Nick Webb, Team India’s strengthand-conditioning coach, speaks about the players’
nutrition plans during the lockdown, specic exercises for bowlers and batsmen, and the importance of mental health.
“It’s even more crucial...that we ensure the players are OK throughout the lockdown and following the release of restrictions,” says Nick Webb, India’s strengthandconditioning coach.
The COVID19 pandemic has put a temporary stop to international and domestic cricket around the world. Such a lull in oneld activity might lead to a dropo in the tness levels of the players, making the task of monitoring their training schedule all the more challenging.
Sportstar caught up with Team India’s strengthandconditioning (S&C) coach, Nick Webb, who spoke about overseeing the players’ nutrition plans during the lockdown, specic exercises for bowlers and batsmen and the importance of mental health.
Between myself and the NCA (National Cricket Academy) strengthandconditioning sta, we have a collaborative reporting system up and running to ensure all players have contact throughout the week, which covers all things regarding their training routine, what’s gone well and any modications needed.
In terms of mental health and physical attributes, I think that when you conne someone to their house (for) 24 hours a day, there is always the potential that mental health is aected. Everyone has the potential to respond dierently. There certainly will be some anxiety around the virus now and as the restrictions are slowly released. monitoring the physical and mental attributes of the players?
The COVID19 pandemic has led to the suspension of international cricket across the globe. How have you been
It’s even more crucial from a mental health point of view that we ensure the players are OK throughout the lockdown and following the release of restrictions. They are people rst and cricketers second, and their health is our No. 1 priority. This is also the reason for regular contact throughout the week.
What about nutrition in particular? Have you suggested a specic diet already, and how do you keep a tab on the players’ cheat days?
Some of the guys are on individual nutrition plans. (For) other guys, it’s more of an educational focus and educating them on how to fuel their body and adapt their food requirements based on the training demands while in lockdown.
I am not one to hound players regarding “cheat days or meals.” All of the players are pretty health conscious and it wouldn’t be often they have “cheat meals” as they are conscious of what their bodyfat levels are and their eects on performance. Not everyone is perfect and that’s OK... It’s about guiding and educating them as we move forward. I think it’s actually healthy to have a “cheat meal” as we do not want to create a negative association with food. It’s OK to indulge every now and then as it keeps you sane. Most of our guys earn their cheat meals through training as well, which osets it.
Are there tailored drills for batsmen and bowlers? For example, is someone like Yuzvendra Chahal on a dierent routine from a fast bowler like Jasprit Bumrah?
Yes, every player is on a dierent and individualised plan. This is also specic to the facilities and equipment available to them while in lockdown. Training would be even more specic if everyone had his usual training equipment available.
Pace bowlers have far dierent physical demands placed on them during matches compared to spinners and batsmen, so it makes sense to adapt the focus and priorities based on their roles and individual abilities. There is certainly a dierent framework I consider when prescribing exercises and drills for fast bowlers compared to the batsman.
For example, bowlers need to be strong enough to be able to absorb approximately eight times their body weight through their front leg on impact; there are training methods for this that we can focus on. Batsmen require them to train with more of a focus on rotational power; there are different techniques and considerations that we make for this. Everyone is dierent, but we take many variables into consideration when prescribing programmes.
When there was a lockout in the NBA for 161 days in 2011, there was a spike in injuries when the athletes returned. Many were simply not matcht on their return. Is that a genuine concern in this case?
Yes, of course. I think there is always going to be a higher risk of injury if you do not have adequate buildup time following any sort of lockout of matchplay. Particularly with pace bowlers, due to the nature of their match demands. These guys need an adequate, accumulated bowling load to be able to tolerate not only international match intensity and volume but also to be able to back up matches throughout an extended series.
Obviously, the more matches you play, you get in a rhythm and experience the intensity and pressures that are hard to replicate in training. However, we can certainly train in ways that match the demands of the games. We have utilised sports science technology such as GPS to understand these demands, which can guide how we can enhance the training environment and prepare them for the demands.
Once the players return to fulledged training, is there a realistic time frame for how long it will take them to be matcht?
(That’s) a good question and I think it’s important that we get this time frame right. As mentioned in your other question, we increase the risk of softtissue injury if this time frame is not long enough for adequate buildup. Between our team physiotherapists, medical sta and I, we have devised a threestage plan which we believe is in the best interest of the player’s health, wellness and performance once the pandemic restrictions are eased. Obviously, there is a lot that goes into planning future tours and tournaments with many stakeholders to consider. However, we believe between four and eight weeks’ buildup before the rst match, depending on the format to be played, is a safe time frame.
I think there is always going to be a higher risk of injury if you do not have adequate build-up time following any sort of lockout of matchplay. Particularly with pace bowlers, due to the nature of their match demands.