African Safari: The tour diary
Ashish Shukla - 19 October 2001
The "management" of Kumble's shoulder
Anil Kumble is not bowling a lot in the nets, but that is with a good
reason. He makes an interesting sight at most of the practice sessions
that the Indians have had on this tour. Physio Andrew Leipus is
inseparable from Kumble, going through the various shoulder exercise
drills, step by step, load by load, and rope by rope, as it were.
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So it was at Port Elizabeth this week, in the lead-up to the
disastrous game against Kenya at St.George's Park. For over two hours,
Kumble attended to his right shoulder, which kept him out of the game
for a year and still needs a close watch. There are - flexi-drills,
which Kumble undergoes to confirm that his shoulder has not turned
stiff from the sudden load of bowling; a monstrous ball of iron, which
can only be palmed and not gripped; and ropes which, when tied to the
fencing in the nets, allow him to stretch his shoulders and strengthen
the muscles.
It is quite fascinating, and the process gives one an insight into how
much science and how many experts are needed to see a top
international sportsman through his moments of crisis. Correct
technique is absolutely paramount for those who are looking for an
injury-free, prolonged career in the spotlight.
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Leipus, who has burnt his fingers on many occasions with his easy
comments on players, is more wary these days. His hands are full
following the injuries that Indian cricketers have sustained in recent
times, and he is also keeping a watch on the undefined contours his
own career as Indian team physio is acquiring. Both Kumble and Leipus
look at journalists with trepidation, seemingly wondering whether it
is just one more news item to them and if some are not already
planning a story on a recurrence of the shoulder crisis for the
marvellous match-winner.
Cricketers, like every one of us, are protective towards their career
and quick to take offence if criticism of their injuries, perceived or
real, is mounted in public. Kumble recounts an interesting story. It
seems that, during the pre-tour days, when he was feeling his way back
into the Indian team, he didn't bowl in one of the innings of a
practice game.
"One fine morning, I received a call from a regional cricket writer
from the East who wanted to know how serious my injury was. Not
whether I was injured or not, but how serious this latest recurrence
of the shoulder injury was. When I protested at this assumption, he
said that the story was already out in a local newspaper!"
Kumble, when asked if his shoulder after sore at the exertions of
bowling in matches these days, replies "No" with an edge to his voice.
Leipus states that they are actually trying to manage Kumble's
shoulder for the rest of the series.
"Basically, we are keen to ensure the right management of his right
shoulder," says Leipus, adding that Kumble is returning to top-class
cricket after a lengthy lay-off, and the effort is to ensure that the
workload would not cause any disruption to his, and the team's,
chances.
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Rookie wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta, meanwhile, is still waiting to
work out the extensive repertoire of Kumble's bowling. He has had
little chance of practicing in the nets because of Kumble's
precautions with his shoulder. He says that he is still waiting to
witness the Kumble class. "Actually, I have never kept to Kumble
before, never in my life," states the pleasant youngster from Bengal.
"Whatever opportunities I have are in the middle." Kumble's elder
brother Dinesh, who was seen in the first one-day international at
Johannesburg in the press box, can no longer be seen on the tour.
Kumble informs us that he is still on the tour but only in
Johannesburg at present. Apparently, the computer-savvy brothers are
trying to further their market for the software they develop.
The leg-spinner provides interesting insights into his shoulder injury
and how leg-spinners, with their unnatural shoulder action, are apt to
injure it more than others. A classic case is Shane Warne and how
frequently, of late, he has had trouble with his shoulder. In Kumble's
case, there must also be further strain because of his high bowling
action and the pace at which he bowls. That he has lasted for a
decade, 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's
duration, and to take a bagful of wickets for the Indians, who
desperately want the leggie to be at his best. This is his third tour
of South Africa and he knows that, in this country, he needs to up his
performance significantly. Kumble has learned to live with the
criticism that he is half as successful on good wickets abroad as he
is back home. But, having spent a year in the wilderness, he has had
time to reflect on his craft and think of the dimensions that he could
add to it.
Hopefully, Kumble will not only last the tour, but also provide enough
evidence, by dint of wickets, that his new theories have been put to
practice. Successfully.
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