How today’s fast bowlers could avoid bad backs
sir – There are now eight potential England fast bowlers unavailable for the first Test Match because of injury (Sport, May 20), many with back problems. Is this due to the way they are coached to bowl from an early age?
When I look at a modern seam bowler in his delivery, I see a contortion of arms, shoulders, chest, hips and knees, all pointing in different directions.
Compare this with footage of my old heroes Fred Trueman and Brian Statham: sideways on, natural and fast. They would bowl 1,000 overs a season and were hardly ever injured. Graham Fish
Hertford sir – I was interested to read the analysis of fast bowlers’ problems. I think the most important reason has been ignored.
Cricket – from both a batting and bowling aspect – should be a sideways game. Too many today bowl chest-on.
I was taught to bowl sideways on, with my head looking behind my right arm (I was left-handed), down the wicket at the spot to which I was trying to pitch the ball. The great Fred Trueman in full flow illustrates this beautifully.
I suspect this would cure a lot of problems.
Peter Flesher Halifax, West Yorkshire