da bet7： Anil Kumble is not bowling a lot in the nets, but that is with a goodreason
da fazobetai： Ashish Shukla19-Oct-2001The “management” of Kumble’s shoulderAnil Kumble is not bowling a lot in the nets, but that is with a goodreason. He makes an interesting sight at most of the practice sessionsthat the Indians have had on this tour. Physio Andrew Leipus isinseparable from Kumble, going through the various shoulder exercisedrills, step by step, load by load, and rope by rope, as it were. ©CricInfo
©CricInfo
So it was at Port Elizabeth this week, in the lead-up to thedisastrous game against Kenya at St.George’s Park. For over two hours,Kumble attended to his right shoulder, which kept him out of the gamefor a year and still needs a close watch. There are – flexi-drills,which Kumble undergoes to confirm that his shoulder has not turnedstiff from the sudden load of bowling; a monstrous ball of iron, whichcan only be palmed and not gripped; and ropes which, when tied to thefencing in the nets, allow him to stretch his shoulders and strengthenthe muscles.It is quite fascinating, and the process gives one an insight into howmuch science and how many experts are needed to see a topinternational sportsman through his moments of crisis. Correcttechnique is absolutely paramount for those who are looking for aninjury-free, prolonged career in the spotlight. ©CricInfo Leipus, who has burnt his fingers on many occasions with his easycomments on players, is more wary these days. His hands are fullfollowing the injuries that Indian cricketers have sustained in recenttimes, and he is also keeping a watch on the undefined contours hisown career as Indian team physio is acquiring. Both Kumble and Leipuslook at journalists with trepidation, seemingly wondering whether itis just one more news item to them and if some are not alreadyplanning a story on a recurrence of the shoulder crisis for themarvellous match-winner.Cricketers, like every one of us, are protective towards their careerand quick to take offence if criticism of their injuries, perceived orreal, is mounted in public. Kumble recounts an interesting story. Itseems that, during the pre-tour days, when he was feeling his way backinto the Indian team, he didn’t bowl in one of the innings of apractice game.”One fine morning, I received a call from a regional cricket writerfrom the East who wanted to know how serious my injury was. Notwhether I was injured or not, but how serious this latest recurrenceof the shoulder injury was. When I protested at this assumption, hesaid that the story was already out in a local newspaper!”Kumble, when asked if his shoulder after sore at the exertions ofbowling in matches these days, replies “No” with an edge to his voice.Leipus states that they are actually trying to manage Kumble’sshoulder for the rest of the series.”Basically, we are keen to ensure the right management of his rightshoulder,” says Leipus, adding that Kumble is returning to top-classcricket after a lengthy lay-off, and the effort is to ensure that theworkload would not cause any disruption to his, and the team’s,chances. © CricInfoRookie wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta, meanwhile, is still waiting towork out the extensive repertoire of Kumble’s bowling. He has hadlittle chance of practicing in the nets because of Kumble’sprecautions with his shoulder. He says that he is still waiting towitness the Kumble class. “Actually, I have never kept to Kumblebefore, never in my life,” states the pleasant youngster from Bengal.”Whatever opportunities I have are in the middle.” Kumble’s elderbrother Dinesh, who was seen in the first one-day international atJohannesburg in the press box, can no longer be seen on the tour.Kumble informs us that he is still on the tour but only inJohannesburg at present. Apparently, the computer-savvy brothers aretrying to further their market for the software they develop.The leg-spinner provides interesting insights into his shoulder injuryand how leg-spinners, with their unnatural shoulder action, are apt toinjure it more than others. A classic case is Shane Warne and howfrequently, of late, he has had trouble with his shoulder. In Kumble’scase, there must also be further strain because of his high bowlingaction and the pace at which he bowls. That he has lasted for adecade, and not done too badly, with around 550 international wickets,speaks of the discipline that he has pursued throughout his career.At presently, he has two motivations: to last for the entire tour’sduration, and to take a bagful of wickets for the Indians, whodesperately want the leggie to be at his best. This is his third tourof South Africa and he knows that, in this country, he needs to up hisperformance significantly. Kumble has learned to live with thecriticism that he is half as successful on good wickets abroad as heis back home. But, having spent a year in the wilderness, he has hadtime to reflect on his craft and think of the dimensions that he couldadd to it.Hopefully, Kumble will not only last the tour, but also provide enoughevidence, by dint of wickets, that his new theories have been put topractice. Successfully.
