Quicks must build stamina and durability, not muscles, says Steyn

[Serani]

Roach is the quickest bowler playing test matches and even he tones it down to the 140-150 range, he can bowl quicker.

[goose]

It is very difficult to build muscle AND be super lean but certainly achievable. I would have thought something like 6 feet tall, weighing 85kg with a body fat % of 10% would be ideal for a pacer.

[IKnowU]

It is very difficult to build muscle AND be super lean but certainly achievable. I would have thought something like 6 feet tall' date=' weighing 85kg with a body fat % of 10% would be ideal for a pacer.[/quote'] Any fast bowler that comes out of Australia, England or South Africa begs to differ. It is not difficult, for any professional athlete this is bread and butter unless of course you are from India.

[goose]

Any fast bowler that comes out of Australia, England or South Africa begs to differ. It is not difficult, for any professional athlete this is bread and butter unless of course you are from India.

Agreed. It's difficult for your average joe to sustain but ought to be a minimum for fast bowlers.

[IKnowU]

Agreed. It's difficult for your average joe to sustain but ought to be a minimum for fast bowlers.

All this leads back to roots when these cricketers first started playing cricket. In countries like Australia specifically, when you go your local cricket club and see teenagers training, the coaches emphasize that fitness is more important then batting or bowling. Out of a typical 3hr training session, we used to spend at least half of that time working up our fitness, endurance and fielding. Being fit enables you to perform at your optimum level whether batting or bowling. In India due to lack of coaching, time and other commitments, cricketers dont follow the proper path from beginners to professional level. Then they suddenly find it hard to cope with all the demands of being fit when they suddenly get injured or becoming slighty older.

[Late Cut]

All this leads back to roots when these cricketers first started playing cricket. In countries like Australia specifically, when you go your local cricket club and see teenagers training, the coaches emphasize that fitness is more important then batting or bowling. Out of a typical 3hr training session, we used to spend at least half of that time working up our fitness, endurance and fielding. Being fit enables you to perform at your optimum level whether batting or bowling. In India due to lack of coaching, time and other commitments, cricketers dont follow the proper path from beginners to professional level. Then they suddenly find it hard to cope with all the demands of being fit when they suddenly get injured or becoming slighty older.

This hypothesis is false as Pakistan and the West Indies have produced some of the greatest fast bowlers but have some of the worst coaching and training facilities in place.

[IKnowU]

This hypothesis is false as Pakistan and the West Indies have produced some of the greatest fast bowlers but have some of the worst coaching and training facilities in place.

Thats with natural talent and to some extent also genes. imo Pakistan is anomally, even though many of their bowlers are fast, they still all lack the fitness. The only proven bowlers are akram and waqar. Thats with natural talent and to some extent also genes. Can you explain how Australia, England and South Africa even New Zealand produce quality bowlers 24/7??? Do they have some superior genes that make more able athlete or do they have the right foundations from early childhood that helps enormously?? Theres no point having the skill or talent without being fit. Look at guys like Brett Lee, Watson, Shane Bond, Flintoff. Even though they have many injuries, they can always maintain their skills and fitness when they come back. Nothing drops off. All this was built from a very early stages in their careers. And then you have Yuvraj, who was one of the best fielders back in the day, but one injury and he is a absolute slob in the field these days. Its all about doing the basics right. You can counter argue to my points much as you want. But at the end of the day the countries I mentioned above will produce world class bowlers with peak fitness that will help them throughout their careers. While india will produce bowlers that are half cooked in which they will either breakdown and fade away with injury or bowlers who will never have the edge of performing at their best do to lack of fitness.

[punjabi_khota]

Akhtar says hi to Steyn.

From his hospital bed ? :hmmm:

[vaibhav_delhi]

@IKU I think there's nothing wrong with indian genes. What's lacking is the focus and awareness(to know how to be at the best of your ability) required to be a professional fast bowler which shows in the lack of fitness. There maybe various social n economic reasons for that. I think if only say 10 kids are raised frm a young age of say 10, with that sole objective, you are most likely of getting an international quality fast bowler.

[IKnowU]

@IKU I think there's nothing wrong with indian genes. What's lacking is the focus and awareness(to know how to be at the best of your ability) required to be a professional fast bowler which shows in the lack of fitness. There maybe various social n economic reasons for that. I think if only say 10 kids are raised frm a young age of say 10, with that sole objective, you are most likely of getting an international quality fast bowler.

I didnt say there was something wrong. I was trying project that there is no difference between Indians or any other countries that makes someone so special in their talents.