I have no idea where those stress fractures have occurred, but what I know and have said to him is this: If he wants to have a long career, he needs to have a run-up and action that puts a bit less stress on his body overall,” Holding told Sportstar.
“Using such a short run and being so explosive at the crease puts a lot more stress on his body than, say, a Jofra Archer, who has such a smooth rhythmical run-up and action that allows him to distribute the workload over his body more efficiently,” he added.
Holding is also not against the idea of fast bowlers hitting the gym, but believes that they need to be monitored, handled with care and guided by personnel who understand the job and not just by people whose sole focus will be on bulking up the body. He further cited his own example where he finished his playing career with minimal injuries, a career that spanned 12 years.
“I have no problem with fast bowlers going to the gym. It’s a matter of managing what is done in the gym. You need strength to bowl fast along with stamina work of course, but the strengthening in the gym has to be managed and the programme has to be set out by someone who understands the job of fast bowling and not just by someone looking to create a Hulk.
“I had a few minor injuries throughout my career, but nothing major. My worst was having to have knee surgery to remove damaged lateral cartilage in my left knee,” Holding signed off. Â